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From Cavite to the global stage: Jessica Panoy's sweet journey in 'Bite Me Sweet'
From Cavite to the global stage: Jessica Panoy's sweet journey in 'Bite Me Sweet'
Pastry chef Jessica Panoy’s journey from a young home baker in Cavite to representing the Philippines on an international culinary reality show is one she describes as both surreal and deeply meaningful.
Panoy is part of “Bite Me Sweet,” a 10-episode Viu Original Korean food reality series that brings together five leading female pastry chefs from across Asia, paired with Korean celebrities, to compete in a dessert survival challenge inspired by Korean snack culture.
For Panoy, being chosen for the show was an unexpected milestone in her career.
“It felt surreal and such an honour to represent the Philippines in ‘Bite Me Sweet.’ Coming from the Philippines and being able to stand in a Korean competition alongside so many talented chefs felt like carrying a small piece of home with me into a completely different world,” she said.
She added that the experience was emotionally intense yet fulfilling, especially knowing she had the support of viewers back home.
“It was exciting, nerve-wracking, and emotional at the same time – especially knowing that people back home were supporting me throughout the journey,” she added.
Panoy said she was initially contacted through Instagram to join the show, an offer she almost did not take seriously at first.
“I actually got reached out to on Instagram. At first, I honestly thought it was a scam haha. But when I replied and they sent me the initial project details, that’s when it clicked – oh wow, this is actually for real,” she recalled.
Born and raised in Cavite, Panoy discovered her passion for baking at the age of 12. What began as experimenting with recipes from YouTube and books eventually turned into a lifelong career.
“My love for baking started when I was 12, watching YouTube videos, reading books, creating and selling them to my family and friends. What began as a childhood passion slowly became my career path,” she said.
To further develop her craft, she pursued formal training in culinary arts at Global Academy and worked as a pastry cook at Crowne Plaza Manila. She later joined Chef Josh Boutwood’s restaurants, where she rose to become a Sous Chef and Pastry Chef at Helm.
Seeking further growth, Panoy eventually moved to Melbourne, Australia to study Patisserie. She is currently working as a Pastry Sous Chef based in Melbourne.
Beyond her technical journey, Panoy also shared her perspective on Filipino dessert culture, describing it as deeply emotional and rooted in nostalgia.
“I think Filipinos naturally love desserts that feel comforting, nostalgic, and generous in flavour. We usually enjoy sweets that are rich, creamy, milky, and balanced with familiar flavours,” she explained.
She added that Filipino desserts are often tied to memories of family and celebration.
“A lot of Filipino desserts are also very emotional and memory driven. Many of us grew up with sweet merienda from family gatherings, so desserts are often connected to warmth, celebrations, and sharing food with people we love,” she said.
At the same time, she noted how evolving Filipino tastes have become more open to modern and refined dessert styles.
“But at the same time Filipino taste is very adaptable. People are now accepting balance, texture, subtle bitterness, less sugar, and more elevated presentation while still keeping that comforting Filipino soul,” she said.
When it comes to her personal favorites, Panoy named mango float, tiramisu, ube gelato, soft serve taho from Kariton Melbourne, and her mother’s homemade buko pandan.
She also shared some of her signature creations that have resonated with customers, including her chocolate hazelnut passionfruit gateau—featured as her signature dessert on “Bite Me Sweet”—as well as honeycake from Helm’s menu and profiteroles filled with various flavors, which she once sold in the Philippines.
For Panoy, joining “Bite Me Sweet” is not just a career highlight but a meaningful opportunity to showcase Filipino talent on a global platform.
The winning team in the series will earn the chance to launch a “Bite Me Sweet” pop-up store in Singapore.
