The Creative Myth

Yanina Tacchini - A lesson in living your all

Sirjana and Ben Season 1 Episode 9
Today's chat is actually the ember that sparked this podcast into life! We recorded it in December 2020 while travelling to small-town New Zealand for our youtube channel. After posting about an incredible meal we shared at one of her restaurants in Oamaru, today's creative reached out to us to see if we would like to meet up and grab a coffee. That's when we asked if she'd like to be our very first guest on the Creative Myth!

We only had our portable recording gear, a single microphone to share, and the wait staff were getting set up in the background. 

Still, she is such an inspiration we just had to share this discussion with you, and of course, we will have her back in a future episode and in high fidelity the next time around. 

So without further ado, say hello to Yanina Tacchini. Co-owner of two outstanding restaurants, one amazing coffee shop, mother of three and creative extraordinaire. In today's episode, we discuss the power of authenticity, why you should be taking risks, how loving what you do can fuel your creative brain and the benefits of getting back to basics. 

Ben Lane:

Hello beautiful people and welcome to the creative myth, the podcast that attempts to inspire the uninspired by unfolding breaking down and distilling that wonderful force of nature and or nurture known as creativity. Our goal to bust the myth that creativity is the birthright of the few. And each biweekly episode we find a new and engaging self confessed creative and struck up a dialogue. Otherwise surgenor and I sit down and discuss a topic that has something to do with creativity, and how it relates to our roles as artists, nomads and parents. We track down some of the most amazing creatives out there and find out just what creativity means to them what they do to encourage it in their lives, and how you might channel it into your passions. But who is we we are searching to sing and Benjamin lane wife and husband, Indian Kiwi adventure photographers, international travelers and curious minds. You may know us as nomadic lovers of adventure tinted photography, and if not, you can follow our adventures on Instagram at Tinder photography and on a web page turner photography.com. Of course, don't forget to check out the creative myth on Instagram as well. Today's chat is actually the embedded spark this podcast into life. We recorded it in December 2020 while traveling to small town New Zealand for our YouTube channel after posting about an amazing meal we shared at one of her restaurants and amaru. Today's creative reached out to us to see if we would like to meet up and grab a coffee. In the end. We sat down in the corner of her latest restaurant and managed to chat with her for more than an hour leading up to opening time. We only had our portable recording gear a single microphone to share and the waitstaff were getting set up in the background. Still, she is such an inspiration. We just had to share this discussion with you. And of course, we'll have it back in high fidelity the next time around. So without further ado, say hello to Shani, co owner of two outstanding restaurants one amazing coffee shop mother of three and creative extraordinare. In today's episode, we discuss the power of authenticity, why you should be taking risks, how loving what you do can feel your creative brain and the benefits of getting back to basics. So let's get started.

Sirjana Singh:

All right, we are finally live. It's been a day. Technology giving up on us and then Ben not pressing record. So we are in amaru. And last night, we had our dinner at this amazing restaurant, which is called Cocina. Yes, I got it right. As it was so delicious. And we made stories and Instagram about it. And Shanina replied back and said she would love to meet up because she liked her work. And so here we are the next day in their second restaurant, which has just opened three days ago. And we get to have the grand tour and also interview you here. How do we pronounce your name

Unknown:

Shani. Nasser's with a Y? So everyone calls me Yanina? Shanina. Yes, awesome.

Sirjana Singh:

Shanina. Thank you so much for having us here.

Unknown:

Thank you for coming. Really, it's amazing how we clicked with you know, I love your work. Thank you for coming.

Sirjana Singh:

This is what we love about social media, we get to meet so many creators and share our lives. And now we bringing it all back to you. Cool. So let's jump in on how how tell us a little bit about your life.

Unknown:

So I came here as an exchange student when I was 17. And I had the best year of my life of no different culture. And then I decided to come back with my husband and my baby after a few years. And here we ended up in New Zealand as a holiday and with summer suitcases. And that was 12 years ago. So you came from Argentina. So I came from Argentina and as changes students and lost my year here because I live with a family that I never had kids. And they know I have had the most amazing year of my life. I was a spoiled child coming from a 44 children family to just me. So I had a great year. And yeah, it was really amazing. So then when I got married, they went to my wedding in Argentina. So I got to, you know, to spend time with them and they meet my husband. So then when we had Ian, our first son, and we came here as a holiday, thank you.

