Into the Fridge 🫨
Phia Dennis on maple syrup(s) and body scrubs
Phia Dennis 🫨
is a programming strategist at Beautycon based in NYC. She’s also the “chic, conscious consumer” behind Consumer Digest, a newsletter that explores the intersection of consumer behavior and cultural trends. I love Phia’s POV on economics, style, and life in general, and if I had to guess, you will too. 
What is your fridge philosophy?
More color.
Your fridge is always always always stocked with ____.
Unsweetened Iced Tea
Top condiment picks, go.
I HATE condiments. I'm going to request that maple syrup count as a condiment. (I think it is though?)
Tree Juice Garlic Maple Syrup - This is amazing for cooking, marinating and salad dressings!
Runamok Sparkle Syrup - I love things that taste good and make me smile. Sparkles and maple syrup will forever make me happy. I also have collected maple syrup since I was 10 so having one that tastes amazing and adds a fun aesthetic component makes me ecstatic!
speechless Olga’s Liberian Pepper Sauce - This is a staple in my house, this goes in and on everything. I don’t do hot sauce but I do pepper sauce, I think it's because I grew up eating it. Idk — but there is definitely a difference. What do you think?
Tomato confit - If the Gjelina cookbook has no fans I’m dead. I have been making the Tomato Confit recipe from this cook book since 2020 and it is the ultimate addition to any food — whether it be on bread, charcuterie boards, or meat.
impressed is an understatement Mango Chutney - I think my problem with condiments is that I only like them if I make them. Mango Chutney is a staple for me because it's easy to make and involves my favorite food (not fruit, food) — mango!
Fine, I’ll open it up to pantry too. Let’s hear your favorite snacks / pantry staples:
Ok! So I'm not a big snacker but I’ll give it a go!
I love fruit, I could eat PINTS of blueberries a day. Right now I'm really having a Comice Pear phase so that's been my go-to snack, despite the fact I’m allergic to them sometimes (not deadly, of course)!
I also love Stacy’s Cinnamon Pita Chips. I had a teammate whose mom made “fruit salsa” to dip these in and I’ve been constantly making my version of that as a snack since I was about 8.
Dried Mangoes are also a hit for me, I go through them too fast so I’ve put myself on time-out for a while.
Other than that for cooking it’s definitely Sesame Oil, Maldon Salt and Bone Broth.
A meal that’s on heavy rotation these days:
I’m one of those people who could happily eat the same meal for weeks and not get tired of it, then suddenly, I’ll never think of it again! But right now, I’m all about spaghetti squash with bolognese. It’s not because I avoid gluten or carbs; I actually see it as a completely different meal than traditional pasta. It’s like its own dish, with its own vibe, and I love how it feels light enough to eat multiple times a week but still hearty.
Wait! Okay, now I’m going to switch gears on you — pizza. Pizza is my all-time favorite food to eat and to make, I became somewhat of a “pizzaiolo” during lockdown. Seriously, it’s the perfect canvas for anything you can dream up. And honestly, I think of it as a balanced meal. You’ve got your carbs, protein, and vegetables. It’s basically a salad if you break it down, right?
Let’s go a little deeper…
What’s the mantra you keep coming back to?
“Nothing works unless you do” or “Each day gets better”
What products / practices are part of your regular mental wellness habits?
Singing in the car
Singing in the shower
Hot showers
Long walks
Substacking!
And your physical?
I grew up doing competitive gymnastics, so I’ve spent almost all my life working out and connected to my body’s capabilities. Since then, I’ve stuck to routines that make me happy and that I can get better at whether that be boxing, cycling, hot yoga or pilates. These days I have been really into running and pilates at New York Pilates.
Facials at Ildi Pekar or
’s studio in Chinatown.
What do you think is the most underrated part of wellness?
The things that are free. As much as I love an LED Mask, I still think the things that come at no additional cost are the best. Going on walks, cooking more of my meals, taking a hot shower – I think those things are underrated.
And overrated?
UMMM… extremes. Hot take: you don't need to eradicate oat milk because it has oil in it.
Picture this: you wake up one morning and feel like shit. What’s your next move:
Two words: Shower and Body Scrub. Since I was a kid, showering has been my thing. I love an everything shower! My all time favorites for this are the Mutha Nudist Bar, Naturium Glow Getter Body Wash, Osea’s Body Scrub and the Kate McLeod or Lush Turmeric Latte body bars.
(All of this with a candle is my dream evening!)
Give us your ride or die wellness products:
Beef Liver Vitamin A supplements
Lemon Ginger Tea Cubes (I make this at home!)
Aero Garden, I always have fresh herbs on hand
One thing you do everyday that makes you the most YOU version of yourself:
Getting dressed! I love clothes and fashion (a little too much).
Whose taste inspires you?!
My future self. I think this has helped me with finding things I truly love, not like. I think about style as an evolution into a future version of myself — so how long will this last? How often will I wear it? Would it be something worth wanting in 10 years or will it end up washed up on a beach?
There are of course many people whose taste I find immaculate, but I think what I like about them is their ability to express themselves and their personality through their style. So I’d say what inspires me is them as a whole!
Some of my favorites are April Daniels, Lisa Grain (who I affectionately call "my Queen"), my mom, and even a couple of fictional characters: Raquel Thomas from Raising Kanan and Fran Fine from The Nanny. I spent much of my childhood watching the Nanny reruns way past a reasonable time for a child to be awake and I 100% think of myself as “the lady in red while everybody else is wearing tan.”
Huge, huge thank you to
for sharing this glimpse into her life with us. For more of Phia’s exquisite taste, find her on Instagram and read her Substack, . You can find her fridge favorites and more here.Feel free to leave a comment or respond to this email with questions you want asked, people you want featured, or anything else that’s on your mind. Don’t be shy, I love hearing from you.
Ooooo i loved this one
That is a good looking fridge! And the herb grower 🫶