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Search forVegan delights hit Croydon's Surrey Street Market
Tuesday, August 12, 2008, 07:00
The former charity worker quit her job when she decided she was stuck in a rut, and set up her own stall after wowing her family with her vegan bread and cakes.
In a real labour of love, Miss Harrison singularly cooks all of her 14 different products at her kitchen in Canal Walk, Croydon.
She said: "My typical day begins at 5.30am, and my stall's open from 9am to 4pm.
"When I get home, I like to replenish my stock, so I end up cooking until about 11pm.
"It's a very long day, but I don't mind, because I really like what I do. It doesn't feel like work."
The 37-year-old swapped vegetarianism for a vegan diet seven years ago, for health reasons.
She said: "I wanted to cut down on cholesterol, and cut out animal products.
"But the supermarkets have lots of processed stuff, and I wanted to make my own and have it all natural."
An experienced cook Miss Harrison is yet to have any culinary disasters.
She said: "I haven't had any big problems, I've always been a keen cook, and I'm self-taught.
"My favourites are the vegan cakes and scones, but one of the best sellers are my vegan pasties.
"I'm open to suggestions, and some people are asking for flapjacks, so I might start cooking them too."
Miss Harrison has only been in business since July 28.
She said: "When I opened I wasn't really nervous because I'm very entrepreneurial, and I think you have to give these things a go."
Already attracting attention from the public, the chef has been told she has the market's first vegan-only stall.
She said: "The other market vendors say they've never seen this sort of thing before in Surrey Street.
"I want to last a long time, because I'm the only person doing this sort of thing.
"Ideally one day I'd like to get a shop and bake on the premises, but this is good for now."
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