Hi everyone, we’re back again in true Avenue tradition with a birthday interview!! 🎉 🎂

This time it’s Sophie’s birthday, our fearless leader herself!

We’ll let Sophie take it away and tell us a bit more about herself and how her 2023 was after having her gorgeous daughter Nalia. 👩‍👧‍👧

What are you looking forward to most in 2024? 

Our house renovations to be finished!! 😅 A job, 2 kids at home full time and managing renovations while designing the house is TOO much!!

What’s the plan for this birthday? Big celebration or a quiet night in? Or just getting the girls into bed. 

We will be enjoying the heat in Thailand – so a day with the kids and then in the evening, with kids in bed, feet in the sand enjoying a cocktail!!! 😍 🇹🇭

In the last couple of years, you have had two little girls. Are you enjoying being back on the booze? Have you discovered any fun new drinks? 

Haha, yes! I am a bit of a wino so I definitely missed enjoying yummy wines without limits. Niv, my husband, and I have also added a new tradition of a cocktail before an evening – whether we are going out, having friends round or having a date night in! He is the bartender though as I hate making drinks! 

What family recipe are you going to pass on to the girls? 

It has to be Mum’s recipe – Diana’s Bread – honestly it’s the best! She made it up because she couldn’t be bothered to knead bread and it really has become a phenomena. Fancy learning it then join our Bread Class. 🍞 😉

So if Niv (Sophie’s Husband) was going to get you the perfect Christmas present, what would it be? (Could you make this food-related in some way) 🎁

Well this year our every penny is going into our house renovations so for the first time I have said let’s forget presents, which Niv is thrilled about as he thinks I am the most difficult person to buy for.
If he was going to get me the perfect present though I’d say a weekend away for the 2 of us because although we are good at putting date nights aside for us, with 2 kids and all the current stresses, we don’t often get whole weekends together so I crave one of those!

Is there a class that’s on your bucket list? 

Actually, since having kids, the Cupcake Decorating Class was on my bucket list because I am useless at baking and also decorating anything! We did it as a family in November, which has given me some creative ideas for cakes for my girls birthdays and Nikola, the teacher for this class, is fab! 🧁

You and the family are jet-setting off to Thailand, what dish are looking forward to eating? 

Having been a couple of times before I actually have 1 specific restaurant I want to go back to, which is Kat’s Kitchen in Chiang Mai – it was next to our hostel when Niv and I were there almost 10 years ago and we ate there a few times as she made the best Penang and Massaman Curry I ever tried. I actually offered my help for 2 days in the kitchen as I wanted to learn her ways! I just hope my expectations are met 😃🍛

Also Thai sausages – also from Chiang Mai! 

Final question, if one of the team had to make you a three-course dinner and take you on a night out – what menu would you request and which chef would you choose? 

Oh god, that’s difficult as Mum and I would chat for hours with yummy wine but Rich and I would rave the night away to some good Drum and Bass! But because the night-out out happen less often these days I would go with Rich and I’d get him to make an Asian Crispy Salad for the starter, Asian Crispy Pork Belly for the main and for pudding, a Biscoff Deep Fried Bao because he’s been going on about it and I’m still yet to try it! I’d also ask him to make me a Spicy Whisky Sour cocktail because he is a boss at cocktails and why not!? 🍷

Thanks Sophie! We hope you have an amazing birthday and a wonderful time in Thailand! 🥳 🤩