Sirjana Singh:

So when we met you told us that your background has been in film and camera and photography, so I would love to know how come from film and now into hospitality.

Unknown:

I think it's a big this a completely different world, but at the same time and I had to make that goal. I love photography. I you know, for many years, I didn't do it. I think it was six, seven years. I stopped doing it because I thought I was not good enough. And you get quite frustrated as as you might know. Me. And then yeah, and I started to do Because I, I was grieving between brackins, right, and my son's disability, so I needed to find something else to do that. Fill me up. And that was people. So I started making coffee and studying just that relationship with people. And I love it. I ended up loving it. But once I got back on photography, so then I was working five days a week on hospital, and then doing weddings in the weekends and then editing at night. So yeah, so quite full on, but I still have my creative side and my fun part. But I get to go home every night instead of having to work in film and being out in a set for three months.

Sirjana Singh:

So I have to say here that as creatives we never fully love what we

Unknown:

do when you're never happy with what you do, I think is part of who we are. And that's why we keep creating, because we never have a we're never satisfied. And I think, you know, yeah, you could do that better. So you were thinking, Well, what will you do better next time? You know, you're just not happy? It's hard because we cannot sleep at night?

Sirjana Singh:

Yes, we can. But I have to say when we were at Cocina last night, everything was perfect. Everything from the ambience to how the food was plated, how it appeared how it tasted like there was not a single thing. And we are picky eaters. That's why we cook at home all the time. Or, you know, we are adventure people. So it's boiled eggs, but otherwise we could get home. Because they are like, like this, I don't like that. But there was not a single thing, not a single thing from staff to food to the the ambience and how you had made it also green, lovely. They're

Unknown:

they're my babies. That was my other obsession I had in the last few years is was I think what brought me home. And my grandma is like the same. She loves plants. So you know, you start getting one. So we'll call her and ask her what plant it is. And you know, and she will just tell me all about it to now having I have like more than 400 plants. Wow. 400 Plus, it just happened.

Sirjana Singh:

Okay, so one of the things I want to really understand about you as a creative and just about creativity in general, is do you see yourself as a creative person?

Unknown:

No, I don't, suddenly, I don't think I'm creative enough. There's nothing here. And people say, Oh, you create like, I designed this place. I did it myself. And I'm not an interior designer. And people will ask me what and I don't know. It's just you know, it's just do it. But I'm never feel like I take a photo and it's just a photo. I don't. Yeah, it's a very difficult question. I don't. But I think that's why I keep doing more. Yeah,

Sirjana Singh:

it is definitely a very easy question to ask. It's something that we

Unknown:

how you went to an art school. So you are a creative as ever, what is free? Depends on what context you put it on. I think you know, I think I'm very creative with my everyday life to be able to fit everything in. But knowing the artistic side of it, I don't think I'm satisfied enough with what I do I want to get better on it. Yeah.

Sirjana Singh:

It's a difficult question. It is a difficult question. And one of the things that we mentor other creatives, and one of the questions we get, and one of the sentiments we get from them is well, I'm not that creative. That creative is that. So this is one of the messages that we want to send out to the world there is that as creatives you're never satisfied, and it's a good thing. Okay, second question, which I wanted to ask before and that it slipped my head was has your culture informed the culture that you come from informed your creativity and how you live your life and how you do your business and culture

Unknown:

from home. I still live like home. And that's my kind of life that I can never been able to, to settle on the kiwi life. Because that's something I think it's something in my blood, you know, we just constantly moving constantly doing stuff. So I think it's been a very difficult question.

Sirjana Singh:

So when you were saying that, you know, Grandma, your grandma would bring plants in. And that's something you've picked out from. Do you think do you see other things you've picked from your culture that have you brought back into creativity, like the colors, your sense of

Unknown:

style, cucina is definitely home for me. And that's what it that's my baby. That's my first restaurant in my, what I get to be me. And from the moment I go into the moment I leave, and I think it's because I serve the food I love. And that's why we at the beginning wasn't like that we were trying to satisfy it, everyone by neural cells until we realize that actually what we know best is what we cook from the heart and what we know from home and we go back Basic know basics because you know, the dishes are not basic. But it's those flavors is that flavor that reminds me of my childhood. That lumber is cooked that way that reminds me how my dad cooks alarm or how fabulous dad used to cook. And

Sirjana Singh:

I'm so glad you said that. Because as creatives when we start in any field, we want to please everyone. We think that if everyone likes us, we are doing things better otherwise. And then we lose ourselves in that way. And social media does that a lot, you know, make us conform in a nine grid scene. So did social media ever impact? The work that you do in hospitality?

