What would you do if you had a six-figure salary? Perhaps you’d never cook another meal again or indulge in a monthly Thai massage and a Soho House membership to unwind from the stress that comes with being at your A-game.
Here at The Good Life you don’t have to imagine what life at the top looks like anymore: Get real-life inspiration for how the most successful live their lives.
Today Fortune meets Finn Lagun, the millennial co-founder of Pasta Evangelists.
Lagun wasn’t the brainchild behind the pasta delivery company. It was actually his cofounder, Alessandro Savelli, who came up with the idea in 2016 after attending a pasta-making class.
But within five days, Lagun had joined the startup and brought with him years of experience at Amazon and Zipjet—as well as growing up with a serial restauranter for a dad.
Just two years later, the duo appeared on Dragon’s Den (the British and original variation of Shark Tank) where they were shut down and told that the idea for fresh artisanal pasta that’s delivered to Brit’s doors was “pasta le disaster” in front of 4 million viewers.
Looking back, perhaps the Dragon’s regret not investing in the brand: In the same year, London’s iconic luxury department Harrods launched a Pasta Evangelists fresh pasta counter.
Within two years of being dismissed by the Dragons, Pasta Evangelists were making £14 million in revenue before being acquired by Barilla, the world’s biggest pasta company, for £40 million.
30,000
The number of guests learning how to make fresh pasta at the Pasta Academy.
Today, it’s cemented itself as the U.K.’s leading pasta subscription service complete with the nation’s biggest pasta factory to keep up with its steady stream of orders and 48 dark kitchens across most major cities to serve customers their favorite tagliatelle, spaghetti or penne dish pronto.
It’s also moved on from just serving up COVID-era home kits. Now pasta lovers can head to the company’s Pasta Academy for cooking lessons or to the leafy suburb of Richmond, to dine in it’s first-ever restaurant—with another 20 in the works for the next five years.
The finances
Fortune: What’s been the best investment you’ve ever bought?
My first home in London, a flat in Hackney costing £575,000. Getting on the property ladder in inner London is a pretty good gambit in terms of a longterm return on investment.
And the worst?
My first car! Rather embarrassingly, it took me 8 attempts to pass my driving test; I was almost 30 before I did so. Safe to say, therefore, that I am no Michael Schumacher. So when, after finally passing my test I bought my first car for £12,000, I accepted that I would ‘run it into the ground’. And run it into the ground I have: less than 2 years after buying it, its value had dropped to £6,000 owing to all of the little ‘bumps and scrapes’ I had subjected it to…
Lagun and colleague outside their store in Richmond, London:
How do you commute to work?
When I’ve eaten too much pasta and feel I need an aerobic lift, I cycle—it’s the fastest way at around 20 minutes. But oftentimes I wake up with a sluggish feeling and simply clamber onto the bus, tube or Overground. I quite like to mix it up: I take different routes quite spontaneously depending on which mode of transport presents itself in the moment.
What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
My 20 year old self was probably better disciplined than my 31 year old self, so I would probably advise more of the same.
I used to fastidiously document and categorise all of my expenditure in an Excel spreadsheet, and identify areas where I could be more parsimonious. Alas, with age I have begun ascribing greater importance to ‘joie de vivre’ and have since loosened the purse strings and become proficient in juggling different types of credit!
What’s the one subscription you can’t live without?
Spotify—I listen to music all day, every day. I oscillate between 60s jazz and girl groups to 90s neosoul, bossa nova from Brazil, West African tunes, 90s Europop, Arab hits, and, obviously, Italian classics like Mina. Listening to music from around the world inspires me every day and helps to keep my mood buoyant.
“My 20 year old self was probably better disciplined than my 31 year old self, so I would probably advise more of the same.”
Where’s your go-to wristwatch from?
I don’t wear a watch: although I think they’re beautiful, my wrists are skinny and I wouldn’t want to draw attention to them. Equally, I wouldn’t use a watch: I instinctively check the time on my phone.
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe?
Reiss is always a good bet, though the best linen shirts come courtesy of Luca Faloni. During the summer I like to wear Birkenstock sandal-style footwear, in winter either Hunter or Barbour boots.
Barbour is a Geordie brand, from South Shields in my native Tyneside, so I always feel like I am channeling my hometown when wearing my Barbour jacket, scarf or boots.
The necessities
How do you get your daily coffee fix?
When it comes to coffee, I am a complete philistine and prefer to drink instant coffee as my general go-to drink. I make this in the office with a dash of milk and no sugar. If I’m out and about, I’ll have either a cappuccino (mornings only) or double macchiato. I am very promiscuous in terms of where I buy coffee so cannot profess to have one preferred brand over another.
What about eating on the go?
If I am unfussy in my coffee consumption, I am far more selective about my eating. It is no exaggeration to say that a poor meal can ruin my day, as there are, after all, only a few opportunities to eat in that day – so if it isn’t good, that’s a lot of forfeited joy for one day!
The millennial co-founder making pasta with Chef Mario:
I do eat lunch ‘al desko’ regularly but I order from Deliveroo all the time. I will happily spend up to £20 on lunch and like to eat all sorts of different cuisines from around the world. My idea of suffering would be to eat the same dish, day in, day out.
If I am dining in a business context, I like to eat something simple and easy to eat to avoid any faux pas moments—Flat Iron is a good choice for a flavoursome steak and side salad.
Where do you buy groceries?
Usually from M&S, as this is closest to my home.
How often in a week do you dine out versus cook at home?
I cook for myself and my partner about 3 to 4 times a week. We otherwise order food (often an Indian, Japanese or Chinese) or eat out. When eating out I like to try cuisines I have never experienced for. One of my most memorable eating experiences was at a place called Dilara, an Uighur cuisine restaurant in Finsbury Park. I happened to be in the area, saw it on Google Maps, and decided to try it. The food was so spicy, redolent and full of flavour, with hand-pulled noodles and intoxicating Sichuan peppers. It never ceases to amaze me how many exquisite foodstuffs lie in wait to be discovered from across our planet.
The treats
How do you unwind from the top job?
I am the first to admit that, after a long and stressful day, I like to unwind with a drink. I could pretend I attend yoga or mindfulness sessions, but the truth is I prefer to relax on my sofa.
I have a well-stocked bar corner in my living room which I like to fill with intriguing liqueurs discovered across the world. Most recently I added a bottle of Appenzeller Alpenbitter, a bitter that I found in a small tavern in the Swiss Alps.
“I’ve been to 68 countries and this will increase to about 75 by the end of 2024.”
A Hendrick’s with cucumber and lots of ice is always a good choice, especially in summer. Alongside an evening drink I like to have some Italian liquorice, too, which I also keep in my bar corner.
What’s the best bonus treat you’ve bought yourself?
I bought myself a new nose in 2021 as the one I was given naturally was very large indeed! Thank you to my fabulous surgeon Dr. Onur Gilleard for being so kind.
Take us on holiday with you, what’s next on your vacation list?
In the last year or so, I’ve become one of these painful people that tries to ‘tick off’ the world’s countries. At the time of answering, I’ve been to 68 countries and this will increase to about 75 by the end of 2024. My next stops are Lebanon and Syria: I love travelling in the Islamic World as I think the hospitality is unrivalled internationally. Alongside gorgeous Islamic architecture, the food of the Middle East is fantastic and a source of enduring inspiration.
Here at The Good Life you don’t have to imagine what life at the top looks like anymore: Get real-life inspiration for how the most successful live life.
Fortune wants to hear from European leaders on what their “Good Life” looks like. Get in touch: [email protected]
