Our Fathers’ Stories

As you all hopefully know by now, this Sunday is Father’s day. A day to celebrate the men that raised us, that taught us how to ride bikes, how to fish, how to laugh and how to sneak an extra biscuit when mum isn’t looking!

We thought we would share our fathers’ stories; the father’s behind the HelloFresh team – with some epic photos to match!

“I absolutely miss his Sunday roasts. There’s always something new thrown in every week like chilli spiked gravy”

Meet little Daniel and his dad Huw. Daniel has grown into a fantastic customer care team leader! And well, his father is somewhat of a HelloFresh hero – spending his spare time growing all the family vegetables on his allotment – even throwing them into his HelloFresh recipes when he has a courgette or two going spare! He grows a whole plethora of weird vegetables from soya beans to lemon cumbers and neon coloured radishes. We love his approach to food!

To take this even further, he volunteers at a food bank for disadvantaged families around Dundee and loves to cycle. He and Daniel’s mum have recently discovered their love for travel and discovery – next on their list is Vietnam!

A healthy, vegetable farming, food philanthropist with a sense of adventure – wow. What a food revolutionary – great job Huw!

 

“I love his spicy prawn fajitas. The secret is to marinate the raw prawns the night before. I make him cook them for me every time I visit home”

Camilla, our culinary manager, was brought up by Julian – the Dr. Who enthusiast who loves all things adventurous. They even lived in Barbados for a while and ate flying fish and plantain chips on the regular! His love of hunting and shooting has made him into a great maker of a good old casserole or hot pot, which his family adore. Julian’s all time favourite food would probably be Camilla’s mum’s rhubarb crumble – although, apparently, he’d never admit it! So, mum’s the word!

“There’s nothing in this world that he likes more than football… not even me!”

If you haven’t met our hilarious business development manager, Dovas, you are missing out (watch this video for some of his dance moves). Big kudos to his dad Gercas Žakas, for raising such a comedian. Dovas believes that his dad’s favourite food is herring with potato and sour cream from his days growing up in the Soviet Union. Although Gercas may not be the best cook in the world, his son really misses his scrambled eggs with ham. MMMMmmm, scrambled egg and ham. YUM!

“His favourite food is anything my mum makes!”

Check out Reda and her fun loving dad, Misghina. Reda, one of our lovely customer care agents, claims that there is nothing her dad enjoys more than relaxing on the shore of a white sandy beach. Her mum is definitely the chef of the house, as Misghina hasn’t cooked since he was at university back in the ’70s. All I can say is, Reda’s mum must be quite the cook!

Happy Father’s day Misghina!

“Dad loves cleaning his BMW”

People often say”like father, like son”. When they say that, were they referring to this photo of Elliot and his dad? I genuinely giggled a lot at their matching outfits and proud expressions!

With Commander Mike Jenkins as a father, it’s no wonder Elliot, our transport manager, is a force to be reckoned with at the office with his quick witted comments punctuating the days. Elliot may be a red head, but he can’t compete with Mike when it comes to fieryness. Commander Jenkins was kicked out of the room when his wife  was in labour with Elliot for having an argument with the nurse. But to be fair, the nurse was kicked out too! Chilli is his favourite food and how fitting!

“He is always asking me to take him to motorcycle museum in London, but I haven’t found one yet.”

Here is a photo of Francesca’s dad, Renzo, racing at the grand of 70. What an absolute legend! He has been racing all his life and collects old bikes. Francesca says that one of his favourite things to do is finding old and antique pieces and create an original version of old bikes.  He raced in the Isle of Man too, which is supposed to be one of the hardest and most intricate circuits.

“I really really miss his “bami” (noodles with chicken, ham and lots of veggies). As kids, we were always allowed to choose dinner on our birthdays and this was always my number one choice.”

How adorable is little Renee? That hat…!

From a family of hat wearers, these guys are also seriously into their food. Our product development guru, Renee, believes in great quality food and that what’s inside your HelloFresh box should always be the best! From what she has told me, we definitely have her father, Michel, to thank for this. When he isn’t cooking delicious Ottalenghi inspired food, he’s out walking the family dog and now that all the meat-loving kids have flown the nest, he cooks delicious vegetarian dishes for Renee’s mum. Keen to stay healthy, Michel is often lured away from the veggies, when his kids return and fall back into their mischievous chip eating ways!

“Even though my mum is the amazing cook, I used to watch my dad in awe every time he made a tuna mayo jacket potato!”

So, here is my dad, Nick. I have inherited my slightly crooked photo smile from him – you know that scene in friends when Chandler can’t smile for the camera? That’s my dad all over. His strengths definitely outweigh the dodgy camera face. He is like an encyclopedia of history and political knowledge and he’ll look over at me with a concerned face as I get the date of the Battle of Hastings wrong… After 32 years of fatherhood, he still thinks that his “secret” chocolate drawer is a secret from us all – I definitely inherited my outrageous love of chocolate from him. When I was younger I was a self-professed tomboy and at age three my mum found me with shaving foam all over my face and a razor at the ready to “shave my beard” because I “wanted to be like dad”.

He taught me how to make proper tea, how to scramble eggs “correctly” and how to laugh at everything. Thanks Dad!