Q&A with… Rosa Park of Cereal Magazine

I discovered Cereal magazine a few weeks ago and knew I had to feature it on the blog. Cereal is a quarterly food, drink and travel magazine that contains edible topics, travel destinations, as well as profiles on products, people and places. In Volume One they looked at a Nordic food lab aboard a boat, the tradition of using carrots as sweeteners, and the nostalgia of milk. The magazine is aimed at our ‘inner child’, as they describe: “Back when we were little, we learned many a fun fact from the back of cereal boxes. One of our fondest memories of childhood is of waking up to a huge bowl of something crunchy and milky, devouring the words and pictures on the back of the packet. These boxes were the first thing we read each day, and they taught and entertained us. Hence, Cereal. We hope to become your morning read.” I had a chance to speak to the editor, Rosa Park.

1. How did Cereal start?

Cereal began with a love (bordering on obsession) of magazines, books, travel and food. I have always wanted to start my own magazine – and have a background in journalism and marketing – and travel and food have both always played prominent roles in my life, so I combined all of these factors to create my dream publication.

2. How have you found the reaction to issue one?

We have had such a positive response from our readers and stockists for Volume One and we are elated. You never really know what’s going to happen when you launch something new, and the incredible support has given us more motivation to create the best possible magazine.

3. Where is your favourite travel destination and why?

Wow, this is a tough question to answer! Can I give you a top 5 instead? 1. Ravello, Italy: it’s an incredibly romantic and classically Mediterranean landscape in one beautiful town, would go back every summer if I could. 2. Iceland: the entire country is like a fairy tale; the dramatic force of nature here is beguiling 3. Copenhagen, Denmark: It’s a fantastic city to visit as a tourist but it’s also very liveable – I fantasise of moving here one day! 4. Kyoto, Japan: I can never get enough of this place; it has preserved its history so formidably and I could spend the entire trip visiting wonderful temples and eating loads of kaiseki! 5. Vancouver, Canada: This is my hometown so perhaps I am biased. But Vancouver truly is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.