AT THE TABLE with Alice Gao

Meant to capture the feeling of a casual conversation around the table while connecting over a homemade meal, we ask our muses to a share a small glimpse into their daily lives and a recipe that they hold dear.  
                                                                        

I’ve been lucky to call Alice Gao a friend for over a decade. Alice is truly the embodiment of effortless chic. The seemingly mutually resistant sensations of perfection and ease comingle harmoniously across her home, her wardrobe, her work. I often think of her and her lifestyle when designing pieces for Standard Affair.

A photographer currently based in Philadelphia, Alice is an avid traveler and design aficionado. She’s the type of friend I am always asking for travel tips and recs, where she got those shoes or that bag. You can’t go wrong with a tip from Alice. Fortunately for all of us, she’s taken to sharing some of her finds in her substack, The Draft Folder.

Below, a quick handful of questions with Alice.

-Kira

What recipe are you sharing with us?

TUNA RICE BOWL

This is very much a no-recipe recipe — and it’s endlessly riffable. I start with a can of good-quality tuna (usually water-packed) and mix it in a bowl with a generous squeeze of Kewpie mayo, a splash of dashi soy sauce, and a few scoops of kimchi. If I’m in the mood, I’ll stir in some chili crisp for heat.

Then it all gets scooped over rice, with a soft-boiled egg and avocado on the side, plus a sprinkle of furikake and flaky salt on top. For fun, I’ll often add toasted nori sheets on the side to make little hand rolls. If I’m out of avocado, pickled radish or cucumber add a nice crunch and balance the richness beautifully.

*Alice's Tuna Rice Bowl served in our Pillar Low Small Bowl, with nori in our Pillar Snack Bowl.

What essentials can always be found in your pantry or refrigerator?

Canned tuna, kimchi, eggs, chili oil, peanut butter, Halen Môn sea salt (truly elite), pasta and rice. If I only had these things, I know I could make something comforting and delicious.

What's your favorite daily ritual in the home (morning, afternoon and/or evening)?

I’m an early bird and love catching the quiet moments just before the city stirs. My pour-over coffee routine is sacred and non-negotiable. There’s something grounding about the scent of freshly ground beans filling the kitchen. I like to joke that I wake up early so I can indulge in a little guilt-free doom-scrolling or aspirational window shopping before the day officially begins.

What's a favorite memory you've shared in your home?

I’ve only been in my Philadelphia home since last August, but one moment that stands out is my birthday weekend when friends from NYC came to visit. I had just put up my first Christmas tree here, and we spent an afternoon folding origami ornaments to decorate it. It was such a cozy day.

How do you reconnect to creativity/find inspiration?

Travel is my most direct route back to creativity and inspiration, but spending time with other creative souls is just as rejuvenating. There’s something about talking shop with people who get it — who speak your visual language — that feels both energizing and deeply affirming.

Bonus Q- Current favorite beauty product?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Gel. I’m always chasing that full, fluffy brow look and used to splurge on salon laminations. This gives me nearly the same effect — minus the cost and the potential brow damage.

Find Alice on her website and Instagram

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