Since switching from a career in documentary film to pastry in her twenties, Kay-Lene Tan worked as head pastry chef at CBD venues Coda and Tonka, and as executive pastry chef at the Ritz-Carlton Melbourne. A fan favourite on season one of Masterchef spin-off Dessert Masters, Tan recently joined Omnia and Hot-Listed Yugen as executive pastry chef.

At Omnia, she’s focused on classic desserts with seasonal Australian produce, including a dark chocolate tart with crème fraîche ice-cream, and roasted pineapple with a brown butter cake and Vegemite ice-cream. But at Yugen, she brings more of her Singaporean Peranakan heritage and her story to the plate with desserts including corn ice-cream with palm seeds, nata de coco and rosette cookies (or kueh rose) that Tan says brings back childhood memories of ice-cream sellers on bicycles in Singapore. She’s also working on “kueh-centric offerings” including a take on kueh salat (a two-tiered glutinous rice cake topped with coconut and pandan custard) and kueh lapis (a layered steamed cake).

We caught up with Tan to find out where (and what) she’s eating in Melbourne these days.

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What’s your go-to for lunch on the go?
Hector’s Deli’s fried chicken or roast beef sandwiches, finished with one (or four) of the maple glazed donuts. Heavenly.

What’s your favourite place for a drink and snacks?
Marion. I have been so many times and tried so many variations of the menu, and it has never disappointed. It’s the place I always bring my friends visiting from out of town. More flatbread, please.

What’s your favourite spot for Singaporean food?
My house? I don’t think I’ve found that perfect quintessential Singaporean restaurant in Melbourne yet, but one place I go to when I’m craving fish head bee hoon noodles is Penang Flavours in Doncaster. They also have great curry puffs and char kway teow.

What’s your favourite bakery?
Monforte Viennoiserie. I love the seasonal specials, but the maritozzi buns stole my heart.

What Melbourne restaurant do you think is the most underrated?
Sushi Bar Kakizaki on Malvern Road. I don’t often hear people talk about them, but it’s worth a visit. It’s a quaint little omakase sushi bar that never fails to surprise and delight. I’ve loved the intimate dining experience and fresh selections of sushi every time I’ve gone to visit.

Where can you find your favourite desserts in Melbourne?
Tarts Anon. I don’t have a sweet tooth, but the maple smoked pecan tart is one of my absolute favourites. The tarts have the perfect crust that isn’t too sweet, and paired with flavours that surprise, delight and are perfectly balanced. With those perfectly executed layers and attention to detail, it’s hard not to love them.

What’s the best place for a late-night feed?
Ling Nan, especially after dinner service. Salt and pepper chicken ribs, XO pipis, sweet and sour pork … it’s consistent late-night goodness.

Bucket list restaurant?
I missed an opportunity in 2019 to stage at Geranium in Copenhagen due to some delays in my visa application. But it’s definitely on my bucket list.