Unknown:

Definitely, at the beginning was really hard impacted on a negative side, because we were thinking that we never had we never done enough and you frustrate yourself because you see all these people doing amazing things. And you don't see that. So it was really hard. The first few years we thought actually, okay, no good at this. We're gonna, you know, yeah, it was really hard. And then finally, I don't know, just everything starts clicking. And I we still the same, you know, we we still not happy with what we cook. We're still not happy with my service. And I'm thinking whatever I'm wrong. And if I take a forum so you know, you know that piece of karate, we understand everything still. But I think it's bad. Yeah. Yeah, I think cucina has been our baby from day one in any board has to bring everything to basics by now. Yeah, yeah,

Sirjana Singh:

I totally understand there is if you go to Cocina, you will realize there's nothing basic about it at all the food is, it's exquisite. There is a festival in your mouth, which is fantastic. And I lost my question and just remembering the food again. It was just like, oh, that was the food. So how many hours do you think you guys work? We come

Unknown:

8am in the morning to 11pm at night. So I my day consists from waking up, while the kids are having breakfast and checking my emails and see what I have to answer of things that I have to do, because I'm usually quite all over the place. I missed everything. I missed all my appointments. I've never been good at all that I'm always early, but I've never I've always missed everything and take it to school. And then I go to this three day cafe. And look at the cafe says everything's fine. Then I get ready for the night service. Three o'clock, I can pick up the kids from school. In those two hours, I cook them dinner, take them to their activities, I just juggle. And then five o'clock I'm back in the restaurant to compete at night. So that's six days a week.

Sirjana Singh:

That's crazy intense. And we have crazy lives ourselves. But whenever we meet another creative, it's it feels like we are seeing ourselves in the mirror. And we realize what crazy lives we live.

Unknown:

I think we never stop and I think about divorce. Oh my gosh, you don't have a day off for. I don't know what I do with a layoff. I just don't know what to do with myself. And I think it has to Yeah, if it's my day off, I'm actually getting bothered to cook dishes for me to take for us to put on social media, or to update the web page. That's my day off.

Sirjana Singh:

So we think that work life balance is not something that creatives need. Because for us work is love. So work is not an ugly word. Do you think similarly?

Unknown:

Definitely. I think you know, for me, this is no work. This is a passion. And I think that's a big difference and I don't go to work. This is my other home.

Sirjana Singh:

Sounds like music to my ears. So if that is the case, is there a way that you re energize your creative juices like is there something you do outside of hospitality and serving people that make you come up with new ideas of for design on dishes or what you're going to do on social media and on that note, I have to say that if you go to Katrina's Instagram page, and you see these beautiful pictures of food being plated, you will see which ones we're talking about. It's being taken by you, isn't it?

Unknown:

I take all the photos and that's my part of having just my find on my creativity side that you know Yeah, I just do something that I love just it's just I don't see that I don't see it as something as a job I just do it.

Sirjana Singh:

So I will give you an example maybe that helps you think about art and make you understand what I'm really wanting to know is that outside or photography and whatever we do.

Unknown:

I just go away. I love to go away. So I just literally with the with Bella is we go on a plane for 48 hours to Auckland, and we walk in we ate all the food that we haven't eaten in the last few weeks and we look for ideas we just switch off with Switch off is not easy. And and very often anymore. But you know the last year we switch off a lot in the lockdown so I think we had enough you know i but yeah we we we take a we go away for a year we take the kids today today we go to like a we lake house that we know that we have a girlfriend answer and we just call them minimum forage mushrooms and pick up apples. That's what we do. And that's enough to for us to know, is like centers back again, perspective and made us realize, okay, we're doing all this new stuff. And yeah, we back again. But sometimes, the stress of having all these businesses is that I deal with a lot of people, not No, no customers but with staff. And that's the hardest part of this job is and because I'm not only a mum, for my three children and a wife, I have like another, almost three children, that they all need help, they all need to talk to someone. And you know, so I think the stress levels. And then when you're stressed out up here, you don't have any creativity whatsoever.

