Singapore-born and Melbourne-based baker Richard Tan is co-owner of Miilk Cake Studio which is run by fellow founders and cousins Trini Lee and Tia Tan.
The Swanston St bakery which opened in 2023, leans on South East Asian flavours for its Singaporean cake-style shop with a difference. This is kitsch party cake service with a fun repertoire; with cakes inspired and named after the city of Melbourne to a classic take on a Hainanese Chicken Rice Cake – think chicken sandwiched between rice and topped with cucumber, tomato and coriander.
Theirs is a world where the classic sponge and cream which turns tea cakes into conversation starters. Some are filled with pops of donut peach and pandan and mango for a nod to the family bakers who came before them.
Co-owner and founder Richard Tan might be retired, but that doesn’t stop him from dropping in to lend a hand. He also keeps busy making their signature Hainanese chicken rice cake and happily does the grocery shopping for the baking studio.
He spoke to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series.
MY CITY
Melbourne. It’s a special melting pot of flavours, just like our motherland, Singapore.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
Hainanese chicken rice. So good we turned it into a cake.
FAVOURITE BAR
The Manchuria – a local Melbourne hidden gem; order The Lemon Drop.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
Miilk’s Positivitea, it’s a fruity iced tea which is a bundle of joy.
WHERE TO EAT IN SINGAPORE
Hawkers in Singapore are a must visit – hands down!
NEXT DESTINATION
A family trip to Singapore and Malaysia is the goal. We’d love to visit home and see what flavour twist we can be inspired by.
THREE CAKES AND HOW TO PAIR THEM:
Coconut pandan cake with our pandan latte – heaven for pandan lovers and a best seller for a reason.
Burn Baby Burn iced hojicha made with caramel and brown sugar, paired with our triple Hojicha chiffon. It’s a beautiful hojicha chiffon with hojicha cream and custard.
Peachy Keen Iced Tea with our peachy glow cake. The perfect match of peach and mango. You might want to add a shot of vodka to your iced tea.
https://www.miilkcakestudio.com
