Who is Chef Miko Aspiras? Filipino Chef Shines as Guest Judge on MasterChef Australia

When MasterChef Australia season 17 reached its finale, Filipino pastry chef Miko Aspiras was not merely an observer—he was on the judges’ panel, setting one of the most challenging tasks of the season.

The Sydney-based chef tasked finalists Laura Sharrad and Callum Hann with recreating his intricate and fully edible creation, “Botanical Gardens,” a whimsical yet technically demanding dessert that combined Filipino and Australian ingredients.

His appearance placed him alongside notable past finale guest judges such as Heston Blumenthal and Dominique Crenn, further cementing his place in the global culinary spotlight.

Aspiras’ achievements are impressive. He was featured in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2018 under the Arts category for his innovative pastry creations.

His culinary journey began at age 11, helping his aunt in the kitchen, and later led him to train at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. He went on to work in prestigious hotels including Shangri-La Manila, Newport World Resorts Manila, and Raffles.

Representing the Philippines internationally, he competed at the SIGEP Gelato Convention and Valrhona Chocolate Chef Championship in 2018, and has spoken at events like Madrid Fusion Manila. Known for championing Filipino ingredients such as calamansi, ube, and Philippine cacao, he blends them with Australian flavors like lemon myrtle and wattleseed.

Now based in Sydney, Aspiras co-owns Don’t Doughnuts, a cult-favorite shop famed for its sourdough-brioche creations and inventive fillings.