Fridge Raid: What's Inside A Singapore Creative's Refrigerator?
We discovered some really cool stuff in the fridges of this eclectic bunch from the fields of art, design, and literature.
A fridge isn’t just a storage space – it’s a food diary, especially in December, when food becomes a comforting indulgence amidst the holiday rush. It tells the stories of midnight cravings, meal preps, and perhaps even a love for kimchi. What we eat reflects how we live: from secret snacks to everyday staples, it’s all about energy, indulgence, and what makes us uniquely ourselves. We raided the fridges of Singapore’s creatives to uncover the treats, ingredients, and inspirations that keep them energised and true to their passions during this festive season.
SANCHIA TAN, 30, TEXTILE DESIGNER
This textile impresario is also the co-founder of Tanchen Studio, a design studio that centers textiles as their primary element. It is currently preparing to launch a series of hand-beaded bag charms: Pet-Nat Pets, inspired by tropical plants, flowers, and garlands of Southeast Asia.
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"A condiment and pickle party, bottles of wine and lots of fruits."
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?
"A jar of 10-year-old Umeshu that a friend of my dad made and gifted to me."
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
"Leftover rice, an assortment of pickles (Sarawak achar, pickled daikon and carrot for bun cha, and pickled ume for highballs!) and dark chocolate."
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"I’d say I always have spring onions and coriander, as well as Asian vegetables like kailan and kang kong. There’s also a collection of hot sauces for any occasion."
ELAINE MOK, 26, TAROT READER AND COMMUNITY RESEARCHER
Mok's work connects the intimacy of tarot readings with the inquisitive spirit of research. Her recent creative projects include literary tarot readings, where she shares book recommendations based on tarot cards, and community events like the Anti-Conference at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace in November, which provide a space for anyone to present topics they are personally passionate about.
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"A communal space"
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?
"Pempek, an Indonesian fish cake from Palembang. It's a family speciality."
What’s your fridge’s ultimate comfort food?
"Fermented goodies like kimchi and pickled bamboo shoots."
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"Some sort of chilli sauce. Sambal, Lao Gan Ma, sriracha, gochujang, cuko… I love exploring how different cultures use spice."
CHUN PANG ENG, 35, CERAMIC ARTIST AND DESIGNER
Eng is a multi-disciplinary designer with a background in visual communications. He co-founded the serene ceramic studio &natural with his partner in 2016. His passion for cooking – evidenced by his private dining space, Potters’ Table, which he ran at home from 2020 to 2024 – has deeply shaped his approach to the functionality of cookware and tableware. Now, he’s channeling that calm and relaxed energy into a new collection centred around the citrus juicer.
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"At the moment, the fridge is relatively empty, stocked mainly with pantry staples, and waiting for me to do some meal prep."
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?
"Probably things I’ve completely forgotten about! I recently discovered a shrimp paste I made years ago… and a homemade sambal, crafted without alliums, specially made for a friend who came over for dinner."
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
"Oh, definitely chocolate."
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"Tough question! But if I had to choose one, it would be eggs. They’re just so versatile – I can cook them in countless ways, from breakfast to dinner."
NAJWA JUMALI, 30, FREELANCER AND FOUNDER OF THE VINTAGE AND SECONDHAND LIFESTYLE BUSINESS OBJECTS.RE
If discerning vintage enthusiasts have been on the lookout for one-of-a-kind lifestyle treasures, they’ve probably stumbled upon Najwa – or Naji as she’s affectionately known. She runs the online store Objects.Re, which specialises in vintage and secondhand homeware and objects – from cult-favourite Ikea pieces that are no longer in production to vintage rugs sourced from Turkey. Naji handpicks and curates each piece herself. Right now, she’s busy turning a spare room in her home into a showroom and has plans to source even more treasures abroad next year.
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"My fridge is efficient yet varied, a result of living with six roommates who all enjoy cooking different cuisines."
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?
"A toucan-shaped toothpick picker (one of my objects!). I was trying to fix it with super glue and thought putting it in the fridge would speed up the process, but I haven’t taken it out yet."
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
"Yotsuba Hokkaido fresh milk mixed with any jam I have in the fridge, or with honey."
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"Cheese, in different varieties — soft, hard, sliced, etc. — does that count? I can always appreciate a simple dish with fresh, homemade ingredients. Good cheese makes this easily achievable."
