IN CONVERSATION | Amanda Bechara

Bread & Circus in Alexandria is the best place. It's a wholefoods canteen without any of the pretentiousness or ridiculousness of other organic eateries, it's a place to linger over lunch, it's a place to bring the whole family, it's a place to treat yourself. It has a freshness, a newness and a uniqueness that is all its own. We love the pink decor, the Mariah Carey soundtrack and the famous lemongrass and ginger chai. Bread & Circus' inimitable founder - Amanda Bechara - has just moved to New York with her fiance and her dog, and has settled in Brooklyn. She's about to start the scouting search for cafe locations in the big city, and we asked her to do a Proust Questionnaire for us. You can read her answers below.

Bread & Circus | 21 Fountain St, Alexandria | All photos by Rachel Kara

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A well made cup of tea. Kyoto.

What is your greatest fear?
That something’s wrong.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
That I am always thinking about what I don’t like in myself.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Hypocrisy, small mindedness.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Augustus Caesar (how embarrassing)

What is your greatest extravagance?
Most things.

What is your current state of mind?
Lets see…

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Friendliness, it never tells you anything about anyone.

Which living person do you most admire?Danny Goldstein.

What is your favorite color and flower?
Dark Dark Blue/Indigo. I like succulents.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Woah. Again, embarrassing.

What is the quality you most like in a man?
Depth.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?
Depth.

When and where were you happiest?
I had this really epic sleep once.

Which talent would you most like to have?
Being able to ride a bike.

What is your most treasured possession?
My dog!

Who are your heroes in real life?
Me.

Where would you like to live?
Not Alexandria.

What is your favorite song?
At the moment – dreamlover.

What do you value most in your friends?
That they are genuine.

Who are your favorite writers?
Finally! Henry James times ten. Vikram Seth. And Orhan Pamuk – but just for the museum of innocence. Also, Tacitus.

Who are your favorite painters?
I think I like Klimt, but I couldn’t have answered this question last week.

Who are your heroines of world history?
Maybe Queen Elizabeth - but when Cate’s playing her is what I mean.

Who is your favorite hero of fiction?
Fiction is where all of the best people live: Count Laszlo de Almasy, Katherine Cliffton, Catherine Sloper, Muriel Heslop.

What is your motto?
Earl Grey.

Read more in our in conversation series here.