0 0 results
Your search so far return 0 results
Your search did not match anything. Try a different search?
Portman MarylebonePortman Marylebone
Shop | Eat & Drink | Stay | About

Home

  • Shop
  • Eat & Drink
  • Stay
  • Seymour place
  • New Quebec street
  • Chiltern street
  • Local highlights
  • About Us
  • Find Us
  • Editor´s Picks
  • News & Views
  • Marylebone Journal
Announcement
Words
Marylebone Journal
19 Jun 2018
The co-owner of Yeotown Kitchen on her happy relationship with food

Food philosophy: Mercedes Sieff

I was born in Canada, but my mother’s from Spain and my dad’s from west Africa. They were both good cooks. Everything was made from scratch. I grew up with paellas, lasagnes, African stews, okra and plantain, dry cod and tomato bread. They taught me the value of cooking for yourself, and the importance of food in terms of community, connectivity and family.

The biggest insult to our food would be if somebody said, “It tastes healthy”—we know what that really means. What we want you to say is: “It tastes good.” If we didn’t tell you anything was eliminated, you shouldn’t notice. It’s just lovely food.

If you remember to have your fresh-pressed green juice or your salad for lunch, why would you forget to look after your mind? That’s why we have the meditation station: pods that are pre-loaded with short guided meditations. You can sit down for five minutes—you have five minutes, everybody does—put it on and you don’t have to think. Then you’re really doing something healthy. Mindfulness is important; wellbeing goes beyond the physical.

One of the key aspects of positive psychology, which I am trained in, is character strengths. We all have them—they’re not talents, they’re virtues: courage, humour, zest, the ability to love and be loved, resilience, perspective. Rather than calling a dish a ‘lean green kale machine’, we’ve called them things like ‘gratitude bowl’. I wanted to inspire people. The happiest people are those who use their strengths on a regular basis. The menu is a reminder of that.

There’s more and more research into the link between the gut and mind. They’re seeing it as a second brain—I’m no expert, but I absolutely believe that. Think about it: when you eat something that you know is not great, how do you feel? Or when you’re in a bad mood, what do you go for, the kale or the ice cream? What you’re putting in your body, is going to affect your overall wellbeing—we’re whole beings, we’re not just our physical bodies.

We don’t use refined sugars, we don’t use dairy. We don’t do meat, but we have fish options. The point is to take a break: we’re not saying never eat those foods, never have a cup of coffee or glass of wine, but we encourage people to make a few small changes that are sustainable. Maybe they will feel better for it, maybe they won’t; everybody is different.

Eating well is so much about habit—is one slice of pizza bad for you? No. A whole pizza every day? That’s a problem. There’s no such thing as ‘good’ food or ‘bad’ food or ‘clean’ food—it’s the quantity that’s consumed and the attachment you have to it that matters.

I have two young kids, so I try to balance out my busy working life—if we’re in Devon we go to the beach, we go swimming, we get out and about. When I’m here, I go to my own yoga classes, I do muay thai boxing, I love to walk, meet my friends and make sure I stay social. We travel a lot—we go to Bali every summer. It’s very easy to get buried in work and caught up in your own thoughts. It’s important to have fun.

Interview: Ellie Costigan 

Image: Guy Harrop, James MacDonald

Also Popular

Philglas & Swiggot: Tools of the trade

Philglas & Swiggot: Tools of the trade

Angelique van Bommel of Philglas & Swiggot on a vital piece of vinous equipment Read more
Zetter Townhouse: Parlour Games

Zetter Townhouse: Parlour Games

Seymour’s Parlour at The Zetter Townhouse is one of London’s most distinctive, inventive bars. The Journal pays a visit to hear the elaborate fiction that underpinned its creation and discover how stories of Uncle Seymour are rendered into boozy form Read more
Portman Marylebone welcomes Everbean Deli

Portman Marylebone welcomes Everbean Deli

Seymour Place is seeing no glimmer of the much-feared January blues, thanks in large to the arrival of Everbean Deli, which has now opened its doors on the street.   Read more

Stay in touch

The Portman  Estate
 
40 Portman Square, London W1H 6LT
  • The Portman Estate


  • Customer Service
  • Terms & Conditions
  • www.portmanestate.co.uk
  • Portman Marylebone

  • About Us
  • Find Us
  • Editor´s Picks
  • News & Views

Privacy Policy Cookie Notice Site Map © The Portman Estate
Visit Seymour Place    Visit New Quebec street    Visit Chiltern street

Join our newsletter Promotions · News · Events

Thank you for subscribing. Please look out for an email from us with further instructions.
Almost there! Please enter your full name.
The email address you have entered is already registered. Please choose another one.
Some required information is missing or incomplete. Please make sure all required entries are complete and then try again.
Your e-mail address will not be used to send unsolicited e-mails, and will not be sold or shared with a 3rd party.

Thank you for verifying your email address

You have now been added to the mailing list and will receive the next email information in the coming weeks. If you ever wish to unsubscribe, simply use the "Unsubscribe" link included in each newsletter.