SPLICED Magazine SPLICED Issue 05 June/July 2014 | Page 25

SPLICED LIFE / "The decision to go into food was a natural one..." INTERVIEW / PERFECT MATCH MARKET ISSUE 05 Spliced Magazine: Anna, you’ve spent your career surrounded by food, from magazines to catering and now to running a night market – how’s the transition been for you? New Orleans scene. Bringing my mom on board with this project was a no brainer and together we have really brought the concept to life with our individual strengths and ideas. Anna: It hasn’t been much of a transition but rather an extension on my love for food. I’m still working as a freelance foodie for magazines and the catering is pumping too! It’s just fun being able to do what I love and to explore all the new trends and avenues. SM: Working with family can be notoriously difficult - how do you enjoy/survive working together? SM: Roberta, food was obviously an integral part of growing up; was yours an instinctive call to join “the family business”? Roberta: From as early as I can remember I have had an equal obsession with the food industry and having a mother who was such an avid foodie really just fuelled my passion. The decision to go into food was a natural one and I couldn’t imagine being in any other industry. SM: Whose idea was it to start up Perfect Match, and what inspired it? Anna: Absolutely!! We do have our days, ups and downs like any business would, but in the end we try our best to keep business and family separate. SM: Any advice for people on working with family? Roberta: The key to working with anyone really is to practice patience and to respect each other’s strengths. More specifically with family is to ensure that business and family time are totally separate so absolutely NO business chat at the dinner table! I try and set aside a wine session or dinner with mom where we can just laugh and be mother and daughter! Roberta: The Perfect Match market was my brain child as I have always been inspired by the jazz/ 25