Sirjana Singh:

So what I'm understanding from what you're saying, and correct me if I'm wrong, that it's not that we need work life balance on the daily, but taking time out to switch off so that we can be inspired again and put that all back into work. Yeah, that's exactly what we do. Okay, so you mentioned COVID, and lockdown. So I'm going to talk about that. Because during lunch, and during the spirit of pandemic, you guys bought a second restaurant? How?

Unknown:

I don't know, I think this restaurant got emptied out. So was nothing in it was weird for ya cameras that we really wanted to do something, right. And, of course, money wise, we were not ready for not thinking about decisions. And but the support of locals have been amazing. And they all wanted to help and they all wanted to be part of checking on us, you know, constantly worried about us that made us okay, maybe we can make it happen. And we get the support of the locals until we're back to normal. And yeah, and I don't know, I don't actually know what we're doing the restaurant. But I think because the two of us kind of stop. And if we don't do it now someone else will do it. And I think you know, we want to keep growing. We want to keep learning and so yeah. So I don't know what we do in a year. But definitely, it's been amazing.

Sirjana Singh:

So would you say you are risk averse, or you have always been risk taker? or risk taker?

Unknown:

I always take risks, right? Always from coming here when I was 17. So I think it's part of our life for me getting married so young. I think it's just part we don't think too much. Which is do I felt like is right, we do it. Now many people have to think and go now I can't do that I just yes or no and then move on.

Sirjana Singh:

So when we decided to be to go full time, we took forever, we would like oh my god, should we do it? Should we not do it is the time right? It's time not right. And then we met two other photographers who when we met and asked them, hey, when we should be go for full time. They looked at us and they said Just do it. What are you thinking about? And since then, we've been taking I think this is really like you've been taking and it's been the best it feels our creativity.

Unknown:

Yeah. Well, it is. I think it is you have to create something where you need to play yourself again. You need to know. Yeah, I think it's definitely a great divide. Yeah, the risk taking is, yeah, yeah. And is that journaling, pigging again of doing something new or doing something that they are known that you're no husband and go? I think I love that.

Sirjana Singh:

So what what gets you out of the bed? I think I know the answer already. But I would love to hear it from you. Like every day, day in and day out after the long hours of work. Next morning, you're like Yes, let's do it. What is that, that gets you like pumped up again.

Unknown:

I think it's just my family, the relationship I have with my kids and my husband and we my kids are learning the it's okay to be a mom, too and to be a professional and to do everything so I think for me it's very important my mum did the same to me. So I think I'm you know, I'm feeling that my kids need to know about me as a working mother. I don't want them to only say I'm a stay at home mom, I'm not that I've never been that every now since two months older kids and childcare because I need to work I need to feel like I am you know, I'm doing something. And yeah, I think that my family you know, and definitely my My oldest son's, he's taught me a lot in the last few years, you know, he has autism. And, and yes, he changed completely my life.

Sirjana Singh:

How so?

Unknown:

Well, he, he, he had a lot of issues when he was three, he didn't speak until he was four, five. So was a lot going on with his diagnosis. And at the same time, they told us that we couldn't stay in the country, because, of course, was going to cost money to the government. And so you know, that made you the perspective of you losing where you love to live now, and, and given the best to your child is such a huge thing. And I think, yeah, it just made us, you know, just change completely. Everything else is saying, he changed my life completely. You know, he made me a better person. He made me study social studies. There's something I've done, too. I studied social studies, to help other families. And then I started working on that, and I couldn't do it because he went to the pan. Yeah, so come back to hospital. But yeah, I think is that I think my children, you know, my husband, you know, we have an amazing relationship. I know him for more than half of my life.

Sirjana Singh:

It's amazing. And I love how passionate you are for what you do. You're constantly looking around. If you're around somebody, if I was at home, I would be better. And you just see what they're doing. No, if you if you were, if you're only listening to us on a podcast, then you can't see but she is constantly looking at. Oh, no, don't be sorry. No, don't be sorry. Because my next question I really want to understand because this is something Ben and I struggled with is delegation. How as a creative, do you learn to delegate because being a creative these days is not just about being in a studio being alone. It's about actually interacting with the world, letting them see your talents, and your and your art. And you can only do that if you have an army around you, you know, working with you. So delegation, I feel is a huge part of entrepreneurial ship. So what lessons in delegation have you learned?

