Khoollect Content Coordinator, Bex Shannon

***Rachel Khoo would like to thank all the inspiring people who helped make the Khoollect studio a hive of creativity. Although the Khoollect studio’s doors have now closed, you can keep up with Rachel’s newest adventures on RachelKhoo.com and on Rachel’s Instagram and Facebook pages – and, continue to enjoy the Khoollect website’s stories and recipes, which will remain available.***

Meet Bex Shannon – trained journalist, turned cafe owner, turned Content Coordinator for Khoollect. It was almost by fate that this loud and lively New Zealander fell into her role at Khoollect during a three-week holiday in London. With a passion for words and creative writing, Bex’s internship quickly turned into a longer term stay with Khoollect.

A Day in the Life of Bex

Where do you call home? 

I was living in East London for six months, but I’m now temporarily back in New Zealand working for Khoollect from my dining table, in a very quiet, unpopulated area of the South Island.

How did you get your job with Khoollect?  

Via Instagram. I saw a post Rachel put up advertising a three-month internship. I applied without thinking really. I originally came to London on a three-week holiday, but somehow found myself completing interviews, doing writing tests, then rearranging flights, getting a flat sorted, a bike…

What’s it like working for a little start-up company? 

Great! It’s really nice to be part of a project from the very beginning and exciting to think about where things are heading and what might happen along the way.

Tell us about a day in the life of Bex Shannon at Khoollect? 

No day is ever the same. I could be out visiting people or places that we’re profiling on Khoollect, drafting interview questions, writing social media posts about what we’re up to, replying to fanmail, having meetings about upcoming editorial content, or writing posts for Khoollect.

What do you love most about your job?

My favourite part of the job is discovering new things and writing about them. We’re always meeting lots of foodies, creative types and entrepreneurs from around the world.

What’s your biggest achievement to date?

Well, before I started the job I wasn’t overly familiar with using a Mac. So, Lara would probably agree that logging into a computer on my own and sending a tweet without asking a million questions is a big deal!

What are your tips on scoring a job like this? 

Just be brave and go for it. It doesn’t matter if you don’t necessarily have the background or skills for the job – if you think you’ve got something to offer then apply.

Tell us about your workmates? 

I have great workmates. I’m super lucky to work with very talented people who I get to learn lots off every day. I can genuinely say they each inspire me in their own way. We laugh a lot!

Tell us about the work environment?

It’s a pretty chilled environment because we’re literally working from Rachel’s home.

It’s a bit like this: You’re tweeting away from your laptop around a little dining table with your two other workmates. Just over your shoulder in the kitchen, Rachel’s whipping up something for a YouTube shoot. We all chip in to tidy up and get the dishes done, then stop and make each other cups of tea. The doorbell rings – it’s a package for the next-door neighbour who’s out at work. Khoollect’s food editor Frankie swings by to discuss props for an upcoming photo shoot. The phone rings – it’s Rachel’s mum on the line.

That’s your average day.

Best Kept Secrets

I khoollect a few …   

Vintage and replica 1950s-style dresses. I have way too many (70 last time I counted, yikes), and collecting them has become a bad habit. I also love vintage and retro furniture, records, and display pieces. Anything old or with history.

Bex Shannon

What’s your favourite item in your khoollection? 

There’s a few vintage/retro items that I would really struggle to part with, particularly my 1960s formica dining table, ‘Monster Hits of the 60s’ LP record, and Humber 1957 vintage car.

A life lesson that you’d tell your younger self? 

Don’t waste your 20s worrying about what other people think. Forget the diets, have an opinion, and don’t do things to please other people.

What’s your secret ingredient or top tip in the kitchen? 

Never leave the dishes for the next day, and buy a really good chefs’ knife!

Favourite corner of the Internet?

Spotify.

Who’s your #khoollectcrush?

Marc Bolan

Dogs or cats? 

Both. I have two beagles, Betty and Percy, and a giant lump of a cat named Arthur.

Urban Favourites

Favourite food?

Vietnamese or Thai food – always light, lots of spice, and loads of fresh vegetables and herbs.

Top three spots to hang out in New Zealand?

Always by the sea. On the deck at my parent’s beach house in the little french-influenced village of Akaroa.

In Wellington (where I spent most of my 20s), the waterfront is perfect on a sunny day. Then there’s Cuba Street for vintage shopping and great cafes. The seaside cafe Maranui is a great spot to watch planes coming in and out, and the ferry struggling across the usually very rough, Cook Strait.

Wellington

Best way to spend a Sunday morning?

Sleep-in, make a lazy breakfast at home and read the paper, then go out for the rest of the day. A walk in the sun (if it’s shining), then go to the pub or visit friends.

Your favourite place for coffee?

New Zealanders are absolutely coffee-obsessed – we love the stuff and have such (sometimes annoyingly so) high standards. Here’s some of my favourites:

Flight Coffee Hangar in Wellington– owned by the Flight Coffee company, the coffee here is always great.

Aro Cafe in Wellington – a small cafe with friendly staff and great house-roasted coffee, this place smells amazing.

Addington Coffee Co-op in Christchurch – great building, really cool props, nice simple menu and on-site roasted coffee.

Modaks Espresso in Dunedin – really good cinnamon buns.

Favourite places to eat?

There’s far too many, but here’s some of my favourites from around New Zealand:

Cafe Hanoi in Auckland – the most delicious Vietnamese fusion dishes with matching cocktails.

Ortega Fishshack in Wellington – great food in a really quirky setting.

Maranui Cafe in Wellington – the best ocean outlook ever, amazing fresh food in a casual setting with super friendly staff.

Sweet Mother’s Kitchen in Wellington – cheap cajun soul-food, long shared tables and the best peanut butter milkshakes.

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Meet the rest of the Khoollect team

Editor-in-Chief, Rachel Khoo

Deputy Editor, Lara Messer

Food Editor, Frankie Unsworth

Head of Partnerships, Charlotte Lewis

Copy Editor, Sonya Gellert