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Viktoria Zadorozhnaya: "I really like guests - meeting, receiving and setting the tables"
My new interview in the column #YouSparkle is a story about how love helps to be the mother of a large family, the owner of a large hotel and a beauty 24/7. We are talking about Vika Zadorozhnaya, the founder and manager of the Redling hotel and restaurant, where we met for this conversation. Happy reading.
Jordan: — Vika, hello. My first question is, of course, about Redling - how did it come about and how did you come to the field of hospitality in general?
Victoria: — I was at home on maternity leave, the children were growing up — and I realized that I wanted my own business. My husband suggested that we build apartments that we would rent out. Instead, I suggested building a hotel and a small restaurant. We made this decision, and I started studying. At first glance, the hotel business seemed simple to me, but in reality it is not like that at all, so I continue to study even now. We conceived Redling about six years ago - we were under construction for three years, and the hotel itself is now two and a half years old.
And: — What did you do before that?
A: — I worked for my parents in a plumbing store — my parents were engaged in this business for more than twenty years. In general, I studied law at the Institute of Internal Affairs, but at the age of 18 I started working for my parents and soon became a director. And then I got pregnant and went on maternity leave. My parents were waiting for me to come back, because I, like you, was a good seller (smiles). By the way, I met my husband at work.
I: — In the store?
A: — Yes, he is my client (laughs). After the birth of my first child, I soon became pregnant for the second time and did not return to work - I was absorbed by family life. And, of course, the big house also took a lot of time - and the constant guests in it. I really like guests - meeting, receiving and setting the tables.
And: — Is it the parents?
A: — My parents also loved guests, but it seems to me that this is more than grandmothers. She still likes to cook a lot and invite guests to the table, likes everyone to get together. I remember that every Saturday at my grandmother and grandfather's house, the table was set for the entire room, guests came, and the accordion sounded. They sang, danced, had fun - I like it. And my great-grandmother and great-grandfather were both chefs. I still have their old cookbooks. They lived in the post-war period on Frantzuzsky Boulevard, all kinds of celebrities from Moscow came to them - they fed them all kinds of delicacies such as stuffed pigeons. Apparently, all this was passed on to me genetically (she smiles).
And: — What kind of food do you like?
A: - I'm sorry. Homemade I also like restaurant food, but it should be unusual - the kind that you can't prepare at home. At home, I like to cook simply and quickly - I fry the cutlets in a pan in 20 minutes: I fry them on both sides and send them to the oven to cook. I like puree with cutlet and sauerkraut (laughs). Herring with potatoes in uniforms. But the potatoes must be excellent, specially selected for this at the market.
And: - Tell me more.
A: — Everyone knows me at the bazaar. I order potatoes there immediately from the residents - the family is big, we make big purchases at home. Now I love lemon potatoes - they make great mashed potatoes, my favorite is pureed potatoes. And if you cook in uniforms, I recommend the Israeli rozovayu in "Sadakh Pobedy". It's just a bomb! The other day, we boiled potatoes, bought various fish to go with it, and had a great time.
And: — Do you cook in your family? Or the spouse too?
A: — I cook, and he likes to eat delicious food. By the way, he also likes home-cooked food, and when I don't have time to cook, he very reluctantly agrees to eat at a restaurant.
And: — How do you divide your responsibilities at the hotel? Does your spouse work with you or do you do it yourself?
A: — He does not get involved in operational work, but I share everything with him, we talk and discuss a lot.
My husband teaches me how to manage: to explain, control, double-check and at the same time remain calm.
He often repeats to me: "The calmer you are, the better they will perceive you."
And: — Do you feel that Redling is your life's work? Are you ready to dedicate the rest of your life to him?
A: — I don't know how it will be: today it is ready, and tomorrow everything can change. There are periods of very strong fatigue - I can drive past the hotel for several days and not even go inside. And then I reboot — and I want to do everything again: invent, change, organize.
And: — What are your goals for the next hour related to the hotel?
A: — I want to build a new passage to the sea from the hotel — it is in very poor condition here. Overcome the fear of saying goodbye to people who don't want to develop and that hinder the development of my business. And of course, they will earn money, because I want to open another restaurant - in the city center. Many guests ask for this in order not to come here specifically. I also have big plans that relate to the automation of all possible processes in the hotel, next year I plan to launch an internal school with training videos for the staff - to improve their qualifications and to make it easier to introduce new people to the business. But the problem is that I am now without a manager - I am alone.
And: — Do you feel the need for a good manager?
A: — Yes, of course, but I can't find it. You know, this is a person who has to live here 24/7, constantly be aware of everything. Those who already tried for this position lacked multitasking. After all, the hotel is not only about guests. This is also electricity, water, boiler room - something constantly breaks down, you need to know where to call, where to urgently repair. It all works well for me, because I have a lot of experience with a large private house. The management position requires a person who is ready to take responsibility, grow and develop. Now I'm looking for a restaurant director - the vacancy is open (laughs).