Unknown:

I think you first for me at the beginning, of course, for the first two years, I couldn't trust anyone, and I did everything myself. And it's really hard. And that gourami like, no, I got quite emotionally exhausted. And then I just find the right people. And I get to slowly you start trusting them. And I think you need to let go of those little things in order to think about the big things now. And I think it's hard to see that way. But if I'm cleaning because nothing is clean enough, I will not be able to do all my social media and my photos. And I think when I got all the people in as long as I teach them how to do it and what to do. I'm okay, I'm learning. I'm still learning but cucina last night, I wasn't there, because I have an amazing team. And I trust them, and you had a good dinner, so I'm okay. You know, so that's what I think is that I still my heart when I saw your post, I said, Oh, my God, you know, Lucy, you know, she's like, not so good. You know, and I trusted them. And I they did a good job. And he is hard. But you know, I think, you know, I'm training them talking to them. You know, it's a full time job, but at the same time, you are giving them the opportunity of a bet on something and I think, you know, they are you know, I think everyone is loving the extra responsibility. And I think for me, I can't stop I have cameras in my phone of all the businesses. I know what's happening. I know how many people is including how many they left, how many they pay, you know, and that's just part but and I will never be able to, I think to let that go. But at the same time, I'm letting people take their responsibility.

Sirjana Singh:

So that has given you more time. Yeah, more time and more energy and more avenues to show your creative side well.

Unknown:

cucina has been doing so well. That at the beginning of the year, I was like, Okay, what are we doing next? So, you know, because we okay we set it up it took us almost four years what we had a baby sorted and we keep want to keep going. So that's why Okay, that's why a restaurant and then within all this corner B holiday with the kids that we've never done it. So we had a book, tickets and everything to go to the states for a whole month and travel all the California coast and Florida with the kids and then come back and buy a restaurant. And we ended up not buying a restaurant we ended up leasing a building and making buy everything. Yeah,

Sirjana Singh:

it's so fantastic. So on this side of tinted we Also edit for other photographers. And one of the first emails that we get back, people generally say I would love to send my workload to someone, I need more time in my business, but it is so hard to you know, delegate someone else to do your work. But for us, it was a huge deal in our busy times, we have delegated our social media outside or you know, worked with virtual assistants, etc. And always gave gave us time back. But it's so hard as a creative to think that somebody else can do your job, right. But I think and let me know if that's your experience as well, that when you delegate work, not only does your work have, but you also get insight from people you work with, they can come up with ideas,

Unknown:

definitely. And I think that's part of, you know, having a team and you know, it's just listen to everyone, because, you know, sometimes you just take them for granted, you know, you just keep doing your job when you think but you know, I have an amazing manager, she's she was there. And she's helping me here lunchtimes to run this and she's the one in our giving me all the ideas of what to do, because my brain is so full on with other things, you know, with the social side of all this that, you know, it's just so good to have. No, sometimes you think, no, I can't do it all I know what I'm doing. You need those ideas, you need the people to help you feel it. Because that's how you can actually create something that can stay, you know.

Sirjana Singh:

So now we've come to that part of our interview, like calling you to our chat a time, where I want some advice that you can give other intrapreneurs and creatives, right? So I'm going to I have three topics in mind while talking to you. And I'm going to go over those topics and ask you, what did you learn in this area, for example? And what would you advise me? Let's start with social media. Because for the longest time, we thought we had to please everyone. And we would put up words other people would like, and the moment we shifted from that, and talked about our heart is when our business grew. So what have you learned in your social media life? And what would your advice be for people who are they're looking at their social media and going, Oh, I don't get enough likes.

Unknown:

I think at the beginning, of course, you just keep putting all this stuff and nothing happens. And you feel like you're not going anywhere with what you're doing. And I don't have a big follower. I think we had like 3000 is like not much. But it's crazy how many people just after a couple of years, we'll come back because I seen our Instagram and they see my photos, and oh, my God, we can't because I said that dish. I think you need to do work steadily and create your own network of people that they are the same, then you have to start getting the same likes, I think, yeah, I've learned a lot in the last last few years about that. But I think the most important was to stay true to what you're doing, and not show something that you are not. And for me, not only on my my Instagram, you also see my personal life and the elite of it. But I want people to know what my son, I want people to know why I'm doing what I'm doing. Because there's a reason. And I think once you become became like, honest, people start responding data. Because if you just do something that is just, you know, selling something is not the same of you. You know, just showing that you're actually a person that you have feelings, and you're working really hard to get what you do not to get where you're going. And I think it's very important, I think so social media was a big discovery for me. But it took me many years to understand that and to actually see that it was working. And yeah,

