We chat with Matthias Phua, the man who knows the way into our hearts and stomachs with divine cakes from his cafe on Telok Ayer Street
It’s no secret how trendy it is to open a café these days. But for every one that opens, another one closes. And in this game of chance, only a few enjoy sweet success because they do it with heart and soul – not because it’s on trend.
Take for example Pantler, a little café and bakeshop that could on Telok Ayer Street, which has only been open shy of one year, but yet, promises that it will be around for the long run because of the expertise, attention to quality and unwavering passion its owner Matthias Phua puts into it. The soft-spoken baker turned business owner lets us in on a typical workday and dishes out words of wisdom for anyone who wants to turn a dream into a reality.
First of all, what does Pantler mean?
Pantler is an archaic word that means the officer in charge of the bread and the pantry. It’s not a word you come across often so I thought it would be a unique name for our modern bakery.
Walk us through a day in your life at work.
I usually work 12 to 13 hours day. It’s a tiring job that requires you to be on your feet the whole day. But that is all part and parcel of being in F&B. I truly enjoy being in the F&B line. I get to interact with customers from all parts of the world and all walks of life everyday. I also love serving them with our handmade products, which I hope brings them a small bit of joy to their lives.
What are your main responsibilities at Pantler?
I used to bake some of the bread here. But as the business evolved and we’ve become busier, I’ve taken charge of administration and business development.
We really love how you’ve decorated the space. What’s your favourite part of the cafe?
My favourite part of Pantler is definitely the counter that faces Telok Ayer Street. It’s a great space to work when there aren’t too many people; to relax; or even do nothing. It’s a great spot to simply watch the world go by.
Any words of wissom to share for those who want to venture into the F&B industry?
Nothing beats working a good number of years in the industry you’re interested in starting a business in to know if it’s what you’re really passionate about. Always do plenty of homework before starting anything.
Pantler, 198 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068637, p. 6221 6223.
Source: CATALOG Magazine