And: — Vika, and now let's move on to questions about you. Let's start with your day - what does your weekday and your day off consist of?
A: — Let's start with the everyday. I hate getting up early, but I have to. I get up at seven in the morning, I prepare breakfast for the whole family, the children and husband have breakfast, then I send everyone to school and to work. Fortunately, I am not the one who drives the children to school. Then my youngest daughter Emilia wakes up - and we have breakfast together with her. After that, I go to the gym, but when I'm on the phone at work, I wear headphones. Then I often go for styling - I don't like it when my head is stale. And then I go to work - that's all, I'm here all day. My day starts and ends with the restaurant. I spend a lot of time in the restaurant - more than the hotel.
And: — What is the ratio of hotel guests and simple restaurant guests in the restaurant?
A: — Now more Odessans come here than hotel guests. It is clear that people who visit the hotel come here to have breakfast (breakfast is included in the price of accommodation), try it, and then come for dinner with pleasure. But in any case, there are more Odessans here. Especially in the summer, when we organize musical evenings or parties.
I'm sorry that there is a stereotype that the restaurant at the hotel is bad. We want to destroy him.
Do you have that?
And: — No, I have a good experience. Due to the fact that my first restaurants at hotels were in Shanghai, then in Paris, I immediately understood that the best restaurants are at hotels. We simply do not have this culture in Ukraine.
A: — Yes, and many of our guests are genuinely surprised that we have delicious food. And then when they come to the hotel again, for a week, they just don't get out. Some people don't even go to the sea - they spend all their time in hotels and restaurants.
And: — What time do you finish the working day?
A: — I have a non-standard working schedule — it all depends on the current processes. Now we're adjusting the menu - I'm free somewhere at nine-thirty in the evening. Of course, I can turn around and leave when I want, but then I'll be on the phone the rest of the time.
And: — Are the children still awake at home at this time, are they waiting for your return?
A: — Yes, not sleeping. I come home, we lie around watching TV, talking about how the day went. Everything, except for Misha - he recently withdrew. He is about to turn ten, he has online games, boys, everything. Says to me: "Mom, hello, how are you? The main thing is to do a red manicure, red is your color." do you understand (laughs).
And: — It's true, the red one is yours (smiles). And how old are the other children?
A: — Nika is eleven and a half years old, and Emilia is two and a half years old.
And: - It turns out, Emilia is the same age as the hotel?
A: — Yes, I gave birth to Emilia — and the hotel opened exactly one month later.
And: — What is your favorite part of the day?
A: - Breakfast - when everyone left, except for us and Emilia. I like to have a quiet and tasty breakfast. And I really like the hall - I completely reset there. And I also love Friday evening - our meetings with friends. My husband calls Friday night a motorist's day (laughs).
And: — Do you spend Saturday and Sunday at home?
A: — We always play with friends on Saturdays in the summer. And on Sunday at home, yes, it's always a day off. Everyone is at home, I always prepare dinner, we have dinner with the whole family.
And: — Do you invite friends home?
A: - No, not now - we accept everyone in the restaurant. There are so many people in our life — it's hard. And at home, there are also a lot of workers, household helpers, without whom I wouldn't be able to do anything. There is also control, checklists and a work plan for the day: who needs to do what. I have a nanny and a housekeeper. In general, two nannies and two housekeepers work in shifts - the second one comes to help on weekdays. I really like cleanliness, I am a crazy pedant. I like it to be perfectly clean and everything is laid out in its place. All windows are clean, regardless of the time of year. The tulle is all rewashed, bed linen and towels are always fresh. Even agencies tell me that they won't find me a housekeeper, because I want to be in a hotel. But I love it so much.
And: - Now it is clear why you have a hotel - as if it could not be any other way. Is that how you treated the house and the hotel?
A: — Yes, to the hotel. It was always like that.
And: — What is your strength?
A: — It is difficult to answer this question. I think my strength is that when I'm in a good mood and things are going well, I can motivate people very well. I charge them.
And: — This is your strength as a leader. And your strength as a person, as a mother?
A: — I always try to look good — I always have a clean head, a fresh manicure, and a well-groomed appearance. I can't do it any other way.
And: — What talent would you like to have?
A: — I would like to sing beautifully. Yes, I sing terribly, but I like it when someone sings beautifully (laughs).
And: — What is your main shortcoming in yourself?
A: - Perhaps the desire to keep everything under control is simultaneously my weakness, because I drive myself away with it. I don't allow myself to relax, I don't know how to stop in time, I don't know how to rest.
And: - Judging by what you are talking about your spouse, it is precisely he who teaches you to move quickly, but not at maximum speed.
A: — Yes, yes, that's right.
And: — Does his example not motivate you to slow down? In all processes. Do not stop, namely slow down.
A: — I didn't listen to the ego before, I'm stubborn. And now I'm already starting to listen, I agree to pause, exhale.
And: — What is a modern woman for you?
