The Food Journey

A passion for hospitality turned into my career from my early 20’s, selling high end ice cream to the top chefs in London’s West End. I loved sneaking down the back stairs of the restaurants, hotels and private clubs of London to chew the fat with busy, arrogant chefs who actually were happy for a brief respite to their hot, humid day - who doesn’t feel good talking deserts?

Five amazing years were spent riding the UK train network as an account manager for the British rail network. There is no greater meal than a cooked breakfast passing through the countryside on the East Coast of England. All your senses are challenged eating on a train; from the gentle sway of the carriage; to the visual art gallery passing your eyes through the windows; to the delicious wafts of food coming from the galley kitchen, accompanied by the occasional expletive from the chef as the train hit a corner too fast. Joyful memories.

London’s club land always held great fascination for me and my career in London took me to so many of them. I was always respectful of the privilege of walking their hallways; from the Reform Club to the Royal Automobile Club, from the Lansdowne to the Arts Club, from Queens to the In and Out… all of them preserving a unique part of British life - rare glimpses into lives gone before and still molding London culture today. Eating in their formidable dining rooms gave me a love for perfect table linens - a defining personality trait I am endeavoring to impart on my impressionable sons. Nothing shows you care like presenting a dinner guest with an ironed linen napkin.

Stepping into the entrepreneur’s shoes was a bold move. At 35 years old, divorced and a single mum, I had everything to lose (roof over our heads) and everything to gain (freedom to be the working mum I wanted to be). My niche consultancy, Air, became an 11 year roller coaster ride that I couldn’t get off of. It opened every door of hospitality that London had to offer - from historic palaces to the world’s greatest museums, from theater and symphony halls to charitable institutions, from bastions of science and architecture to the zoo. Every single one of them had a need to market their hospitality. But why?

Forget the additional revenue stream that food can bring to an establishment, offering great food and drink can immediately enhance an appointment, a visit, a meeting. Who ever sits down and says “I want to be truly miserable eating my lunch?”. Food is nurturing - not just for fuel but for your soul. It gives you a point in the day to stop, reflect and just relax. I went to a very formal girls school in England and an elderly teacher would chastise us for eating food on the hoof. “Ladies, always sit down to eat your lunch” she would say. Her words haunt me anytime I find myself shoving a sandwich down my throat running in between meetings. First impressions always count and giving guests and visitors somewhere to enjoy a coffee or share a lunch can make all the difference in opening a warmer conversation.

And my job in all of this? To engage as many people as I can to share the vision and be part of the experience. Life is way too short to not enjoy every meal occasion, right?