The millennial co-founder of Pasta Evangelists has visited 68 countries – with Lebanon and Syria next on his list

What would you do if you had a six-figure salary? You may never cook another meal again or indulge in a monthly Thai massage and Soho House membership to relieve the stress of attending the biggest game.

With The Good Life, you no longer have to imagine what life is like at the top: get real inspiration on how the best live.

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Today Fortune meets Finn Laguna, the millennial co-founder of Pasta Evangelists.

Lagun was not the originator of the pasta delivery company. In fact, its co-founder, Alessandro Savelli, came up with the idea in 2016 after taking a pasta-making class.

But within five days, Lagun joined the startup and brought with him years of experience at Amazon, Zipjet and HelloFresh, as well as growing up as a serial restaurateur as a dad.

Just two years later, the duo appeared on Dragon’s Den (the British and original version of Shark Tank) where they were shut down and told that the idea of ​​fresh, artisan pasta delivered to Brit’s door was “pasta le disaster” in front of 4 million viewers.

Looking back, perhaps Dragon regrets not investing in the brand: that same year, the iconic London luxury department Harrods launched its Pasta Evangelists fresh pasta counter.

Within two years of being sacked by Dragons, Pasta Evangelists made £14m before being acquired by Barilla, the world’s largest pasta company, for £40m.

Today it has established itself as the UK’s leading pasta subscription service, with the country’s largest pasta factory to keep up with the steady flow of orders, and 48 dark kitchens in most major cities where customers can quickly serve their favorite tagliatelle, spaghetti or penne.

We have also moved away from serving home-made sets during the pandemic. Now pasta lovers can head to the company’s Pasta Academy for cooking classes or to the leafy suburbs of Richmond to dine at the company’s first-ever restaurant – with another 20 to follow over the next five years.

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Finances

Fortune: What was the best investment you ever bought?

My first house in London, a flat in Hackney for £575,000. Climbing the property ladder in central London is quite a catch when it comes to long-term return on investment.

And the worst?

My first car! It’s rather embarrassing that it took me 8 tries to pass my driving test; I was almost 30 years old before I did this. So it’s safe to say that I’m not Michael Schumacher. So when I bought my first car for £12,000 after passing my exam, I agreed I would ‘run it into the ground’. And dig it into the ground: less than 2 years after I bought it, its value had dropped to £6,000 due to all the little ‘knocks and scratches’ I subjected it to…

How do you commute to work?

When I eat too much pasta and feel like I need some aerobic exercise, I ride a bike – it’s the quickest way, taking about 20 minutes. But I often wake up feeling groggy and just scramble onto the bus, subway or train. I really like to mix things up: I quite spontaneously choose different routes, depending on which means of transport is available at a given moment.

What personal finance advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

My 20-year-old self was probably more disciplined than my 31-year-old self, so I would probably advise more of the same.

I used to meticulously document and categorize all my expenses in an Excel spreadsheet and identify areas where I could be more frugal. Unfortunately, as I got older, I began to place more importance on “joy of life” and have since loosened the purse strings and become adept at juggling different types of credit!

What subscription can’t you live without?

Spotify – I listen to music all day, every day. I oscillate between jazz and girl groups from the 60s, neo-soul from the 90s, bossa nova from Brazil, melodies from West Africa, europop from the 90s, Arabic hits and of course Italian classics like Mina. Listening to music from all over the world inspires me every day and helps me stay in a good mood.

Where is your favorite wristwatch from?

I don’t wear watches: although I think they are beautiful, I have skinny wrists and I wouldn’t like to draw attention to them. Similarly, I wouldn’t use a watch: I instinctively check the time on my phone.

Where do you buy your work wardrobe?

Reiss is always a good choice, although the best linen shirts come from Luca Faloni. I like to wear shoes like Birkenstock sandals in the summer and Hunter or Barbour shoes in the winter.

Barbour is a Geordie brand from South Shields in my hometown of Tyneside, so when I wear a Barbour jacket, scarf and shoes I always feel like I’m referencing my hometown.

Needs

How to get your daily dose of coffee?

When it comes to coffee, I’m a complete philistine and prefer to drink instant coffee as my primary drink. I make it at the office with a little milk and no sugar. If I’m out and about, I’ll drink a cappuccino (only in the morning) or a double macchiato. I’m very promiscuous when it comes to where I buy my coffee, so I can’t claim to have one preferred brand over another.

What about eating on the go?

If I’m not picky about my coffee, I’m much more selective about what I eat. It’s no exaggeration to say that a bad meal can ruin your day, because there are few opportunities to eat that day – so if it’s not good, that’s a lot of lost joy for one day!

I regularly eat lunch al desko, but I still order from Deliveroo. I will happily spend up to £20 on lunch and enjoy eating a variety of cuisines from around the world. In my opinion, suffering would be eating the same dish, day after day.

If I’m eating in a business context, I like to eat something simple and easy to eat to avoid faux pas – Flat Iron is a good choice for a nice steak and salad.

Where do you buy groceries?

Usually from M&S as that’s the closest to my house.

How often do you dine out during the week rather than cooking at home?

I cook for myself and my partner about 3 to 4 times a week. Otherwise, we order food (often Indian, Japanese or Chinese) or eat out. When eating out, I like to try cuisines I’ve never encountered before. One of my most memorable food experiences was at a place called Dilara, a Uyghur restaurant in Finsbury Park. I happened to be in the area, saw it on Google Maps and decided to give it a try. The food was so spicy, fragrant and full of flavor, with hand pulled noodles and intoxicating Sichuan peppers. It never ceases to amaze me how many gourmet foods are waiting to be discovered from all over our planet.

Treats

How to take a break from your top job?

I’ll be the first to admit that after a long and stressful day, I like to unwind with a drink. I could pretend that I go to yoga or mindfulness classes, but the truth is that I prefer to relax on the sofa.

I have a well-stocked bar corner in the living room, which I like to fill with intriguing liqueurs discovered all over the world. I recently added a bottle of Appenzeller Alpenbitter, a bitter beer I found in a small tavern in the Swiss Alps.

Hendrick’s with cucumber and lots of ice is always a good choice, especially in the summer. I also like to have Italian licorice for my evening drink, which I also keep in the bar corner.

What’s the best bonus treat you’ve ever bought?

I bought myself a new nose in 2021 because the one I got naturally was actually very big! Thank you to my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Onur Gilleard, for being so kind.

Take us with you on vacation. What’s next on your holiday list?

Over the past year or so, I have become one of those hurtful people who try to “piss off” countries around the world. At the time of this answer, I have been to 68 countries, and by the end of 2024, that number will increase to approximately 75. My next stops are Lebanon and Syria: I love traveling around the Islamic world because I think the hospitality is unmatched internationally. In addition to its stunning Islamic architecture, Middle Eastern cuisine is fantastic and a source of lasting inspiration.

Here at The Good Life, you no longer have to imagine what life at the top is like: get real-life inspiration on how to live your best life.

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This story was originally published on Fortune.com