Sirjana Singh:

so to summit summit up, you're saying one, slow and steady wins the race. So keep at it. And you will learn your way around social media. And second being that even though we call it Instagram and Facebook, you have to remember it's social media. So sharing our lives sharing our passion so that people can see the why behind our business is very important. Awesome. So my second question is about entrepreneurial ship. So you started the second business, second restaurant, during pandemic and we've been sitting here and it's been so busy. For the longest I was like people coming in and it's third day that it's open. They're they open. So third day and people know about it. They love it. They've been flocking in saying hello to you and smiling and it's been fantastic being here. So what advice Will you have for budding entrepreneurs out there who are thinking should I should I not jump into the entrepreneurial life?

Unknown:

I think if you know what you want, and you have Know, you, for example, restaurant or whatever you do, I think you just need to be sure that whatever you do you know what you're doing. And not not i'm not saying about, you know, just say what you want and do and keep your chin up, I think we had the first two years of cucina with a really bad we thought about closing with people didn't like a food and people will say no, and they will go and it was okay. You know, and we should do like the pub across the street and actually getting customers so you doubt yourself you. But I think for us it was Keep your chin up. And if you believe in what you're doing, keep going. Because at some stage people will come back.

Sirjana Singh:

That's so important. And same thing happened for us for first four years of our business. It was crazy. We would, every time we would even talk about introduces a sore point between Ben and I, because we would be like, what are we doing right, and we'll find faults in everything, which we still do. But it was clearly also showing in our financial statements. Yeah, so it was really, really hard. But it was about sticking with it. And recognizing that our karma is to keep producing work. When we started concentrating on that, I think things got better, and stopped looking at the competition side of it

Unknown:

definitely doesn't even my husband doesn't use Instagram, he doesn't see what's happening. Because, you know, so then the competition side of it. And for me, also something that helped me a lot is giving back. And I think it's very important. If you're working with a community, you know, and you're getting something out of a community, like I'm getting business from the community, give back to the community. And that's what we do.

Sirjana Singh:

so fantastic. So giving back and avoiding the competition wars, but just doing what you're doing, and keeping your chin up. Because first few years are going to be hard, no one will know what you're doing.

Unknown:

And because it's new, or because it's different, is not because they don't like and it's because they don't know what, oh, man,

Sirjana Singh:

this is so important for me to hear personally, because I have just started doing selling my paintings. And I will not get enough likes on social media. And even though I have gone through the whole process with tinted, it feels like it's new one more time because it's it's a different business. And I would say all people don't like it. And Ben's grandma once told me she was an artist all her life till the day she died. She was painting and drawing and she just told me your work as an artist is to pick up the pencil every day, and to do work and not think about what people are thinking about it. And that's when you will create real art in arch that will resonate with people get because they haven't seen that before now. Yeah, definitely. That's the way it's the second reason. And so the last question about advice is about creativity, because our podcast is about creativity, letting people know that creativity is not the birthright of a few. So a lot of people think that they are not that creative, or how do they get more creative? What has been your experience in that department? or What advice would you give to people who are feeling, you know, jaded by 2020? are not feeling that they're they haven't got that right now?

Unknown:

Hi, this question, I think, I don't know for me is coming back to basics. I think once you go back to basics, and you just be grateful, a little bit more, you start finding yourself again, I think sometimes we this year has been all about focusing on the negatives, and not on the positives of this year. And I think it has been a really hard year for all of us. And we were one of the years we finish. But no having a home mom's at home with your children or with your family. I think that's a positive thing. So I think is if you're feeling down and you cannot create, I think you know, you need to go on to out there and do something, you know, just change that because no one else will do it. And I think it's very important that you know, you stop waiting for something to happen. Because if you if you wait, nothing's gonna happen. You just need to get up and get you going. Even now, the whole universe is telling you now you need to do as I assume with us, we everyone told us is a bad idea. Don't open a new restaurant. You know, I think is that it's just, you know, and if we doubt ourselves, and you know, you feel you know, here we are here we are doing it. And I think it's I think it's you know, if you're feeling you don't know what to do with your life or create I think go and go for a big walk go out you need to explore the nature and reconnect with yourself. And I think that's very important.

