Alice Roca

Could you tell us about your path?

I come from fashion: I have a degree in fashion et I have worked for several years as a stylist. My first job was to conceive collections for brands.

Since I’ve been living in Normandie, for the last 6 years, I’ve been working on freelance. Today, I have almost totally transitioned to cooking under the name of “Alice in Food” which is my Instagram account. For the most part, it consists in creating food recipes and digital content, make videos and pictures.

Everything I like about this field, what touches me the most and living in the country is highly inspired by plants and nature.

What do you like the most about your profession?

I think it is the fact that it isn’t really a single profession but several different professions at once, that it is very diversified. It goes from the conception of a universe, a table, from taking a picture to fabrication. I like putting my hands in dough.

Whether in cooking or in gardening, what drives me is to be linked with matter. I find my balance in this job, there is always a creative aspect, whether in the shape I choose for my dishes, in the picture I am going to take, the dressing of the table… that’s what I love about my job.

How did you go from fashion to food?

It happened naturally. Since I was young, I had a passion for food, whether it was cooking our eating. And what convinced me was when I moved to the countryside, when I started working as a freelancer in my stylist career, to be able to manage my time a lot better than when I was in an office 5 days a week, when I could not cook the way, I am able to do it, now that I’m on freelance.

Moreover, I think that being close from nature and getting inspired by my garden helped me conceive recipes, write my first book: it just happened naturally.

Could you talk about your particular relation with nature and countryside?

I believe that it is living it on a daily base, to be in touch with it. I grew up going to the countryside. At first my parents would bring me to their parents’ vacation home and then they bought their own house in the country. We use to go over there every summer, on holidays.

And now that I have been living in the countryside for several years, it became very important, it’s a link with the time that passes by. During the winter time, everything is slightly frozen, in hibernation and in the meantime, there can be brilliance when in summer, all of a sudden, flowers start growing and the garden is blossoming. It’s really being sensitive to the movement of nature, at its own path and that has a large impact on my drive to cook, eat and compose.

How did your new life in the countryside changed the way you dress, the way you approach fashion?

It’s funny because of course it pushes me toward more conformable clothes. I care less about the way I look. When I was working in Paris, I use to put make-up and to wear high heels. The first major change was to go flatter: clogs or slippers which was a very good thing for me feet actually! So of course, more comfort, more knit, but my attraction for clothes and fashion is still strong. I love colors, textures, creating looks, outfits, bringing a little bit of details: a scarf or some earrings.

It evolves because I don’t dress the same way but I still enjoy fashion as much. I just express it in a different way, with more pants for example. But I get a chance to dress-up sometimes, to use make-up and high heels when I go to Paris for work. I don’t consume as much as I use to. I buy less clothes, less handbags. I have fewer items but the ones I have are great quality.

How would you define your universe “Alice in food”?

It’s a little bit difficult talking about yourself, even if I am aware of what I do. What comes to my mind is: mixing the poetry of nature, colors, shapes... What attracts me with a mind state, a way of life, a lifestyle is a tribute to everyday beauty. Sometimes it’s small details, small beautiful thing, but things that make me feel good et, I hope, make other people that read me feel good.

What is your relation with our Le Mont Saint Michel work jacket, what does it mean to you?

For me, it is really the perfect jacket for mid-season. It is strong and ages well: that’s the beauty of it! The fabric is really super strong and I’m really comfortable knowing that it will evolve well with time and use. I like this a lot! It is a timeless piece and the quality is amazing. And the deep blue goes well with every outfit. It’s a small light in my garden, it brightens!

What is your upcoming project that excites you the most?

It is probably the beginning of my work for my next book, I really loved the work of writing for my first book. I am very excited de to move forward to a new project and to challenge myself to make it different: it’s my challenge for this year.