My name is Eva and I have been a lot of things in my life; a mum, a life & business partner, a project manager, a business owner and now a virtual assistant supporting small businesses like mine!
How long have you lived in the area?
Three years. I moved to East Dulwich from Brockley although I am originally from Milan, where I lived until I was 23.
What brought you here?
My thirst for adventure. I was only 25 when my partner, Andrej, and I decided to open our first business, La Scala coffee shop on Grove Vale. We ran the coffee shop for 5 years, before we decided to do something a little different and opened our second business, a gift shop called ‘Home’, just next-door to where La Scala was!
What has changed most during that time?
Everything has changed very fast as it commonly happens here in London! After two years of running La Scala, we had our first daughter, Fiona, followed by the arrival of our second baby Bianca that coincided with the closure of the cafe and the opening of our gift shop! It’s unbelievable how much life can change in five years!
What’s the one thing you couldn’t do without?
At the risk of sounding sappy, I must say my other half. We’ve spent a third of our life together and I couldn’t really imagine my life without him. I am the train, he’s the railway: he keeps me on-track while I thunder into the unknown.
What’s your favourite place for a night out?
Definitely a show in the West End! And I haven’t seen one in years! When you have kids your social life changes from out-every-night to weekend-play dates, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Where are you likely to be found on Saturday?
On a typical Saturday you would find me strolling down Lordship lane with my daughters and my dog, doing my shopping for the week while Andrej would be busy in serving customers at our shop.
Coffee or tea? Where?
I love my decaf oat milk one shot latte (yes I am a fussy one!) from “lane8” the new addition to Melbourne Grove. But tea is always a good choice when I need to concentrate on work – too much caffeine can muddle the brain!
The best meal I’ve ever had…
At “La Lucciola”, my favourite restaurant in Castiglioncello, on the Tuscany seaside. They serve the best fresh fish I’ve ever eaten!
Cafe, pub or bar?
I can’t decide between the three! Cafe for brunch, better if Poached (the new place that has taken over our old coffee shop), pub at the weekend for a Sunday roast and bar for a summer night out!
Where’s your favourite place to walk?
I love taking my dog for a walk to the mysterious Nunhead cemetery. It helps me have a little alone time and get back to being me and not just a mum!
The book I’m reading at the moment…
Apart from the many books I read to my daughter that we borrow from the library, I am reading “Sonderkommando” written by Shlomo Venezia. I am fascinated by history and how it contributed to form who we are now.
My perfect holiday…
At my favourite hotel K2 in Madesimo in the mountains on the border between Italy and Switzerland. I love skiing and every year I look forward to ‘la settimana bianca’ translated ‘the white week’ which brings me back to when I was a child. Good memories.