We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Irene Song. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Irene below.
Irene, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
Growing up, I tried to hide the qualities that made me stand out from the peers in my classroom. I never felt comfortable enough to show aspects of my Chinese heritage out of fear of being cast out. My focus was on how to assimilate to the American culture, how to blend in and be accepted by everyone.
Over the years, I’ve grown to understand the beauty behind embracing the authenticity and confidence of being unapologetically me. Rather than feeling the need to hide my cultural differences, I see it as a special part of myself to cherish and to share with others. The snowskin mooncakes are my take on the traditional Chinese dessert that’s eaten during the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, and I’ve been overwhelmed with joy to see so many people enjoy them.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
In addition to my creative endeavors in dance, music, art, fashion, modeling, and acting, I have a pop-up business, JUST A PHASE, where I make Dubai style chocolates in the form of Labubus and Sanrio characters! Each character is a different flavor, and they’re all made from scratch. I also make Dubai chocolate stuffed dates as a blood glucose friendly option, but also just because I love the chewy caramel consistency of them. Paired with a thin layer of dark chocolate, crunchy kataifi, and creamy nut butter filling, they’ve become my favorite pick-me-up snack. I try to be intentional of the food I put into my body, and that translates into my desserts as well. The ingredients are organic, non-gmo, and minimal, with no added sugars in the fillings. The only sugar comes from the chocolate itself. I even hand roast and grind all the nut butter fillings myself (e.g. pistachio butter, pumpkin seed butter, black sesame paste, etc.)
The snowskin mooncakes are my personal modern take on the traditional Chinese dessert. They are wrapped in a soft and chewy mochi dough and stuffed with a variety of fun cheesecake and vegan fillings, with flavors such as matcha strawberry cheesecake and cookie butter latte cheesecake.
I’m excited to announce the launch of my vegan stuffed cookies as well! So far, I’ve done a vegan Cookie Butter Latte Dubai stuffed cookie, which is made with a Biscoff espresso cookie base and stuffed with a cookie butter kataifi filling. I’ve also done a vegan Tahini Black Sesame Swirl Mochi stuffed cookie, which is made with a tahini black sesame cookie base and stuffed with chewy black sesame mochi.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have been most impactful on my journey so far are: charging into opportunities without hesitation, being bold, and keeping up the perseverance when things get tough. In the beginning, I had no idea what I was doing. I was always fond of the idea of selling handmade goods at markets, but I never took much initiative towards it. I actually thought I would always do markets for my art prints and crochet pieces, but right before the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival last year, I found out about a market through a friend and asked if they were still accepting vendors (more out of curiosity than with the intention to participate.) When she told me that they were, I ultimately decided to be bold, to stop hesitating and seize the opportunity even though I only had a week’s time to prepare and was starting from absolutely nothing. Within that week, I tested recipes, developed and designed the menu, took photos, created my social media account, and put everything together. I was engulfed with so many challenges that I had to persevere through, and the lack of equipment made the process even more time consuming than it already was. Did I get any sleep that week? Not at all…but by accepting the opportunity, it forced me to carry out the idea I had in my head for so long, turning it into my reality. As I continue to participate in more markets, I continue to learn more about the various aspects of how I can improve my business each time, whether it’s my preparation process, booth display, custom orders, or just simply my confidence.
By all means, I’m not suggesting you sacrifice your sleep or well-being for your goals. Those are very crucial elements in order to maintain a healthy balance so you can persevere and last in the long run of your journey. What I am trying to say is that even if you have no idea what you’re doing, don’t be hesitant to take a chance and get your foot in the door. The next steps of your path will naturally follow and become clearer when you insert yourself in the environment you want to be in, whether it’s through your own observational learning or by connecting with the people there and asking questions. Know that you are not alone and that everyone else is also figuring it out as they go. Rely on your friends and community for support, encouragement, and advice. And have trust in your craft as you push through the challenges along the way!
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is someone who enjoys sweets that are not only fun and tasty, but also high in quality, homemade with minimal and intentional ingredients, and not too sweet! The crunchy kataifi in the Dubai chocolates and the soft chewy mochi in the mooncakes are perfect for those who love a satisfying bite. And by incorporating hormone healthy ingredients such as the homemade nut butters in the chocolates, flax seeds in the cookies, organic agave to sweeten the mooncakes, and dates as lower glycemic index options, people can still enjoy sweets that are more balanced and nourishing for their bodies compared to what’s on the shelves in stores. I even got the Chinese mom “stamp of approval” when my mom kept on going back for more mooncakes and said that they weren’t too sweet…which is the biggest compliment you can get from any Asian mom.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/just.a.phase.atl?igsh=ZzUwb3N3anF6b2tm&utm_source=qr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irxnesong?igsh=YnJkbmQ2bjgzeHB2&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Ruth Zapico
Danny White
Naomi Smith
Irene Song
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
