Award Banner
Award Banner

From accountant to pastry chef at Singapore's best restaurants

From accountant to pastry chef at Singapore's best restaurants
Meet Jeanette Ow, Director of Pastry at Italian eatery Fico.
PHOTO: Jeanette Ow, Fico

If you're an avid foodie who likes to dine at nice restaurants, then you've probably eaten one of Jeanette Ow's desserts.

The youthful 41-year-old pastry chef has worked at well-known restaurants like Jean Georges Vongerichten's Dempsey Cookhouse, and Julien Royer's Claudine. She is now Director of Pastry at Mirko Febbrile's breezy Italian eatery Fico and his upcoming fine dining restaurant slated to open in the last quarter of the year.

As a former accountant, Jeanette found herself missing joy in her work. When it really started to get her down, she decided it was time to ask herself what makes her happiest. The answer: Baking. The rest, as the old trope goes, is history.

Today, Jeanette's joy is evident in her sweet creations that, in turn, bring joy to everyone who partakes of them.

Jeanette Ow is the Director of Pastry at Fico.
PHOTO: Jeanette Ow

How did you become interested in baking?

My mum was illiterate, and she found joy in her hobbies, which were mostly crafting. I followed her in almost everything she did. So we did a lot of drawing, modelling and stuff like that together, which I found a lot of happiness in. I think doing pastry is similar in that I like to do things with my hands.

Later on, my aunt baked the best cookies in church and I asked her to teach me how to make them. I went to her house and learnt from her, but when I tried to make it at home, the results were never the same as hers. This intrigued me. Why did this fail when it's so simple?

I kept going back and forth with her and eventually realised that I really had to follow the recipe, the timing, the temperature of the oven… all of that. I was so intrigued by all the little details that matter in pastry and that's how my interest in baking grew.

When Jeanette joined Fico, she created new desserts for their popular dessert trolley.
PHOTO: Fico

How did you decide to become a pastry chef?

I studied to be an accountant, but I didn't find any joy in that. I felt like I'd lost my spark for life. Even though being an accountant made me a decent salary, I just didn't feel any happiness.

When I got a little older, I asked myself, what would make me happy? I am a dreamer and love all things creative and imaginative. Since I'd been practicing meditation to bring clarity of thought, I meditated for a while and during one of those meditations, it came to me: I like baking.

My cousin Marcus was studying culinary arts in Australia, so I thought, why don't I try that as well? I have nothing to lose. So I went to Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney to do my Certificat De Patisserie Superieure. It's been a long process to get where I am today, but I took it step by step.

Fico's dessert trolley offers traditional and familiar treats with a twist.
PHOTO: Fico

Tell us about some desserts you've created for Chef Mirko's restaurants.

When I joined Mirko in February this year, I created some new desserts for Fico's popular dessert trolley, like a vanilla honey panna cotta with passionfruit, mango and chilli.

As much as possible, we try to make the trolley experience feel new and different, but at the same time, ensure that the famous Italian classics are on it too. So this dessert was a result of doing something traditional and familiar, but with a twist.

Jeanette's cheesecake with pomelo, grapefruit and lemon marmalade.
PHOTO: Jeanette Ow

I also created a cheesecake with pomelo, grapefruit and lemon marmalade for two reasons. One is to improve kitchen efficiency by reducing our use of the oven. Fico has several baked dishes on its menu, like a whole fish or eggplant parmigiana.

One of our struggles has been that the oven is often unavailable for the duration it takes for an entire cake to bake. The other reason is minimising waste. The restaurant uses a lot of Amalfi lemon zest, juice and wedges, especially for drinks, so we make a lemon marmalade with the spent, skinless lemons.

I love how the slight bitterness of these beautiful lemons cuts through the richness of the cheesecake. The cake is topped with a grapefruit glaze and fresh segments of citrus fruit like pomelo, grapefruit and blood orange. I think this reflects Fico's philosophy of being generous with the best ingredients to achieve optimum flavour.

