TALKS
Interview with Alba and Khaled from Plateselector
Today we talk to Alba and Khaled, the duo behind Plateselectoris an agency and media specialising in gastronomy, and has become one of the best directories for finding out where to eat in Barcelona and throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Their project is a must for food lovers, full of incredible recommendations and a unique vision of the gastronomic world. If you don't already know them, you can visit their website at find out more here. But their story is not limited to their work. Alba and Khaled are also the parents of Cala and Tarek.
In this interview, they tell us how they manage to juggle their busy professional lives with the challenge of bringing up two energetic children. How do they manage to get organised, find time for themselves and not get completely absorbed in their role as parents?With a lot of humour, creativity and complicity, Alba and Khaled reveal their daily lives and share their tips for managing an intense life.
Your routine is anything but boring! Today, we're going to find out how you manage to reconcile work, family and a little time for yourself. Tell us a bit about who you are and what your family life is like.
Alba : Hi, I'm Alba Yáñez, I run an agency called PlateSelectorwhich is also a media outlet specialising in gastronomy. I run it with Khaled, my husband.
Khaled: Hi, I'm Khaled and I'm co-founder of PlateSelector. We have two children: Cala, who is five, and Tarek, who is eight.
Office Plateselector / Salva López
Pouf pour enfant Nobodinoz L1N0
What is a typical day like in your family?
Alba : Our days always start with breakfast together at home. Mornings are always quite... 'fun' logistically speaking. Tarek usually dresses himself, but Cala has more trouble. She has trouble making decisions, especially when it comes to choosing clothes.
Khaled: I'm the king of breakfasts! I'm always the one who makes them (laughs).
Alba : That's true. But sometimes there are little dramas. If Cala doesn't like what we choose, we have to take a bit of time and a lot of patience to deal with that. But on the whole, it's quite funny. Once we've finished breakfast, which we always have together, we put everything away here on this table and leave for school.
How do you get to school and work?
Alba : The four of us usually go by bike. We love this routine. We take the kids to school, then cycle a few more streets to our Plate Selector office. Everything's close by, and it's a real pleasure.
Khaled: Yes, these bike logistics give us a breath of fresh air before we start work. We cycle to and from school and the office, and it works really well. A luxury, really.
La maison d'Alba et Khaled / Apartment Therapy
Bureau enfant et chaise Growing Green et organisateur mural matelassé Vibes Nobodinoz
How do you reconcile your demanding jobs with family life?
Khaled: We're lucky enough to be able to devote our afternoons to the children. We organise our days so that everyone has a moment to themselves. For example, on Mondays and Wednesdays, Alba picks up the children, and I have those afternoons free to do sport or something else. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it's the other way round. And on Fridays, we both go.
Alba : Yes, that's how we find a balance. The children also have extra-curricular activities, and we take advantage of these moments to get on with work or take a bit of time for ourselves. In the evening, we always have dinner together and talk about our day.
What are these family moments like in the evening?
Khaled: Over dinner, we always try to chat and share our day. We ask questions like, "What was the best and worst thing about your day?" It gives them a chance to think and express themselves.
Alba : Yes, and we also share our experiences. For example, we tell them, "Today we had a difficult meeting with a customer who was a bit unhappy. This helps them develop empathy and feel more comfortable talking about their own challenges.
Khaled: These are precious family moments. OK, it's not always perfect. Sometimes we ask questions and they don't want to talk, but generally it works well and it strengthens our bond.
How do you find time for each other?
Alba : We make sure we keep time for our personal lives. We take it in turns to organise free afternoons to do things we enjoy, like sport or ceramics. It's important to maintain our identity outside our role as parents.
Khaled: Yes, it helps us stay balanced, as individuals and as a couple.
What about weekends? What do you like to do with your family?
Khaled: We love spending time at home doing crafts or cooking. We paint, make little sculptures, and Cala loves kneading, making pizzas and experimenting in the kitchen.
Alba : We also enjoy climbing, eating out and organising barbecues with friends.And whenever we can, we travel. We swap houses with other families around the world, which allows us to discover places in a very local way. The children love exploring new toys in the houses we stay in and adapting to different environments.
Khaled: We've just come back from Brazil, where we spent some time in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. These experiences open children's minds so much. They adapt so well that it's as if they were made to travel.
Fundació Joan Miró
Taulat 44
El Camping
And speaking of your home, how do you choose your furniture and decor?
Khaled: For example, this table we're standing on came from Max Enrich, a friend of ours. He came to our house, we told him how much we liked his work, and he offered to do something special for our house.
Alba : We like furniture that has personality and beautiful design, but is also practical. It has to fit in with our daily lives. No furniture that's "too perfect": if there's a stain or a mark, it doesn't matter, it's part of its history.
Khaled: Yes, our furniture should reflect our lives. Children draw, colour and sometimes knock things over, but that's all part of the game. They're memories.
What three places in Barcelona would you recommend to enjoy with children?
Alba : We love having breakfast at Taulat 44. Their croissants are incredible, and Tarek is crazy about their bowl of chocolate.
Khaled: We're also big fans of the parks. Parc du Poblenou and Le Camping next door are great. There's a skatepark where kids can use their scooters or skates. Perfect for a family outing.
Alba : In terms of culture, we love the Fondation Miró. We're season ticket holders, and it's a museum we return to often. We also love cycling around the city, to the Forum or the Tres Chimeneas.
In a few words, how would you describe your family adventure?
Khaled: Spectacular.
Alba : It's incredible. It's an intense and wonderful adventure.
Khaled: I've always dreamt of being a father, but I never imagined that it would take on such importance. It's beyond anything you'd expect.
Alba : It's even more special for us because we grew up without clear father figures. Building a family is an incredible challenge, but so rewarding.
Khaled: Yes, it's an experience that has transformed and strengthened us, as a couple and as a family.
