Sara Mitchell is one-half of the husband and wife duo behind the hugely successful Poulet Bonne Femme rotisserie chicken and meats business. She’s based in Dublin with her family.
My day starts… early. I have two boys, Samuel and Marc and an eight-month-old baby, JJ, all of who seem to think the day starts before the sun comes out! In a way it’s a great thing because we are ready for school long before we need to leave.
I walk… the boys to school every day, it’s only around the corner, but it’s a lovely way to start the day. Then I drop the baby back home, and head off to work.
A typical day… doesn’t exist. We have four shops: Monkstown, Suffolk Street, Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue so I spend a lot of the day going between them.
I find working for myself… very flexible when it comes to the boys, I feel lucky that if I need to be at home, I can be. I have a desk at home where I work if they are sick or just need me. On the other hand, you find yourself working all the time, even with a newborn baby.
The best thing about being a parent is… it’s like having three little best friends with you all the time. I love it.
Since becoming a mum… my life has completely changed. The main differences are time and responsibility. When my first child was born I couldn’t believe I had full responsibility for another human being, it’s quite scary, but you get used to it – it’s hard to remember a time when all I worried about was what to wear and where I was going on a Friday night.
My favourite way to spend time with the kids is… going to The People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire; we live beside it – it’s my favorite park in Dublin. I love watching them play with a Fallon & Byrne coffee in-hand! Many of my friends live locally, so I get to catch up with them at the same time. Simple pleasures.
The one piece of advice I’d give other Mums is… enjoy every minute; it goes by way too fast.
I’d like my children always to remember… ‘What goes around comes around’. Be kind.
I really enjoy… what I do, it doesn’t feel like I need to juggle my life, Poulet Bonne Femme is our life, it is so much a part of everything we do.
I couldn’t do it all… without my team, I have so much support; I am so lucky and so grateful. Usually, I have my week well planned, but there are always last minute changes where I rely on family and friends to take the boys while I dash off to a meeting.
I like nothing more than… cooking a meal for extended family or friends. Sunday afternoons spent slow cooking in the kitchen, reading the papers and sipping at a glass of wine. It’s the most relaxed day of the week. The furthest we travel is across to the farmers market where we started our business – it’s great to go as a customer as well as to catch up with old market friends.
Heaven is … a family holiday. We are just home from two weeks in Spain. It was literally heaven on earth. Amazing weather, delicious food and great company. I couldn’t ask for more. It’s so lovely to have all that time as a family.
