What’s your favourite place on the Northern Beaches?
A bush walk to Forty Baskets Beach, to a shady overhanging rock with a book, a picnic and sand beneath my toes. That’s my happy place.
Is there something about you that would surprise people?
I grew up in Manly before moving to the Northern Rivers & SE Qld, then London where I worked in luxury health clubs and spas. I organised health retreats for A-list celebrities in Ibiza (Yes, wellness retreats in Ibiza are a thing!) These days we mutli-hypernate between our wellness retreat, Villa Tropez and VIE Market right here in Manly.
What’s something everyone should do at least once?
Travel somewhere that completely changes your perspective… and eat something you’ve never heard of while you’re there.
It’s Sunday afternoon, where do we find you?
At VIE! Sunday afternoons have their own magic. Great people, good music, coffee, matcha, goodies and everyone just seems a little happier.
Business
How did VIE Market happen? How long have you had the business?
Just over a year ago, a little organic grocer was looking for someone to take over and we jumped in as a family and did some zhuzhing-up .. creating a fun bar area with a delicious relaxed menu and creative functional drinks. No additives, no added refined sugar, no seed oils, mainly gluten free, and organic where possible. VIE means Life in French. The type of food, the good life, that you find in mediterranean cafes – simple yet so tasty and a great space to hang out, it’s turned into a bot of a thing!
My background is in naturopathy and clinical nutrition, and I’ve worked in nutrition companies, health clubs and spaces as well as creating Villa Tropez heritage & wellness venue. My husband Christophe brings the French good philosophy & business ops expertise to these. Together, VIE Market became the perfect way to bring everything we love about wellness, food and community connection to the Northern Beaches.
Best business experience?
Helping host the Manly Wellness Day. Seeing thousands of people genuinely interested in eating well, learning how to read food labels so they’re not duped with false marketing and discovering other local wellness businesses was incredibly rewarding. The Manly Main Street team & Manly Chamber team are amazing at putting these events on together.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
I actually have two other dream jobs! When the French Riviera summer season s on we host private holiday and retreat groups on Saint-Tropez.
And my other day job – I work for ICMS (Castle on the Hill) in academia, lecturing, conference speaking around the experience economy, wellness, tourism, hospitality. Somehow I ended up with two careers I absolutely love.
Best part about your job?
The locals. everyone is so friendly, interesting and effortlessly cool. As well as tourists. They love a chat, sharing dreams of building new business ideas & healthy living habits from the Northern Beaches lifestyle, once they are back home.
Also having our teenage twins working alongside us on weekend is pretty special too, although if you asked them, they hay have a different answer!
Most stressful part of your job?
Trying to stop beach sand from becoming one of our menu ingredients. It’s a losing battle. Gotta love everyone coming off the beach to grab their lunch.
What’s the best part of working on the Northern Beaches?
You can see the surf from our cafe outdoor seating. Honestly that says everything.
Personal
What is the best advice you’ve received?
Don’t wait until you feel ready. Most good things happen before you think you can do them.
Greatest strength?
I am endlessly curious. I love learning, creating and asking ‘What if?’
Greatest weakness?
Thinking every idea is worth saying out loud. My family & team hear approximately 47 business ideas before breakfast.
Does anything scare you?
Gluten. Crumbs. I found out I was coeliac after our son was hosptialised and diagnosed. I’m not sure my French husband would have married me if he’d known that on our first date, or even made it to our second.
Most treasured possession?
Memories. Specifically, memories involving eating croissants in France BC (before crumb phobia).
How do you switch off?
Ask me again after we’ve opened our Oxford Street flagship! Then refer back to Question 1.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I cannot have a hot drink without a treat of some sort for me to stare st and lose myself in. My family and friends reading this will eye roll, as it’s kind of an obsession. I call it a ritual. You know when you stare at waves breaking and they send you into a meditative state? Well, staring at a treat and slowing down my time over making a cuppa will do the same for me.
If you were an animal, what would you be?
A golden retriever. Enthusiastic, optimistic, somewhat old -soul sage like, and always convinced everyone is about to become friends.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who made healthy living a little less serious, a lot more delicious and always had a good story to tell.