Meet The Team
Meet The Team
Mel Larsen, Mel Larsen & Associates Bespoke Marketing & Business Services
Role: Streatham Food Festival Director
The first thing that will strike you about meeting Mel for the first time is how utterly lovely she is, both to look at and in her spirit. The second is how passionate she is about many things but in particular how totally bonkers she is about Streatham. Proof of her passion for the area can be found in the fact that she is responsible for creating many of Streatham’s numerous festivals including, The Streatham Festival, and The Little Big Peace Festival. Of the Food Festival she said ….
“Food and eating, what’s not to like? What a fabulous gift of expression, culture and vitality it is. Personal favourites include raw okra, Mexican rice, chicken and (drum roll…) fish curry”
”If you were a vegetable which would you be, and why?
Actually you’ll find me in the fruit section- I’m definitely a mango! Why? Loves the sunshine, looks radiant when fresh and surprisingly versatile 
Ann-Marie Baptiste: PR, Marketing, Events Consultant:
Role: Streatham Food Festival Producer & Programmer’
Work hard and play hard would be Ann-Marie’s motto. She is very clear on what she likes and doesn’t like and is not afraid of saying it but in a good way. She has a wicked sense of humour and will have you laughing in seconds. When you meet her you will smile at her infectious enthusiasm for whatever project she is currently working on.
When asked about the Festival she said …
“Food Food glorious Food. j’adore food – but it’s got to be flavoursome. I absolutely believe that you can taste passion in food. The palate never lies. The Food Festival is an opportunity to get creative and to push the boat out a bit whilst celebrating the best that Streatham has to offer”
If I was a vegetable what would you be?I would defo be a Brussel sprout, why? Because they are a much maligned vegetable, and people don’t quite know what to do with them, but trust me, when you find their flavour you’ll love them forever.
Anna Nolan, Super mum and Voice Over artist
Role: Festival Administration & Social Media
Anna is our very own super-model and award winning mum of gorgeous twin girls, Liv and Stella. Anna will be featured in the April issue of Marie Claire Magazine as one of Proctor & Gamble’s Champion Mums. Although she would not tell you, but you will certainly see it, Anna worked as a model for a number of leading magazines and is now in demand as a voice-over artist. A keen advocate of all things Streatham, Anna fiercely ensures the food festival machine is well oiled and ship shape. Of the food festival she says …
“Having lived in Sweden, France, Israel, Denmark, USA and the UK, I am very curious about, and absolutely LOVE food… All kinds of food.
So, for me, organizing a food festival is a bit of a dream come true. The fact that it is happening in my long term hood of Streatham, made it even more of a ‘must be involved’ thing!”
What vegetable would you be and why:
“A Swede, of course!”
Charlene Ferguson, Web Developer
Role: Web developer, app developer
A more enthusiastic team member you would be hard pushed to find. If you are feeling out of sorts find Charlene as she will always have a ready smile and a hug that makes it all alright. A New Zealand native, living across the river, in North London (boo hiss) we just knew the team would be incomplete without her.
When asked about her involvement in the Streatham Food Festival she said …
“I love food too. Especially the eating part! Why am I involved? I love being part of a team …fab people who know how to make things happen. There is something rather powerful and enthralling about being able to contribute to the community whilst learning loads at the same time. It’s brilliant”
If I was a vegetable what would I be?
I would be a Kumara, which you will know as the Sweet potato. That’s the veg for me!
Zoe Robinson: fashion and lifestyle writer, stylist and consultant,
Role: Editor Food Festival Magazine
Zoe, Zoe, Zoe, what can we say about the adorable Zoe… She is smart, clever, funny and has an incredible eye for style and symmetry plus she is a fabulous writer. Like many of the team Zoe is a proud Streathamite who lives and works in the area. Asked about her thoughts on the Food Festival she said.
“If I’m not eating then it’s highly likely I’m thinking about food. I enjoy making up new recipes with whatever is in the fridge and I’m looking forward to the Food Festival cooking demos to learn a few more tricks”
If I was a vegetable what would I be?
I would be a mis-shapen or undersized cucumber. I would campaign for the rights of the millions of quirky, unappreciated fruit and veg across the land that are rejected as waste by the supermarkets. There’s no reason anyone should go hungry just because we’re a bit nobbly and funny looking – waste not want not!
Ben Norum
Role: Festival Volunteer and Coordinator
When Ben arrived we just knew he was a gift from food heaven. How lucky were we…? just check out his credential …. He is an avid foodie involved in markets, festivals and events around London as well as reviewing restaurants, bars and experiences for several publications. He’s a devout south Londoner and keen to show off the fact that the area boasts some of the UK’s best edible offerings. How deliciously lucky were we that he popped into our in box when we were tearing our hair out looking for a very special volunteer!!! As we said a perfect fit straight from foodie heaven
If you were a vegetable what would you be?
I’d be an onion as they have so many different layers and are hugely versatile. Not because they make people cry..!
Talicia Dutchin
Role: Festival Volunteer and Social Media
Talicia may be the baby of the team but she is a bundle of joy to be around. When describing Talicia, two words spring to mind. Shy, determined and dynamic. Ok we know that’s three but who the heck is counting!
A relative newbie to the UK, Talicia is a Canadian writer and photographer and we are incredibly blessed that she agreed to become a volunteer for this year’s food festival. She says she joined the Streatham Food Festival team because she likes volunteering and wanted to do something in her new community.
Explaining the rather cute photo she said “I was originally going to crop it down so my dad was cut out, but then I decided to leave him in, because I’m shoving my birthday cake in his mouth, so it’s kind of fitting; even at a young age, I knew what food I liked and insisted other people like it too (especially birthday cake).”
If you were a vegetable what would you be?
I’d be a bell pepper, because they are colourful and go well with almost anything.
