Dearborn is not your average granola brand

When Chris Kong first started selling jars of granola, they sold out within an hour. 

“I thought maybe I’ll sell 10 to 15 jars a day. I posted it on Instagram and nothing happened for 30 minutes. Then, we sold out all of a sudden,” he tells us.

That was just the beginning for the chef-owner of Dearborn, a homegrown brand focused on offering handcrafted granola that has gained a cult following among fans in Singapore. In our newsletter cover story, Kong shares more about his entrepreneurial journey thus far, sustainability efforts for his brand and why he didn’t want to pursue a career in the US despite being born and raised there. 

Granola aside, let’s talk about the sweltering heat that we’ve been forced to brave recently. Fret not, we have a list of dessert shops for you to explore and beat the heat. Plus we want to share our list of local ice cream shops loved by Tatler’s editors. Enjoy!

More headlines in this week’s newsletter: 

Cheers,

Andrea Saadan
Digital Editor

 

LIFESTYLE

8 must-see highlights of Singapore International Festival of Arts 2023

Materia by Andrea Salustri. (Photo: Milan Szypura)

The annual Singapore International Festival of Arts (Sifa) returns from May 19 through June 4 for another edition, with a line‐up of local and international works exploring the human experience. Sifa 2023 invites audiences to come together and open their hearts to new perspectives within the art and performance space while meditating on the spectrum of the human experience.

Here are some of the highlights of the annual arts festival.

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Inside Capella Bangkok, a riverside five-star hotel that opened in the Thai capital during the pandemic.

Should you eat your placenta post-birth—and if so, how? We speak to two doctors about this.

Asian stories have taken the spotlight in Cannes, thanks to world-class directors and cinematographers.

 

HOMES

The prettiest plants that can survive extreme heat

Bougainvillea flowers. (Photo: WanderFleur/ Unsplash)

As temperatures soar and water becomes scarce, some botanical survivors exhibit remarkable endurance and beauty. Here’s a selection of seven plants that not only require very little water but also thrive under the scorching sun.

Read story here.

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From Los Angeles to London, see how Aesop distinguishes itself with its singular retail design and architecture.

6 best ways to make your home more beautiful with German lighting brand Occhio’s minimalist designs.

Tatler asks Asia’s best-known architectural photographers to share their favourite shots.

 

POWER & PURPOSE

Food banks in Singapore that you can donate to

Give back to the community by donating to these food banks in Singapore. (Photo: Getty Images)

Food in Singapore may not always be wallet-friendly for some of us, especially when considering factors such as the increase in Goods & Services Tax (GST), inflation and more. While some of us have been able to adapt to inflating prices by making small adjustments to our daily lives, it may not be as simple for others. If you have extra food, consider donating it to those who may need it more instead of contributing to food waste.

Read story here.

MORE FROM POWER & PURPOSE

Women hold 71 percent of their wealth in cash and retire with between 30 and 40 percent less wealth than men. But there are many different ways to invest your money and change the trajectory of your wealth journey. 

These Asian tech innovators are leading the way in developing AI systems that can revolutionise transportation, medicine, education and other industries.

Entrepreneur Sarika Kulkarni, founder of Raah Foundation, shares how un-gendered entrepreneurship can create more opportunities and greater impact.

 

STYLE

Michelle Yeoh takes cues from Kate Middleton at the Cannes Film Festival 2023

Michelle Yeoh wore opera gloves to the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 (Photo: Getty Images)

Michelle Yeoh is settling well into her status as cinema royalty. On May 21, the Malaysian actress arrived to the Cannes Film Festival 2023 with all the appearances of a queen, wearing a draped silk taffeta Balenciaga Couture gown in emerald green with a matching stole that added drama and volume to her look. Yeoh’s flair for red carpet dressing—established at both the historic Oscars night and the Met Gala this year—is nothing new. What really caught our attention, however, were her opera gloves.

Read story here.

MORE FROM STYLE

Audemars Piguet has just announced Ilaria Resta as the replacement for current CEO François-Henry Bennahmias.

Pia Wurtzbach Jauncey may add another title under her belt—best dressed at the 76th annual Cannes film festival.

Aishwarya Rai arrived at the film screening of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny on May 18 in an ensemble that glittered even more than the French Riviera coastline.

 

AROUND ASIA

HONG KONG | Inside Hong Kong NGO EcoDrive’s viral campaign, which makes single-use-plastic reduction ‘sexy’ and ‘fashionable’.

MALAYSIA | 6 bars to visit in Melaka for cocktail hour, after a day of playing tourist in this historical city.

PHILIPPINES | Learn tablescaping with a Filipino twist from Michelle Fontelera, Casa Juan’s founder.