Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you?
My name is Catherine de Gongre and co-owner of La Pincée. When I was little, my head was full of plans, desires and opportunities and I knew I wanted to live by working all my senses. It is the kitchen that creates the bridge between my desire to share, meet passionate people and my interest in music, film, art and colors. This business plan for me is an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
What I like above all, is to create unique flavors and textures with raw materials from here and elsewhere: spices, herbs, flowers and various sea salts to give dimensions, in A Pinch, to recipes every day.
Your current job:
I dedicate myself fully to La Pincée, I do not wear many hats at once.
In which city:
Candiac . I am fortunate to find myself close to several local producers from where I get supply of some fresh ingredients.
The model of your phone:
Rectangular something that I only use as a phone during the day to avoid time-consumption. Otherwise, I spend too much time using too many endless features and options of the phone…
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Free creative and inspired.
What tools are essential to your life?
My hands and Google Maps. As La Pincée radiates on the island of Montreal and its surroundings, this application has quickly become a must.
What does your office space look like?
To my delight, it is a kitchen-laboratory in a workshop devoted to La Pincée where nice smells and mixture of perfumes. Otherwise, my office is mobile. I walk with my computer from my workshop to my home…
Do you listen to music while working?
Obviously, I listen to various genres of music, a cross of Chopin, M Ward, Martin Leon, Tom Waits, Daught, The Lumineers, Edith Piaf, with no helmet, Callas, Patrick Watson, Beirut and so on.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your productivity?
A good weekly planning and daily goal.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Reserve time for yourself to return to your ideas.
You’re better than your colleagues in:
Preparing small snacks, for a productive afternoon.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
Do not forget who you are… Although, sometimes getting lost is the best way to find yourself… Otherwise , think, observe and breathe!
What is your best tip to save time?
Planning. Work and family.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
As I chose to make two beautiful children, I wake up them up and guide them through their morning routines. I read and respond to my emails. I check my goals for the day. I go to the workshop. I prefer to do my work before noon. In the late afternoon, I make calls before returning to school for my children; a great source of inspiration, learning and balance in my life. In the evening, I write my recipes and my ideas down, I draw or read biographies, articles, journals on entrepreneurship or cookbooks. I sleep with a notebook and a pencil at my side, to record night ideas…
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget you cannot go without?
My intuition, my kettle for a tea in the afternoon and my folding bike.
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