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Poison Doughnuts
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Find out what this Sydney-based pastry guru misses from The Philippines
This man lives for the sweet life. Miko Aspiras made quite the name for himself in the Philippine F&B scene, having worked with international hotels, big brands, boutique restaurants, bakeries, as a consultant, and even opening his own concepts and authoring a book too. He is most known for restaurants Le Petit Souffle, Poison Doughnuts, and Workshop Bakery which are still operating despite his relocation.
Since moving to Australia, acclaimed pastry chef Miko Aspiras has taken the post of executive pastry chef at Hilton Sydney, and at an upscale fine-dining Italian restaurant, Seta Sydney too. On top of these prestigious positions, in June of 2021, this young man somehow found the time to also open his first bakery and café in the city, called Don't Dougnuts, located at King's Cross. Here, he pushes boundaries and tests innovative new ingredient pairings much to the pleasure of his Aussie customers.
Find out what flavours of home this gourmand is missing most while in Sydney, Australia:
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What do you miss most on the food/drink front when you are away from The Philippines or haven’t been back for a while?
I was lucky enough to have visited Manila back in March 2020 before all the lockdowns happened. I visited to attend my Lola's 85th birthday, to do some events with our restaurant group, and to launch my book. All these events were evidently surrounded by food which is an amazing example of how vibrant the food scene is in the Philippines. That is what I miss the most: there's amazing food everywhere you go in the Philippines. We Filipinos treat food as a celebration. I realised that this is a very unique quality. It isn't like that everywhere.
What is the first dish you want to eat when you return, and where do you go for it?
Call me a cliché but Jollibee Chicken Joy!
See more: Jollibee Now Owns Tim Ho Wan
Do you have a favourite restaurant in the Philippines? For fine dining and for more casual experiences?
I have heeps! For fine dining, I love Antonio's in Tagaytay they have the most amazing and consistent food and service! I also love The Test Kitchen by Josh Boutwood, and Toyo Eatery by Jordy Navarra. For a more casual setting, I love going to The Grid food market; it's a food mecca and I love the ambience and vibe.
If you have visitors with you, where do you go to give them a real taste of the Philippines?
Manam! The best balance between modern and classic Filipino food. Everything looks and tastes good: from the entrées to the drinks.
Where do you like to meet up with old friends for food/drinks?
My barkada and I are really homebodies, but if ever we really wanna go out for a chill night, then we meet in any one of the restaurants in San Juan or Greenhills. We love going to hole-in-the-wall restaurants and new openings around the area, especially on Wilson Street.
Do you have a favourite bar and/or café in the Philippines?
For bars I love Barcino. For cafés, I love Scout's Honor Cookie Shop, and Cafe Mary Grace.
Any other must-visit food/drink spots when you are back?
I would love to visit and try all the new restaurants opening especially the new fine-dining Filipino restaurants. I would love to visit all the food venues in Shangri-La Boracay as well, I miss them! I of course would like to check out all my babies too: Le Petit Soufflé, Poison Doughnuts, Scout's Honor and Workshop Bakery.
I also love to eat all my comfort food like Le Ching Tea House, Gloria Maris, Wildflour Bakery and more! There's just so much.
Do you take any food or treats back home with you from the Philippines?
Haha yes! I always organise a large box for all of them: dried fish, frozen food, bottled food, and Pinoy delicacies, plus of course fresh calamansi juice!
Where do you go to find authentic flavours of home where you live?
Well, there's plenty of 'filo' (that's what they call Filipinos in Australia) restaurants here. But if we're talking about authentic Filipino food I'd go to Pamana in Chatswood Sydney. I also love getting my Pinoy food essentials from Manila Mart.
See more: A Taste Of Home: Cathy Feliciano-Chon
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About
Isabel loves to learn, and see things from different perspectives. Connecting with people and engaging in new experiences to broaden her horizons is what inspires this storyteller, keeping her constantly curious, and excited for what's to come. An absolute love for all things F&B ignited a hunger to devour content from this world and keeps her jumping into tasty adventures around the globe. From the beauty of simple bites, to nuanced fine dining tasting menus, street food, and the art of entertaining, the multi-faceted nature of the dining experience is something she can't get enough of. A good cup of coffee or a glass of wine paired with a dash of witty conversation is a quick way to win her over. This editor loves travelling, food, music, skincare, fitness, and is only friends with people who love dogs. Guilty pleasure?: Binge-watching TV shows and movies she has already seen.
Work
Concept creation is the name of the game and branding takes centre stage in Isabel's day-to-day schedule. From producing shoots, conceptualising bespoke projects for our partners, relationship management, to cooking up features and events for Tatler Dining, this editor is a tried and tested foodie at heart. She mainly writes content for Tatler Dining, engaging in captivating discussions with restaurateurs, chefs, producers, and food enthusiasts to tell must-know stories. Aside from that Isabel manages Tatler Dining's flagship events like Off Menu, or Cocktail Festival and puts together the Tatler Dining Guide, our annual listing of the best eats around town.
Follow her on Instagram @isabelvmf.
