Meet: Binlin Cao

Design cred: B.A. in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts

Where I hail from: China, Fujian, a coastal province

Where I now call home: Brooklyn, New York

Where I hang out:

Downtown Manhattan. There are so many brunch and dessert places. Plus the Chinese food, Little Italy — all the different cuisines because New York is a melting pot.

Favorite food:

Ice cream, especially pistachio gelato. Every time I travel, I go to the ice cream shops to find that country’s special flavors.

A memorable meal:

Truffle risotto in Rome, during summer, with my best friends at the table.

What inspires me in design:

Traveling and food. You can see and taste different cultures through both experiences. I love the variety. 

A talent I’m proud of:

Cooking – and illustrations. I like taking a detail I see in daily life, maybe a beautiful color from a vegetable or fruit I walk by on the street, and bringing it into design, using it creatively.

The restaurant vibe I love most: 

Cozy. I like elegance, too, but cozy feels safe, like the restaurant is saying, “Be yourself when you eat here, and feel free to eat a lot!”