Pasticciotto (an Italian cream-filled pastry) with cointreau custard cream and mixed berries.
PHOTO: Jeanette Ow

What kind of desserts will you create for his upcoming fine dining restaurant at New Bahru?

I can't be specific yet, but they will be drawn from my experience with European desserts. They will have a raw, modern edge and a different take on presentation.

I am super excited about what we have been putting together. The flavours, experience and design will be fresh and new!

What's your favourite dessert?

I love mille-feuille. I have this thing for the combination of crunchiness and softness, which mille-feuille has. It's such a simple dessert, but really tasty.

What's your favourite dessert to make?

I love making tarts. Something simple and comforting like a lemon tart is very beautiful to me.

When Jeanette Aw (left) met Jeanette Ow.
PHOTO: Jeanette Ow

Do you often get comparisons with Jeanette Aw since your names are almost the same?

No, but when I was working at Claudine, customers would see my name on the menu and think that Jeanette Aw was the pastry chef there.

What's funny is one time, Jeanette Aw was really in the restaurant and saw my name on the menu. She asked the front-of-house if I would come out to meet her. I did. We laughed about it and took a picture together.

What do you love about being a pastry chef?

I love that when I'm at work and baking, I'm not distracted by my thoughts. I love that I can be in the moment, and I am calm and focused.

ALSO READ: Continuing her family's legacy: 26-year-old woman taking over parents' hawker business after their retirement

This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.

homepage

trending

trending
    'We are here to defy the odds': PAP's Aljunied team acknowledges tough fight, eyes return after 14 years
    'I am a fighter': Criminal lawyer Marshall Lim, PAP's candidate for Hougang SMC
    GE2025: Victor Lye and Jasmin Lau seen with SM Lee Hsien Loong at Ang Mo Kio GRC
    Multi-agency committee set up to ease inconveniences for residents moving into new BTO flats
    Van driver, 69, arrested for drink driving after crashing into 7 parked vehicles in Ang Mo Kio
    Mean and Green: We take a closer look at the Traffic Police's first electric patrol car
    From transport to co-living space: Sneak peek at Singapore's first MRT train hotel
    GE2025: PSP set to contest Marymount, Kebun Baru and Pioneer SMCs
    'Happy to be part of the team': PAP new face Valerie Lee joins walkabout on Pulau Ubin with Pasir Ris-Punggol MPs
    Two men fight each other at Johor checkpoint over allegation of cutting queue, probe on
    SG60 Baby Gift distribution kicks off: PM Wong pledges to do everything possible to support families
    Man, 77, discovered dead in Punggol flat; last seen over a week ago

Singapore

Singapore
    • 'Rest in peace, girl': Bouquets seen at the scene of River Valley fire where 10-year-old died
    • Calvin Cheng's comments regarding Gaza 'unacceptable and hurtful' to Malay/Muslim community: Masagos
    • GE2025: Why this 32-year-old is setting up a political party to contest East Coast GRC
    • Malaysian man jailed for assaulting bus driver over 11-minute wait at Tampines
    • Billion-dollar nickel scam: Ng Yu Zhi spent $7m on luxury cars he gave to wife, girlfriends
    • GE2025: Maliki Osman to be replaced by former news presenter Hazlina Abdul Halim in East Coast GRC
    • Fire engine's wheels get stuck in mud in Tengah estate
    • River Valley fire: Family of 10-year-old girl who died in blaze gather for last goodbye
    • Nee Soon GRC MP Faishal Ibrahim to contest in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC
    • GE2025: AMK GRC heading for 3-cornered fight after 2 opposition parties fail to strike deal

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • Unreleased song by late Teresa Teng found in Japan, to be included in album this year
    • 'Cannot think of a better community of storytellers to tell our story': Local content announced to celebrate 'Singaporean-ness' for SG60
    • Marquee celebrates 6th anniversary on April 11 and 12 with DJs Dimitri Vegas and Steve Aoki
    • Gossip mill: Tanya Chua and Jane Zhang busk at Clarke Quay, top 10 Korean actors among overseas fans revealed, Ryoko Hirosue arrested for alleged assault
    • Brazilian DJ Alok fears visa removal for international artists in US
    • Josh Duhamel opens up about his love of living off-grid with family
    • Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria actor Eric Dane diagnosed with ALS
    • Soulja Boy ordered to pay former assistant more than $5.3 million in damages
    • Lady Gaga thinks Bruno Mars is a 'once-in-a-generation artist'
    • Meghan Trainor feels 'no shame' over using weight-loss medication