Sirjana Singh:

So would it be right to say that actually Is the friend of creativity and apathy is what will stand in your way. When you keep thinking, I'm waiting for inspiration,

Unknown:

that's the opening is never going to happen. I think the inspiration just go on, go for a walk, find inspiration on your walk, you know, you I think, you know, waiting for feeling sorry for yourself is never gonna get you anywhere. It's gonna even make you feel worse. Which is really hard to deal with that, you know, I'm you know, I'm really, you know, I'm not very good at that. But I always I listen to a lot of podcasts. And I have a couple of mentors in my life that helped me a lot. And I think that's very important. Find someone that, you know, keeps you going.

Sirjana Singh:

Thank you so much for your time. This was amazing. So before we end, if you could tell us where people can find you. And well, one, where you are, what are the names of your businesses one more time? And can they find you on Instagram and what are those handles? Yes, so

Unknown:

cucina is our first restaurant search, cucina. omalu. And then district cafe. So is that and it's just next door. So opens from early morning until after lunch. And then this one is the new one that is called Del Mar, which is from the sea by the same in Spanish. So yeah,

Sirjana Singh:

so before, sorry, I have another question. So what's the difference between the two restaurants then is it so

Unknown:

that one is your baby, so it's like a little bit of high end, that's what we get to create the parlor gets to change the menu every month, with the system of whatever it is. And that's, this is a family of restaurants. These are what I want my kids today, that's what was happening before I want them to be here. I want them to be part of it. They're making their own gelato. So they're choosing their own flavors. And that's what I want from them I want them to I want a place where I can bring them and that's what we created this because there's nothing in America like this.

Sirjana Singh:

The Why is important you guys the Why is important and it fuels your creativity. So now I know we don't have enough time your bookings are coming for this area. What we're going to do is as we wrap it we're going to have a section where we are just chatting and it's like backstage sort of thing. So you said that there are gelatos that are made

Unknown:

here in Parliament's everything from here everything downstairs we have a whole there was only a big investment is to bring gelato machine. So we make the ice cream. Like right now all the time, but uh, yeah. Awesome. So

Sirjana Singh:

we're going to have some gelato and we're going to talk about couple of rapid fire questions. Just you know a little bit about creativity a little bit about you. It's going to be fun. Plus, it's an added bonus that we get to have your gelato. Yes, yes. Awesome. Okay, we are back with the gelato. And this is ridiculously ridiculously tasty. I'd always changed my mind to do any more questions and answers. I was like, let me please. Ben says we must The show must go on. So one second. Okay. Morning person or night person.

Unknown:

Night person. Yeah, it's when we had the kids. We rally him after Ian. By the one time children. The only reason we have more children is because he promised he will do the mornings. I'm not a morning person. Because I couldn't do so we do we are a good team. Yeah, yeah, he's more a morning person. I'm more a night person. So

Sirjana Singh:

yeah, it's the same with us. The night versus the morning person. Oh, yes. Yes. And it hasn't been it has been decided that I will do the nights and Ben is going to do the mornings because organized Yeah, it's totally discussed. We didn't even start the process though. That was on the table. Important to have the right sleep. Yeah, yeah. Okay. I would love to know how has you know of course Pablo is the is the person the reason why you are in this industry? How has your relationship changed or grown has the starting the business with your partner improved your business or has made it complicated

Unknown:

now improved? Because we complement both know hey, he can cook and I can look after people and I think you know it's hard to work with your partner your husband and but I think as long as we keep the work he shows at work and at home At home scared to me that line by by when we when we were the kids we try to divide it or when we're watching a movie we're not thinking you know, we just to remember about being a couple is very important. I'm by definitely improved, improved.

Sirjana Singh:

Okay, how about criticism? Do you both take criticism? Well, uh, one of you takes it well,

Unknown:

I don't take well No, no, she can't. He needs to take it because it's me. I'm quite strong. We'll buy, you know, yeah, I'm learning. I'm learning but yeah, definitely, you know, you know, we take we take we take everything on board, you know, and I'm, we're very conscious of you know, when clients are not happy or whatever, I'll do everything to change the situation. A Yo, yo, okay. He doesn't like it when I criticize his work, but but then he understands where I'm coming from. Yeah. And I think it's very important.

Sirjana Singh:

We are like soul sisters. I'm just saying, I feel like I'm asking questions to myself. This is fantastic. Okay, bright colors, or like so somber colors, like black and whites are bright colors.

