Marissa Hermer – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with reality television star, hospitality expert and author Marissa Hermer

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

“Winging it”.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

“Bring it on”.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2016?

Donald Trump.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Sleep (we have a 5 year old, a 2.5 year old, and a six-month old).

What might you swap all your wealth for?

An ability to travel through time and travel at the speed of light.

Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the state of the financial system?

The first rule in making money is not to lose it.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

“To be honest”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

Of course, I agree that charity does begin at home. Nothing is more important than dear family and friends, however, as a family, we do support charities outside the home including the NSPCC where I sit on the board, CLIC Sargent and GOSH. Any children’s charity has our support.

The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?

I don’t like phones. I long for the days where I could actually be unreachable while I was out. If you are making a phone call, then obviously using a phone is essential and appropriate, but otherwise, if you are with someone else and especially if you are with children, put it away.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

My immediate family and my husband and his immediate family.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

My mom’s hamburgers grilled on the BBQ and s’mores over the bonfire. I’d have it at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach, California.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

Monday – Friday: 6pm (or 5pm if the children/work has been driving you nuts and it has been a long day); Saturday: Midday (if it is sunny and you are in a garden and there is Pimm’s on offer); Sunday: 11am (if you are at Bumpkin at drinking one of our Bloody Marys) and obviously, anytime if you are on the beach and you are offered a margarita.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

A cup of Fortnum & Mason’s Royal Blend Tea.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

My own because I’ve chosen the guest list, the cocktails, the playlist and I’m in flats as I’m in my living room.

Who is the most positive person you know?

My father.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

Bumpkin’s Sticky Toffee Pudding and Eclipse’s Watermelon Martini.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

Pass. I can’t get past the tattoo summing me up. I’ve never understood tattoos.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

I’m happiest with the top down, driving down Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) with the wind in my hair, so, in my dreams, I’m a convertible. Although with all the children I usually cart around, sadly I’m probably a minivan.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

I can breakdance.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

A red elf (‘The Elf on the Shelf’ – To bribe the children into being good for Father Christmas), silver candlesticks that were given to us on our wedding day by my husband’s parents and a few thanksgiving cards for the children from my mother.

Marissa Hermer was born in California and moved to London after meeting and marrying restaurateur Matt Hermer. She is a graduate of Middlebury College, has three children and uses her public relations expertise to grow the Ignite Group, her family’s food, beverage and entertainment business. She also stars in Bravo TV’s ‘Ladies of London’ and Rodale Books will publish her first cookbook, ‘An American Girl in London’, in spring 2017. Pre-order it by clicking here.

Follow her on Instagram at @marissahermer and on Twitter at @MarissaHermer.