Meet Malini Swank | Travel & Food Writer, Recipe Developer, Finder of Fun Things To Do.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Malini Swank and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Malini, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
If I’m being honest, I never set out to “start my own business.” I had been told my entire adult life, that all the things I loved to do like traveling and going on dates with my husband would stop as soon as we decided to start a family. I had been told that kids aren’t adventurous eaters, that they are zero fun to travel with, and life as I knew it would end.

Well guess what? People were wrong.

And I felt compelled to share my experience of being a new mom, and continuing to do all of those things I loved in hopes of inspiring others who maybe wanted to do the same thing. The message really hit a chord for many people, and everything has just taken off from there.

It still doesn’t feel like I’m running my own business. It feels like I’m just living my life and sharing some tips, hacks and really good recs with my friends.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
At my core, I’m a writer. I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember. I write to figure out the world, to relive magical moments, and to document this one beautiful life. I also have a degree in Marketing, have worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry for a decade, and love food and travel. And all of these pieces come together in my creative work.

I am a people person – I love to meet and get to know people and I’m delighted when they share their passion and love with me. So writing about local restaurant scene in Columbus just feels like a natural fit.

For me, it’s as much about the restaurant owners and chefs as it is about the food. I can walk into a cafe and immediately understand the level of training they’ve provided their teams, how the kitchen staff works together, and I notice details because I’ve spent so long in that space myself.

Because I have a natural love of writing, and a background in marketing, I’m able to authentically and accurately share their story with the world. I especially love lifting up smaller, international and ethnic restaurants.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a question I answer pretty much daily on my Instagram account, @lakesandlattes !!

If my best friend was visiting, I’d take her for a morning coffee or chai tea and nibbles to Joya’s in Worthington. Owned by one of the absolute best humans in Columbus (Avishar) you can actually TASTE the love and care they put in everything they create.

Other spots to try over the week would include dinner (or brunch) at my favorite restaurant in town – Ocean Club. I’ve been going there for what feels like 2 decades, and it’s consistently flawless in both food and service.

I’d take her for drinks to Law Bird in German Village, especially for their Sakura pop up. I’d take her to try the magical croissants baked by Columbus’s own legendary pastry chef – Aaron Clouse.

I’d FOR SURE take her to see a show at Shadowbox Live, the nation’s LARGEST resident theater. I still have to pinch myself that Columbus is home to so much talent.

We’d go get matcha soft serve at Belle’s Bread, and then pick up JT’s Pizza and walk across the street to Aardvaark to share a bottle of something delicious.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband deserves ALL the recognition and credit in my story. He had been telling me for years that I should be publicly sharing my ideas, thoughts, travel ideas, and recipes, and I just didn’t listen to him. Honestly, I didn’t think I had anything particularly earth-shattering to share, so why would anyone read anything I wrote?

Well he made me a bet. There was an open call for writers for a local motherhood blog, and he suggested I submit a sample of my writing. He told me that if I did that, and they didn’t want to work with me, he’d drop it. But if they did, I’d have to also start something of my very own.

My husband has always been my biggest supporter and fan. He’s the reason I started, he’s the reason I continued, and he’s the reason I can balance it all as it grows.

Website: www.easymacromeals.com www.lakesandlattes.com

Instagram: @lakesandlattes

Image Credits
All photos taken by me.