Unknown:

my wardrobe is black. Ah, I have a couple of things of color, which has been crazy. Yeah. My Yes, I actually wear a being scared of the for the opening. And everyone's like, what's wrong with you? You know, I don't know. It's just like I had to wear some color. But ya know, even cucina is black. And this here is so white. So you know, it's just going to work. Of course, it's both. I couldn't know. I can't think about other colors. Right?

Sirjana Singh:

So this is where we differ. I am only wearing black last few days only because I recall of him very. So I've run out of my clothes into like secondhand shopping today. So I can you know, get into my colors again. But yes, I never wear black. No, um,

Unknown:

is because Gucci never had to be wearing black. My water was black is anything I think about is black.

Sirjana Singh:

Which is your favorite season.

Unknown:

Summer, in a beach, not in a row, right. You know, like in a heartbeat. And I love autumn because the tourists and I can get good photos. And if I have the kids under a beautiful tree, you know, the light is perfect. So yeah, definitely awesome.

Sirjana Singh:

breakfast or dinner? Dinner done in reverse. So do you go to like, do you before? COVID? Were you traveling a lot?

Unknown:

Yeah, yeah, we love to travel. And so we're gonna go for a big trip with the kids for a whole month to the unknown. So yeah, well, we couldn't do it. But yeah, we love to travel.

Sirjana Singh:

Are you a planner? Or it's more spontaneous, spontaneous? I'm not. I never plan anything. Do you make lists? No.

Unknown:

Don't make lists. That's why I don't know what I'm doing most of the time. No, I got my hair. I have things in my phone. reminders of you know, my year, I asked everyone to text me one day before, like one hour before? Because I know Yes. Part of my life. My brain. I just can't keep things I'm very Yeah. I'm always moving. Yeah, well, yeah, no, no less, because I will leave it somewhere.

Sirjana Singh:

Is there anything to the final question? Is that anything you would like to change? About the way you live your life? No,

Unknown:

I love it. I love everything I love from working a lot to my children to, you know, be well, you know, soccer, my son about being different. And you know, I will know my life without him where he is. So we love him the way he is. And you know, and yeah, so then I wouldn't change a thing. Maybe not having my family so close now, decisions that you made in your life to be unable to move on. So

Sirjana Singh:

you would change that they're

Unknown:

far away. Now I can hear my dad or my mom or dad or my siblings to be closer, you know, but that's, you know, that's decisions that you made to, you know, to move away, to change, you know, and to get a better life, you know, that will be the only thing that I will love to live closer to them. But at the same time, if it wasn't for me being so far away, I wouldn't be who I am.

Sirjana Singh:

Well, that actually brings me to a question which I thought were all over. Just said it's over. But you are a parent, three kids, two businesses. What's your secret?

Unknown:

I think, I think it will relationship with my husband, I am an independent person. I always tell the widow, and I always mean like this. My mom is like this. I'm like this. But at the same time, if you are someone next to you, that helps you and believes in you the same way, you know, and we just don't know who you are someone. And that makes completely different is I'm a feminist 100% feminist, but I need some time and I need no, but we both respect each other. But I know he helps me a lot to grow to

Sirjana Singh:

know feminism is about both sexes, respecting each other. It's never about women rule.

Unknown:

Definitely. But it's so misunderstood about that. Thank you. Definitely. Yeah, I think is that

Sirjana Singh:

thank you so much for the time that you've given us. And thank you for this gelato. This is crazy good. And just like now we'll be dividing your time between Cocina and Del Mar every time we come to oamaru because this is like we found we found our place. It's fantastic. Thank you for saying That message we were like, No, thank you. It's amazing that you can Yeah, we're really grateful.

Ben Lane:

So there you have it, peeps. Thanks so much for tuning in. We hope you learn heaps of new stuff and junk today. You could probably tell, but we loved our chat with Shani and click right away, so no doubt she and her husband will be back in a future episode to help us further understand the creative drive. If you enjoyed today's episode, or indeed any other episodes of the creative myth, please rate this podcast and leave a review on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts you would absolutely make our day and help other like minded individuals to find the creative myths so we can forge a kick ass creative community if you all also if you know someone who you would love to hear interviewed about their creative process, send us a DM on our creative Instagram page and we'll reach out to them for you. Plus, make sure you like and subscribe to be notified when Episode 10 goes live. When Episode 10 goes live, but make sure you like and subscribe so you can be notified when the next episode Episode 10 goes live. Till then you know the drill stay read. Stay tuned and be creative