Above: Dominic and Remy, 5, wearing Ruff & Huddle ruffandhuddle.co.uk
How has being a father changed your life?
Until I had my son, Remy, I spent my time between clubs and music industry events here in the UK and in Ibiza and Miama. After Remy was born I knew I couldn’t stay in that industry so I came up the idea for a street food market that would supply people coming in and out of nightlife venues. When I left working in clubs I gave everything up and took a whole year out to research burgeoning street food movements, and I would take Remy with me to every market.
Is he showing an interest in the family business?
At first he’d be like ‘daddy not another market?’ I’d be like ‘yeah but one day we’ll have our own market, and you can help me choose what we sell and who what it’s like…’ Now when he brings his friends along in the early evenings he has a lovely sense of ownership and everyone who works there knows who he is. We’ve got three markets across London now; it’s a perfect place for families – kids scooting around. Sometimes you see three generations eating together.
What would be your ultimate family meal?
The first thing Remy asks when he arrives at my place is ‘can we have chicken, rice and peas for dinner?’ It has to be cooked at least once over weekend or else the weekend is not complete. He also loves the food at Leon.
Where do you hang out when you’re together?
I have Remy every weekend. Last weekend we went off to Legoland for the day, which was intense and brilliant; his eyes were popping out of his head. We do all of that but I also live in a really quiet square, sometimes it’s nice just to kick a football about, help him to ride his bike. Simple stuff really. I try to take him all over the London. I grew up in Portabello and now we leave east; I don’t want him to be a stranger in any part of the city and I I want him to get a feel for all the diversity it holds.
You both look pretty smart. Any tips?
In the past two years Remy’s become particular about what he wears. Running around trying to find boutiques even as an adult is time-consuming so going to a one-stop shop is great. We usually go to to Selfridges, they always have a kids movie on he so he sits there and watches it while I pick out bits he can choose from. That way he has a sense of ownership even though I’ve essentially chosen it. Remy’s into it because he loves his prints, and for footwear he is big into Vans. I try to keep him away from the brands but having bought him a few pairs, now he is recognising what they are. I want him to take an interest in fashion without it becoming an obsession.
What would be the tune that best represents your time together?
At the moment for Remy it is all about that Pharrell tune, Happy – it’s all he’s interested in.
