In our How She Does It column, we talk to inspirational mothers about work-life balance, favourite travel destinations, travelling with children, and how they really do it all. This month, we chatted to the talented cookery writer and mum-of-two Skye McAlpine.
Having moved to Venice at a young age, Skye’s much-loved cookbooks centre the Venetian flavours of her upbringing and celebrate the joy of eating with loved ones. Here, Skye tells us about raising a young family between her homes in London and Venice, what and who inspires her in both her career and daily life, and how she juggles it all.
Tell us about yourself?
I’m a cookery writer. I write cookbooks (my most recent books are A Table Full of Love and A Table For Friends), mostly with simple, largely Italian-inspired recipes. I also write a regular recipe column for the Sunday Times, and a Substack newsletter, The Dolce Vita Diaries. A few years ago, I also launched my own tableware line, Skye McAlpine TAVOLA, which is all hand-made in Italy. I live between London and Venice with my husband, Anthony, and our two boys, Aeneas, 11, and Achille, four.
Tell us more about your work?
It’s a juggle! I’m lucky that I’m constantly working on different projects. Some days, I might be researching and recipe developing for a new book or column; other days, I’ll be working on new tableware designs for TAVOLA or strategy for an upcoming collaboration or new project (most recently, we have a pop-up in Fortnum & Mason); some days, I’ll be working on a shoot either for editorial or for TAVOLA; and sometimes, it’s just me and my laptop, and I hide away to write, whether it’s for a book or for the Dolce Vita Diaries.
What inspires you in your career?
I love bringing people together around a table: it just makes me feel incredibly happy! So in some way, everything that I do stems from that, whether it’s creating simple recipes that make it easy and stress-free for people to host at home, or making plates and table essentials that make the process of hosting feel more special and look extra beautiful.
If you could give your past self one piece of advice about being a working mother what would it be?
Sleep when you can: everything feels more achievable and all problems feel surmountable on a good night’s sleep.
The three things that help you juggle everything?
I hate saying this because I have a love-hate relationship with it, but my phone: it has everything on it – my diary, my to-do lists, as well as my emails (so I can do them on the go) and school WhatsApp groups, etc. My husband: we take a divide and conquer approach to childcare and managing things, which I don’t know how I would manage without. We also have a wonderful nanny, who we would be lost without. And my team at TAVOLA: we’re a super and all-female tiny team. I feel incredibly lucky to work with such a talented group of women, who make everything possible but also fun to work on.
Have your career goals and aspirations altered since becoming a working mum?
When our first son was born, it really helped focus my mind that I wanted to do something I loved. It felt incredibly important to me that if I wasn’t going to be at home with him, what I was doing needed to feel worthwhile in some way. So, I started writing a recipe blog (now long defunct), and from that was commissioned to write my first cookbook and somehow from there everything else grew: more books, column, ad-hoc bits of writing here and there, collaborations, the tableware and now Substack.
If you had the power to change one thing for working mothers, what would it be?
I would make childcare easier and more affordable: one of the biggest challenges for working mothers is how much it costs, especially for mothers working in creative fields.
If you have a day to yourself, what do you do?
Quite often I’ll take it as an opportunity to hide away somewhere and write. I love writing, especially when I’m not juggling anything else. Or I’ll have a nice lunch and go for a walk with a girlfriend, or have our nails done together. Something fun and spoiling.
Heading ‘out out’ – where is your favourite spot?
Oh, my goodness – I don’t think I’ve been ‘out out’ in a while, but I love anywhere that gives me a chance to dress up. And I also love dancing, so anywhere with cheesy music is the dream.
Tell us about the best holiday you’ve taken with your children?
Earlier this year we took a family holiday to Mauritius and the boys loved it. Lots of water sports, building sandcastles and collecting shells on the beach. It was super relaxed and fun. We’ve also taken the boys to Marrakech a number of times – it’s always a very happy place for us, and they love it.
Favourite hotel ever – with or without children?
Without children: Passalacqua on Lake Como. It’s the most beautiful hotel right on the lake. When you stay there you feel like you’re stepping into a glamorous old movie, the kind that Grace Kelly might have starred in.
With children: we love the Beldi Country Club in Marrakech. It’s a 10-15 minute drive from the medina and the city centre, so it almost feels like being in the countryside, with fields of roses and lots of swimming pools. It’s like an oasis.
Can you share tips on what to do with children in Venice?
Venice is a magical city for children because it’s so safe and there are no cars, so they can run around happily and have an enormous amount of freedom. In the summer months, we love going to the beach on the Lido as a family: it’s a really fun thing to do with children.
Travel essentials with kids?
A packet of tissues and/or wet wipes; lots of snacks; a couple of books; and usually something that they like playing with, like a few toy cars.
Travel essentials without kids?
My laptop; headphones so I can listen to an audiobook on the plane; and a good book or magazine.
How do you think travel benefits your children?
It’s a very special thing to create memories together. My husband and I both work – and travel for work – quite a lot, so to have the time together, just the four of us, away from the distractions and worries of day-to-day life feels very precious. It’s also exciting to show the boys new places and new experiences and see how they react.
The best advice you would give to other mothers?
Don’t let yourself feel guilty. We’re all just doing our best.
Are there any women who inspire you?
I’m lucky to have so many girlfriends who are mothers, they inspire me daily with how they manage to juggle everything they do and the grace with which they do it. Seeing other mothers work, enjoy their work and forge their own way of parenting helps me believe that I can do it in my own way too.
How do you do it?
I try to pick my battles and focus only on the things that really matter, then just let the rest go. The most precious thing when you’re a working mother is time (there never seems to be enough, and there always seems to be so much to do!) so I try and be super mindful about how I spend it.
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Any Questions or Tips to add?