#275 Kay-Lene Tan | Omnia Bistro & Yugen Dining

Kay-Lene Tan is a renowned pastry chef celebrated for her innovative desserts that combine storytelling with bold flavours. Before embarking on her culinary career, she worked as a documentary maker, with a background in mass communication from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore. A turning point came during a “quarter-life crisis,” which led her to pivot toward her passion for food, eventually enrolling at At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy to pursue pastry and bakery arts. Her talent took her to some of the world’s best kitchens and earned her accolades, including being a semi-finalist on MasterChef Australia: Dessert Masters in 2023. On the show, she impressed with desserts inspired by her heritage and personal memories, such as her "Milo Dinosaur" dish and a "New Beginning" creation symbolising seasonal change. While she didn't take home the title, Kay-Lene described her experience on Dessert Masters as transformative, reigniting her confidence and reaffirming her unique culinary voice. Kay-Lene is now using that voice at Omnia Bistro and Yugen Dining in South Yarra. Kay-Lene is articulate and realistic and glorious in the way she describes dessert creation but also her own journey, and she also has the best laugh. I learned a lot from our conversation and came away the better for having spoken to her.