14 March 2024

Five minutes with Piyada Siribunchakit, Fav Cup Cafe

| Claire Sams
The Asian-Australian women standing together

Co-founders Piyada ‘Pat’ Siribunchakit, Praewpitcha ‘Peach’ Chinsamai and Wilairak ‘Wicky’ Wutthiudomlert wanted to open a cafe that focuses on bagels and coffee … and they did! Photo: Supplied.

Who are you?

I’m Piyada ‘Pat’ Siribunchakit. I’m one of the three co-founders of Fav Cap Cafe.

What is your venue?

The story began back in 2021 when Wicky [Wutthiudomlert] and I were exploring locations where we could start a cafe. We realised that not many cafes in Canberra sell bagels, and since we were opening a cafe, we thought that would make us different from others if we focused on that. Our friend Peach [Chinsamai] specialises in coffee and looks after that area in our cafe.

Bags of coffee Fav Cup cafe

Praewpitcha’ Peach’ Chinsamai roasts a specialty coffee blend for Fav Cup Cafe. Photo: Lucy Ridge.

What kind of bagels do you sell?

We have normal bagels with cream cheese, salmon, or bacon and egg, but we also have Thai-fusion bagels. The three of us are from Thailand, so we wanted to add hints of Thai food to our bagels. We’ve created a Tom Yum prawn cream cheese bagel, which is one of our signature dishes.

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What is your favourite food to cook?

Tom Yum prawns and other Thai dishes, like a Thai omelette. The omelette is a bit different from the Western one as we fry it.

What was your best recent dining experience?

I went to Raku in the city, and that was really good. The other place I would recommend is Ramen O. I’ve been to the Belconnen one, and the ramen there is as good as the one I had in Japan.

Bacon, lettuce, avocado, tomato bagel with coffee

The BLAT bagel (with maple bacon, salad, avocado and tomatoes) is one of the various bagels on the menu. Photo: Lucy Ridge.

Where are you travelling next?

I’m travelling to Singapore soon. I’ve been to Singapore a couple of times already, and I love the food over there – especially the chilli crab and the chicken rice. After that, I’m going to Thailand to visit my family.

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Who do you admire in the Canberra food scene?

I would recommend Chong Co Thai. Their food is very close to authentic Thai food from Thailand. They have three locations [in Canberra, along with others in NSW and Queensland], but I go to the Belconnen one the most.

What is your food philosophy?

Food is essential for life, so we should eat something good.

An easy one to finish – what’s your go-to coffee order?

When I’m at a cafe, I’ll start with a flat white and then have the juice of the day for when I finish my meal.

Fav Cup Cafe is located at G09/39 London Circuit, and is open 7 am to 3 pm (Monday to Friday) or 8 am to 2 pm (Saturday and Sunday).

Original Article published by Claire Sams on Riotact.