A: — First, feminine. I sometimes miss this - I'm a man in pants, you know. When I realize this, I slow myself down.
In my opinion, a modern woman is feminine, sexy, calm.
She is in love and happiness - she is doing her favorite thing and enjoys it. He loves himself and the people around him.
And: — The first thought with which you wake up in the morning.
A: — I want to sleep (laughs). When will I sleep? According to the law of meanness, it's hard to get up on a weekday, and on the weekend, when I can sleep longer, I wake up at seven in the morning. And if there was a party the day before, then I can generally wake up at six.
And: — With what thought do you fall asleep?
A: — Thank you for the day. I always thank you for my children, they are amazing. In general, my family is my support. I can be tired, upset, but when I see children, they charge me. And my husband supports me very much. It happens that he is angry that I am not at home, but he praises me very much for the fact that I devote myself so much to my work.
And: — Was there any event in your youth, some concession of yours, after which you realized that you had grown up? At what point did the internal click associated with adulthood occur?
A: — Yes, I still don't feel like an adult (smiles). Seriously. I don't feel like I'm 36 at all. I'm still 23 inside, and I'm comfortable there, despite the amount of responsibility I bear. But in my youth I often went against my parents. I always had boyfriends who were many years older than me, my husband was generally a bandit - two meters tall, chains, weapons, shooting under the porch and all that. I'm 16, he's 26. My parents were very against it, dad took my phone away, forbade me to go out with it. And then it seemed to me that this is an adult life and I'm cool (laughs).
And: — It's cool that you've been building relationships since you were young. Few people do it. Did you have a good example in your family?
A: — Yes, I grew up in a complete family. My mother did not work for a long time - she devoted all her time to my sister and me. She cooked, cleaned, escorted to school, met, was in the school parent committee. In general, there was a mother-mother (she smiles). Of course, I am no longer so fanatical about parenting, I try to stay away from parental committees (laughs).
And: — Tell us about your style in your youth. How did you dress?
A: — I have always liked to dress beautifully and I have always liked expensive things. And somehow it turned out that I always did not specifically choose things that were more expensive than my sister's. My parents were constantly indignant about this, but still, my mother bought me everything I wanted.
And: — Does mother herself like things?
A: — Yes, very much. Shopaholicism is my mother's (laughs).
And: — What prompts you to buy things?
A: — I always want to wear something new, I get high from it. I don't get high, you know when? When you need to disassemble the dressing room (laughs).
And: — And the spouse chooses his own clothes?
A: - No! Only with me. We also come to your store together - he doesn't go shopping alone at all.
And: — How did you get to Ogonyok for the first time? I remember you bought a Retrofete dress, but it was not your first visit to the store.
A: — And before that I bought a Sleeper dress, I saw it on Instagram. I came to buy one, and in the end I bought the other - my theme (laughs). Moreover, I always buy easily and quickly, I don't like to think for a long time. If you like it, I'll take it all!
And: — And you bought Retrofete for some event.
A: — Yes, it was my birthday, and the dress I ordered for the occasion turned out to be too short. And I went to get a new dress. The husband asked: "Do you have anything to wear?". And I replied: "No, I always have nothing to wear" (laughs).
And: — You are such a girl at these moments (laughs).
A: — Well, yes (smiles).
And: — Is it important for you that your things are different from others?
A: — Yes, I like it. I don't like it when friends in the company are dressed in the same clothes.
And: - I understand. Me too.
A: - You don't like it either? I thought I was greedy. You understand, people don't want to think for themselves, they just want to copy.
And: — I am happy when clients wear things that I wear. I think it's cool.
A: — But not your friends with whom you play. Because you want to be unique in your style.
And: - Of course. I just have so many different friends, everyone spends money on completely different things. And there is no danger that they will dress like me.
A: - This is more likely a female thing, it works differently for women: "My husband really likes how Vika was dressed, it can be the same."
And: — In this case, you need to contact stylists. We are constantly told that our strength is in styling. One and the same thing cannot suit everyone - that's why a stylist is needed to choose the image.
A: — Understood, my friends will also send Ogonyok (laughs).
And: — What is your favorite thing from Ogonka?
A: - I really like Sleeper dresses - I always get compliments when I wear them.
And: — My last question, which I ask all the guests of my interviews: what is Ogonyok for you?
A: — Light is a style. Style and lightness. I really like the ease of service, and it's easy to get there. I come to you to rest, look and buy. Quickly (smiles).
Here is Vicki:
Favorite book: сейчас у меня board book "Life in pleasure" by Alexander Palienko
Favorite movie : "Esh. pray Love." Sometimes I want to do like the main character: go on a long vacation to different countries and rethink my whole life.
Favorite thing: I love expensive bags. I love Louis Vuitton (laughs).
A wish for readers: I wish everyone to be in constant love everywhere and in everything. In love and peace. Because when there is calmness and a sober mind, all decisions are made correctly. And when they are accepted even in love, it's generally a thrill.