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • Changi Airport reclaims World's Best Airport title in 2025, 13th time at top spot
    • Hello, Sunny! Simonboy announces birth of son, shares scary moment where 'we lost his heartbeat'
    • 140 coffeeshops in Singapore offering SG60 promotions and discounts, here's what to expect
    • The rise of Chinese F&B brands in Singapore: What stirs Singaporeans' appetites?
    • Time travel, Singapore style: 60 landmarks that have shaped the Lion City
    • How couples should structure property ownership In Singapore (before it gets messy)
    • Would you visit a 'floating' mosque? 4 unique mosques for your bucket list
    • Questions I wish I could ask my friends with kids
    • Play tourist, stay local: 60 spots to make you fall in love with Singapore all over again
    • Wedding planning 101: Navigating guest lists, latecomers and in-law expectations

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Google Pixel 9a: The best AI-centric phone under $800 in 2025?
    • Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates
    • Taiwan says China using generative AI to ramp up disinformation and 'divide' the island
    • Russian court fines Telegram app for refusal to remove anti-government content, TASS reports
    • One Beijing man's quest to keep cooking — and connecting with Americans — on camera
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes

Money

Money
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Best fixed deposit rates in Singapore (April 2025): Minimum deposits from $500, rates up to 2.90%
    • 4 reasons new condos are launched at higher prices than you might expect
    • Best bank offers in Singapore (April 2025): Win a Lilo & Stitch-inspired Hawaii vacation, get up to 50% off flights, and more
    • Here are the biggest 3-bedroom condo units for under $2.1m in Singapore
    • Impact of tariffs on developing countries could be 'catastrophic', says UN trade agency
    • EU brainstorms on how to avert or brace for US tariffs as 90-day window opens
    • China hits back at Trump tariff hike, raises duties on US goods to 125%
    • Trump's tariff pause brings little relief as recession risk lingers
    • Asean bloc seeks dialogue with US on tariffs but won't retaliate

Latest

Latest
  • Trump says Ukraine talks may be going OK, but there is a time 'to put up or shut up'
  • New Zealand needs US as 'active' partner in Indo-Pacific, says NZ foreign minister
  • US State Department says deported Maryland resident 'alive and secure' in El Salvador
  • Gazans struggle to find water as clean sources become increasingly scarce
  • WHO members close to accord on tackling future pandemics, sources say
  • Brazil's Bolsonaro may need new surgery after being hospitalised
  • Protesting Hungarians mock Orban's anti-LGBT moves, saying 'Let's all be the same'
  • Trump spares smartphones, computers, other electronics from China tariffs
  • Skoda Kodiaq review: A large 7-seater SUV with a relatively small price tag

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Ex-MP Lee Bee Wah introduces former MDDI director Goh Hanyan as potential candidate to Nee Soon residents
  • Robert Ng, son of late billionaire Ng Teng Fong, and 3 children to be designated as 'politically significant persons'
  • 'She should be with her family': Employer gives maid plane ticket, $800 to return to Myanmar and search for missing mum
  • 'He needed something to help him fight,' says man who bought Hokkien mee for dying patient
  • Thai woman struggles to evacuate during earthquake while her dog sleeps unfazed
  • Workers painting exterior of Geylang block discover man's skeletal remains in flat
  • 'New, younger' PAP team vows to reclaim WP-controlled Sengkang GRC, says Lam Pin Min
  • New face Jackson Lam 'very good on the ground' and will be asset to Parliament, says Shanmugam
  • Woman who publicised tips on how she evaded GST for luxury purchases fined $18k
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.