What makes some of these local or global creatives tick? In this weekly column, Natasha Chiam, founder of The Ice Cream & Cookie Co shares her favourite things.

1. Inventive Food: Much like how The Ice Cream & Cookie Co. is constantly looking at innovative ways to better serve our customers. There are many peers in our industry who are constantly pushing boundaries. As a brand, we have always been inspired by the use of technology to positively transform the way we eat and how we impact the environment.

In this image from a recent industry tasting, you’d find “wagyu” tarts (made from soy), and “caviar” (made from seaweed). It’s fascinating to see the evolution of food production.

2. Podcasts: As a working mother who manages a business, I find listening to podcasts a great way to multitask. For me, some of the podcasts that are frequently on rotation are: The Kevin Rose Show, for inventive ways to reach peak personal and professional performance; Taste Radio, for interviews with leaders and rising stars of the food & beverage industry; and The Food Chain by the BBC World Service, for perspectives on the science and cultural significance of food.

3. Cleansing Oil:  Taking the time to wash my face with a luxurious product, like my current favourite, The Camellia Cleansing Oil by Tatcha –works more than “melting” away my makeup, but my mental stresses from a busy day too.

What’s more, I quite enjoy how it is soft and silky, with a subtle floral fragrance.

4. Illustrator Amber Fossey (@zeppelinmoon): Amber self-proclaims her works as “whimsical badassery”, and her works always cheer me up. Such as her painting of animals in watercolour, accompanied by short poetry that ranges from sensitive and soulful to tongue-in-cheek – it never fails to brighten up my day just scrolling through her works.

5. Linen: As someone who cares about the environment, Linen’s my current favourite fabric. It is easy to wash and wear, and it gets better with age. My top picks these days are breezy dresses and separates from Joslin Studio, Innika Choo, and Reformation.

Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our March 2022 cover stars, BTS!