Yan Yi Loi is no ordinary woman. Although her family owns a publicly-listed business, Yan Yi really holds her own – this lady juggles three jobs, owns three restaurants, and travels like a woman on a mission. We snooped the well-seasoned traveller’s home where we found a massive stash of cookbooks, drawers full of makeup and skincare, and what’s this – over 100 teddy bears? You’ll have to read on for the full scoop!
You’re obviously a frequent traveller. What are some of your most memorable trips?
Although I love the big cities such as Tokyo, New York and even Paris, which I return to as often as I can, my most memorable trips ironically are more laid back places such as :
a. Hakone in December last year, where my husband and I decided to rent a car from Tokyo and drive down. I arranged the accommodation at Hakone Ginyu, a luxurious modern ryokan overlooking the mountains, and the most interesting thing we did was driving up this route along the mountains called “TOYO TIRE” to catch a view of Mount Fuji. We were so lucky to see it, as it’s often misty, and I have had so many people tell me they have gone there and ended up having to buy a postcard instead, as they couldn’t catch a proper view of this elusive Mount Fuji.
b. Lake Como for 2 nights after Milan, where my husband participated in the Milan Design Fair to display some furniture pieces he designed. I could really almost stay there forever. The scenery was just so breathtaking, and as we were there in off-peak April, it was great just driving around and enjoying the weather. I especially loved the Villa del Balbianello where movies like Star Wars and Casino Royale were filmed. The house, gardens, manicured trees – it’s really one of those few places I can actually just sit by the balcony, have coffee, and watch the day go by. Somehow I can’t do that in a resort in Bali.
Any tips for getting the most out of your travels? What’s your favourite way to explore a new place and get to know the local culture?
I am a planner and a control freak when it comes to traveling.
All my good friends who have travelled enough with me are well-acquainted with my excel sheet that I do up whenever I set off for any country. I think the only time that I don’t plan for anything is when I go to a beach resort where there’s absolutely nothing to do.
So before I go to a new country, I buy a good guide from the bookstore and do a lot of research online to look at tourist attractions, what locals do, restaurants, and even local shows/plays to buy tickets in advance (especially for cities like London and New York). I also love checking out the local markets – food and antique flea markets (the latter especially in Europe and US), and sometimes speak to friends who stay there or travel there often to get insights from them as well.
I am selective when relying on hotel concierge recommendations because I haven’t had many good experiences so far. Usually all my restaurants are pre-booked before I reach the country, and I buy any tickets to museums, plays et online so I skip the queue and don’t risk tickets selling out. I consolidate what I want to do do into an excel sheet to create my own bespoke itinerary.
So we’ve seen business women but you take business to a whole new level! You’re doing something like 3 jobs now, right? What do your jobs entail and why the diversity?
Whether it’s logistics, property, or restaurants, I think a big part of my job has been learning how to create a brand, developing it, and how to continuously steer it in the right direction. I think these different jobs started at different points of my life after I quit my corporate job in banking since 2007, and I do think the diversity allows me to understand different industries, but apply the same philosophy I have learnt in creating a brand or product and making it successful.
For my restaurants and property development company, it’s not just marketing but also overseeing the day to day operations for restaurants. This includes constantly thinking of new ideas for the business to working with my colleagues on how to tackle the staffing shortage, and also trying to learn the whole construction process for my property – The Lush in Katong, which is being constructed now.
In my third job – working for the public-listed company which provides integrated logistics and supply chain management, I am working as a marketing director for a new storage facility to be launched next year, which is pretty exciting, intense, and something different.
You’re a restauranteur with big names like BOMBA, Graze, and Chachawan (HK) under your name. What other concepts would you like to do?
I think it’s always about creating unique concepts with good food, and just a fun, approachable vibe and atmosphere. We are still exploring, but we also want to focus on our existing restaurants and not expand too fast.
What does it take to run a restaurant?
It can be quite taxing as it’s a daily business. It’s not impossible, but I feel it’s hard for a restaurant to just ‘autopilot’. As partners we generally get more involved, so we go down as often as we can, have weekly operational meetings, speak to the staff, observe the service and floor while dining there, and talk to the chefs and front line staff to understand any issues or challenges they may face.
We know you love your food and you’re always very hands-on in the kitchen. What are your favourite cooking resources? Do you have any signature dishes?
When I have time, I like watching Masterchef, Cake Boss (for the most amazing 3D cakes – wish someone in Singapore did cakes to this level), and Nigel Slater’s Simple Suppers.