MARYLYN TAN, 31, MEDIA AND CONTENT STRATEGIST, INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTIST, AND A POET WHO ENJOYS EXPLORING DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES
The first female poet to win the Singapore Literature Prize for English poetry in 2020, Marylyn Tan is a poet whose works frequently revolve around keywords such as ‘vulgarity,’ ‘radically pleasurable,’ and ‘rescued abjection.’ Most recently, she created and performed a collaborative piece with dancer and ballroom artist Amin Alifin, exploring the queering of the Pontianak. According to Tan, her forthcoming project “is a secret but includes the words ‘on my knees I’m safely deprived’.”
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"Indicative of a transience that’s doing its best."
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?
"The pot of rehydrated dried longans is literally lurking in the background like a secret. They are very high in Vitamin C and have the added benefit of making me feel Domestic™️ when I boil them to make concoctions."
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
"It’s not pictured here because I’m travelling at the moment, but unfortunately, it’s the extremely unhealthy (but very high in protein) tiny little saucissons, which are a type of dried and cured French sausage. The high nitrate and sodium content may have something to do with my general mood and disposition, which I then inflict on others."
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"I think butter, real butter, should be its own food group. It’s not in the fridge right now because we’ve run out, but we’re going to get some more right away. The only foodie vibes I have in my kitchen (or daily life) are supplied by my fiance, who is an excellent chef and particular to a Capricornian degree about the quality of the meals we consume. I eat like a raccoon and am content to subsist on two eggs, a piece of protein of arcane origin, and maybe half a bowl of shredded seaweed."
ADELINE TAN, 28, HOME BAKER AND FOUNDER OF DEE BAKES
As the owner and baker of Dee Bakes, her kitschy, retro-inflected buttercream confections and burn-away cakes are the go-to treats for those with a taste for nostalgia and novelty. This Swiftie also has a soft spot for Taylor Swift-inspired vintage-style designs, like those from the "Blank Space" music video or for the release of "Speak Now".
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"My fridge is a snack lover's dream, well-stocked and ready to satisfy almost any craving."
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?
"Three bowls of pistachio tiramisu, the result of some recipe testing — now just waiting for taste testers!"
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
"This is so embarrassing, but my ultimate comfort food (or guilty pleasure) is sliced American cheese and Kewpie mayo. Whenever I’m feeling uninspired or lazy, I slap them on some bread for the easiest meal. It’s not gourmet at all, but it gets the job done!"
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"Pickles! I’m obsessed with the refreshing combination of tang and crunch. I’m quite selective about which ones I like, but when I find the right jar… I can’t stop. Pickles are the perfect snack or side dish, and honestly, most of my favourite foods are sour – like radish kimchi, sour apple gummies, lemon tarts, and naengmyeon."
TRANG DANG, 30, ART DIRECTOR & ILLUSTRATOR
Trang Dang is a Singapore-based illustrator and art director whose works delve into themes of identity, femininity, and sexuality. Her distinct illustration style has earned her commissions from brands such as Braun Buffel, Swatch, Street Superior, and Kurasu. Most recently, she designed a menu cover for Naga House, drawing inspiration from her deep love of music.
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"Chaotic evil – there’s absolutely nothing my body needs, only what it wants."
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?.
"Two nearly empty bottles of chilli sauce that I’m oddly attached to because I can’t seem to get the last bit of sauce out."
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
"I’d say eggs – one a day goes a long way in boosting your dopamine."
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"Can I say sauce? I need a variety of sauces on hand – there’s nothing worse than eating half-coated fries or running out of soy sauce for my sushi. As you can tell, I’m an anxious eater."
CHINGYI CHUA, 28, CO-FOUNDER OF ART AGAIN
Art Again is an online marketplace where users can browse, buy, and sell pre-owned art. The website (artagain.co) features a diverse range of works by artists who may not be well-established, each with a description, condition, and personal story. As co-founder, Chua aims to expand the platform’s reach beyond Singapore, into cities including Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and London.
Describe your fridge situation in one sentence.
"Colourful, contained, cheeky"
What’s the weirdest or most unexpected thing lurking in your fridge right now?
"My Skinlab face mask."
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
"A combination of anchovies, olives, capers, and tomatoes — key ingredients for a comforting Spaghetti alla Puttanesca."
What’s the one item in your fridge you can’t live without, and how does it reflect your foodie vibes?
"Either blue cheese (great on its own or paired with some crackers and honey) or this pot of Taiwanese mushroom sauce I picked up from a Takashimaya food fair (which I can turn into a delicious bowl of noodles in under 10 minutes with spring onions and garlic). I love making dishes that are classic — straightforward and deceptively simple — that’s probably my all-time vibe."