Teatime: Meet Mara Finley

This week’s Kindred TeaTime interview is with Mara Finley, the “woman behind the woman”  (founder Cynthia Cummins) at Kindred. Mara is a dedicated reader and writer, and – from her days in service at Michelin-star restaurants – she knows a thing or two about fine food, drink and COFFEE. Tea, eh, not so much…

Name a book you loved as a kid. Is there a line or character you remember?

I really liked The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle by Beatrix Potter. I just loved her tiny little mole house in the hill and that she wears clothes when she’s inside but when she’s outside she just has her regular fur.

What did you last read? Thumbs up or down?

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan and I give it a thumbs up. 

In your next life you can be a lion, a tiger or a bear. Which do you choose and why?

Definitely a bear. Because you get to hibernate!

What is something you learned from a parent that turned out to be wise?

“Don’t make any major life decisions during finals!” is what my academia mother would say. My dad always tells me “You should never feel trapped because there’s always a way out.” Hmm…

There’s a new interior paint color based on you and your life. What’s its name and why?
Reading by Candlelight is one idea; it’d be a glowing orange hue. Or Sriracha Red because I like lots of it in my pho!

What in the world gives you hope?

Watching my dog run on the beach at Fort Funston.

It’s teatime. What’s your order?

A cappuccino at Ritual. I’d be alone and wearing a great pair of jeans, some cute sneakers and my shawl collar leather jacket. (The interviewer asks if there would be a snack with the coffee because, after all, this is a fantasy teatime with no calories or consequences.) A piece of Michelle Polzine’s magical honey cake from 20th Century Cafe. Wait this is a fantasy, right? I’ll take the whole cake.