Neighborhood

Spotlight Series:

Monica Epstein

YSIDRO

Hello Neighbor!

I have many fond memories growing up (pre-kindergarten) and lying on the carpet in front of the TV in my childhood home, my unicorn ("Uni") in one hand and an apple juice in the other, watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood as my mom was in the kitchen either cooking or tidying up the house and my sister was at school. I LOVED everything about that show. Being that I was a very hyperactive kid there was always a certain calm that came over me while watching it. I loved how Mr. Rogers would get frequent visits from the postman and other folks in this neighborhood. At a young age this small detail instilled in me the belief that being part of a strong community is so important.

Flash forward to today. We are now lucky enough to have our office in sunny Los Angeles, which is such a treat!. There's so much talent bubbling in our own close-knit neighborhood, and in the spirit of Mr. Rogers' spotlighting everyday standouts I thought it would be fun to introduce you to some of our friends in OUR Los Angeles neighborhood and give you a peek inside their creative worlds. We hope you are as inspired by these incredible women as we are! - Laura

Get to know Monica:

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came up with the idea to create Ysidro?

A few days into the lockdown of 2020 I attended my friend Alex's virtual wine tasting. I had to download Zoom to do it and the entire experience was surreal and must have been lingering in my subconscious because that night I dreamt that my husband and I were on a zoom with Alex and were talking about the drink we all created together. In real life we took a walk the next day and we ran into Alex and I told him about the dream and we were all just standing there and said "let's do it."

2. In your opinion, what would the perfect meal pairing to a Ysidro look like?

A delicious artisan pizza with salad or a charcuterie board. Or just popcorn. My personal favorite nights are making popcorn with a new seasoning blend and a chilled Ysidro. 

3. What city anywhere in the world inspires you the most?

Marrakech, Morocco

4. Would you rather be skiing in the Swiss Alps or dipping your toes in the warm Mediterranean sea?

I choose the bright warm Med!

5. What's your favorite color combination of all time?

Cream with white.