A NostalgicTaste of Home

TEXT BY MYE MULINGTAPANG

A Filipino bakery in Italy serve up nostalgia with every bite of pandesal, hopia, and more.

In the heart of Milan, where pasta and pizza reign supreme, the aroma of freshly baked pandesal, ensaymada, and hopia draws in early morning crowds. For many Filipinos living abroad, a warm piece of tinapay is more than just food—it’s a taste of home.

And at Baker’s Place (Baker’s Tinapayan), every loaf tells a story.

Founded in 2016 by Master Baker Romeo Mendoza, Baker’s Place is a Filipino bakery that has become a haven for kababayans craving the comfort of traditional breads. Romeo, originally from Batangas—a city known as the "home of bakeries" and the birthplace of the Tinapayan Festival—learned the art of baking as a child. He worked across the Philippines, from Los Baños to Baguio, mastering local favorites like pandesal, pan de coco, hopia baboy, and pudding.

The Bread that Binds

But his journey didn’t stop there. Driven by passion and wanderlust, Romeo traveled from Saudi Arabia to cruise ships, until he finally found home in Milan. After years of experience and sacrifice, he opened a humble bakery serving breads that spark not only appetite, but emotion.

“Nakikita ko ‘yung kasabikan ng mga tao—kapwa ko OFW—na gustong matikman ang tinapay natin. Para bang pag nakakakita sila ng pandesal, parang sabik sila,” said Romeo.

And he’s right. Customers light up when they see the familiar golden crust of ensaymada, the soft pull of ube pandesal, or the flaky texture of hopia sibuyas. More than breakfast or merienda, these breads bring back memories—of sleepy mornings, school recess, family almusal, and panaderia stops back home.

Filipino bread is now getting the spotlight it deserves. In a global food scene hungry for new flavors, Filipino cuisine is rising—and tinapay plays a delicious role. With its perfect balance of sweetness, salt, and nostalgia, it appeals not just to Pinoys, but to Italians and international foodies as well.

Baker’s Place proves that our humble bread—from pandesal to pan de regla—can hold its own on any table. It’s not about reinventing tradition, but honoring it with care, skill, and a whole lot of heart.

And in this cozy bakery in Milan, Romeo Mendoza continues to roll, knead, and bake the breads that remind every Filipino that no matter how far they roam, home is just one bite away.

"Every customer who walks into my bakery is looking for a piece of home, and that’s what I give them,” added Romeo.

BRANCHES

Via Plinio 12, Milan

 Located near Corso Buenos Aires, this branch  operates from Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00 to 19:00.

Viale Fulvio Testi 70, Milan

 Situated close to the Ca' Granda metro station (Lilla line), this store is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 06:00 to 20:00.

Viale Stelvio 74, Milan

 Located inside the Kabayan Foodtrip store, this branch operates from 09:00 to 19:00.