I prefer mostly to look at cookbooks, I believe I have at least 30 cookbooks at home. The ones I refer to often is Everyday Harumi (a really simple to follow Japanese cookbook), Nigel Slater’s Real Fast Food, Danielle Walker’s Against All Grain, and Adhoc at Home by Thomas Keller. I really enjoy baking, but if I am feeling lazy and want to whip up a chocolate dessert in less than an hour, I like to follow Donna Hay’s simple essentials Chocolate cookbook. I also refer to Breakfast, Lunch, Tea by Rose Bakery, Nigella Lawson’s How to be a Domestic Goddess, and I love Clinton St Bakery’s cookbook when I want to whip up a yummy breakfast dish.
I won’t say I have any signature dishes, but husband loves my roast chicken served with duck fat roasted potatoes. My signature dessert is Bailey’s cream cheese brownie doused in lots of Bailey’s – a recipe I learnt years ago from a local teacher that teaches from her home, but subsequently developed to my own version.
All right you knew this was coming! Please share your beauty secrets with us – you have FLAWLESS skin! What’s your beauty regime like?
Ha, I wouldn’t dare to say I have flawless skin! I am quite scared of the sun, so whenever I am out, I make sure I have sunblock on and sunglasses.
One thing I like to do is to always change my facial cleansers and moisturizers. I don’t believe in sticking to the same brand because I think our skin reaches a “plateau” and needs to be triggered to react differently or better, so I am always on the lookout for something new once my cleanser or face cream starts running out. I’m currently using Eve Lom.
I use products from my dermatologist, Skin Sense by Dr Patricia Yuen – an Essential Smoother, Vitamin C, and pigment lightener. And I use calming natural products from Decleor, such as their Energizing Gel (which as the name says, does make your skin feel energized and refreshed, great when I am in countries that are hot and humid and don’t want to use an oily or creamy face moisturizer), Radiance Smoothing Cream (which evens out the skin tone), and Relaxing Eye Cream. When I am in dry and cold countries, I use Decleor’s Aroma Night balm.
I then finish off with Heliocare sunblock which I get from Dr Patricia Yuen too.
My inhouse facial routine comprises a twice a week exfoliation (using Aesop Tea Tree Leaf Exfoliant) followed by a hydration mask (from Amore Pacific) alternated with Aesop’s Primrose Facial Cleansing Mask. I also try to go for regular monthly facials and eye treatment at Decleor Institute in Raffles Hotel. I see Dr Patricia Yuen about once a quarter to do a thorough MDA (microdermabrasion) – which gets rid of stubborn black and white heads which facials may not be able to clear entirely, and a Vitamin C Iontopheresis treatment that helps to improve skin texture and even out the overall skin tone, and also laser for any freckles I might have.
Quite the beauty addict we see. What are some of your favourite makeup brands and products that you swear by? Is there a miracle product that we need to run out to get?
In the day, I only use a light base from Le Metier De Beaute’s Peau Vierge Tinted Luminizer, which acts a bit like a BB cream but is even sheerer and lighter. I have to use concealer from Laura Mercier for my dark rings, then i put some lip gloss from my favourite brand Nars, or Giorgio Armani, and a cream based rouge from Vida Vici (a Korean makeup brand). I am one of those girls that can literally put on a full made up face in 5 mins.
When I do put on eyeshadow, I swear by Nars’s eyeshadow duo palettes mixed with their cream based colors. I love Tom Ford’s makeup line too – his eyeshadows and lipsticks are fantastic quality and he really understands what a woman needs. It’s on the expensive side but his colors are so classic! I love Terry’s mascara, great for opening up my small eyes.
I have recently discovered the best long-lasting eyeliner – a waterbased one from Chantecaille.
Your bear collection is MASSIVE! We hear there’s one who’s more well-travelled than most of us. Tell us about your travel blog and how that came about.
Yes, at last count I have more than 100 bears. My favourite bear is Lovey (pronounced to sound like “Ler-fey”), she’s actually the Love-A-Lot Care bear that was a 20th anniversary reissue of the classic retro ones from the 80s, in a large size 28 inch (when she’s standing). My husband bought her for me in 2003, so she’s just turned 10! She’s very dear to me, and I love to bring her around with me when I travel.
My friends always ask me on where to go, stay, and eat and I sometimes end up sending them my excel sheet itinerary. So I decided a few months ago to start a travel blog that documents all my travels, giving travel tips from packing to what to look out for when researching a new city, and of course all the I love. Rather than me fronting it, I thought it would be funny to have my favourite bear, Lovey, be the one “writing” and that’s how www.loveyloi.blogspot.sg was born.
Thanks for having us, Yan Yi!
All images taken by the ultra talented Suasti Lye.