5 minutes with Taline Gabriel from HIPPIE LANE

We recently caught up / emailed back & forth / drooled over the fruity food creations from the lovely Taline of HIPPIE LANE. Her beautiful instagram feed will guarantee hunger lust pains every. single. time. 

Pastel Smoothie Bowls aside, Taline is one hustling business Mumma and has that kind of super infectious, go-getting spirit across all that she does. An Author, Chef, Content Creator, Mum...what else!? We caught up with this talented lady to find out how Hippie Lane came about. Read on my fruit-loving friends.... 

So Taline, before we get the good stuff…

Sunset or sunrise? Sunrise

Sweet or Savoury? Sweet

Breakfast or Dinner (Do we even need to ask this?!)? Breakfast!

Run or a Yoga? Both

A Dress or Exercise gear? Both!

Theme Park or Festival? Festival

Apples or Oranges? Hmmm, oranges

The last meal you ate? Baked chips with avo dip

Favourite 90’s Jam? Any of R Kelly’s tunes!

Phew! So Taline, It’s pretty clear to say that I’m a massive fan of your delicious recipes and beautiful cookbook. Your creations are just simply beautiful and an endless visual inspiration for me – so Thank you! How did your love for cooking come about?

It sort of happened naturally. I was faced with my own path to healing approx. 7 years where I learnt that I was sensitive to some common everyday ingredients – gluten, egg, dairy, refined sugar, and soy. I got experimenting with alternative natural ingredients and fell in love with the creative process and the delicious results. I launched Hippie Lane initially as a wholesale business, supplying my treats to cafes around town. It was received very warmly and the business grew organically from there. I had grown a strong following in the health community and the demand for my recipes spurred on the development of the Hippie Lane recipe app in 2015. Two years on I’m now launching Hippie Lane, The cookbook.

How do you continue to find inspiration to create beautiful and delicious meals?

I love the creative process, making a mess in the kitchen and tasting the results. Inspiration comes through many different sources. When I first began with recipe development 6-7 years ago, I was inspired by tastes from my cultural background and childhood favourites. These days I’m heavenly inspired by nature. A trip away to a new place always ignites my creativity as does a walk along the beach or in nature and a meal at a cafe. Colours, sights and sounds all help in keeping me creative. 

What are some of your favourite ingredients to use in your recipes?

Olive oil, peanut butter, coconut flakes, chia seeds and quinoa 

If you had to eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the next week, what would it be?

I love smoothies! I would say my classic acai bowl with pb and cacao – rich, delicious and full of nutrients.

How did the name HIPPIE LANE come about?

When I established my business 7 years ago, alternative foods were not mainstream. People often associated it with Hippie culture – natural, from the earth, organic. The word ‘Hippie’ kept coming to mind when deciding on business names, and ‘Lane’ was like the road or path back to the nature, choosing to embrace real wholefoods in an unpretentious and approachable way.

For those struggling to find inspiration to cook, do you have any tips to get started?

Self love and self nourishment go hand in hand. Before you take on healthy recipes, you need to first believe that you’re worth, it, that’s really the only way healthy becomes a lifestyle - a lifestyle choice that is permanent.

My advice is to work on you. Set goals and ascertain whether healthy living fits amongst your top priorities. If it does, then get cooking! Start with simple recipes and work your way up. Success with recipes and confidence in the kitchen is key in keeping up the effort. My app and cookbook is will help you feel like a kitchen whiz! It’s a good place to start ;)

Do you find where you live effects what you cook and like to eat?

Yes definitely, it’s all about the weather and local temperature. If you live coastal with beautiful temps, you tend to eat fresh and light meals. Cooking in colder regions is more focused around comfort foods – with warm and cosy vibes.

Speaking of homes, whereabouts do you currently live?

Neutral Bay in Sydney’s North.

What’s the raddest thing to do in your neck of the woods on the weekends?

There are amazing harbour view walks all around my area, leading to beautiful secluded beaches and chill out spots.

And whats the best café for breakfast in your area?

Back & Forth in Caste Crag or SML in Willoughby

And how about Dinner, who’s serving up your favourite meal in your neighbourhood?!

Toshiya for the best Japanese – unpretentious and delicious.

 Yum, I can’t wait to come and try these places out!

What is one piece of advice that you live by or hold close to your heart through the ups and downs of running your own business?

I think authenticity is everything, professionally and personally. When you are having downs in your business, have faith that it will pass and you will grow and evolve. It’s through setbacks that we get to our next level, as long as you look at each hurdle as learning opportunity, there are no failures.

Last but not least, what’s next for you and HIPPIE LANE?

You know, I’m not sure! I know that I want some time to wind down after a crazy busy start to the year. And once I’ve had some rest and am ready for the next stage, I’ll let it flow. Just as Hippie Lane developed and evolved naturally and organically, I will continue on with a similar approach and look forward to seeing what comes next!

Thanks so much for your time Taline – Looking forward to following the HIPPIE LANE adventure x

 You can read more about Taline's adventure's to date on her BLOG or check out her beautiful INSTAGRAM over here (Warning, you will want to head straight to the supermarket & try to re-create a number of these recipes!)

Or, shop some of her favourite La Luna Rose pieces below!