Page 112 - Port Douglas Magazine 38

MIKE & years … his boardies and flip flops were packed. This was the tipping point so Mike quit his job.
Well, there was one quick stop over in Viva Las
Together, the husband-and-wife team poured their
SALLY Vegas to tie the knot. heart and soul into each of these distinguished
pastries.
Port Douglas was like nowhere else in the world.
MILLER Engulfed in the region’s natural beauty, the two Mike helms the kitchen making doughnuts like
crazy, and Sally is the face of the business and
hospitality professionals easily found work.
handles the administrative side of things.
Enjoying a simpler life away from the frantic
city their family grew. It wasn’t until complicated Working together has its challenges but the
circumstances from the birth of their third son put two complement each other extremely well
When Mike and Sally Miller recently opened them into financial woes. and genuinely enjoy it. Its synchronicity. Even
the doors to the Douglas Shire’s only gourmet Mike started making doughnuts at home, playing though they are completely different individuals,
doughnut bakery cafe, Dukes, in Mossman, they with recipes, and sending his creations as gifts together they align and enrich each other’s lives
were greeted with a glaze of fanfare as delighted to friends in lined cereal boxes, devouring each professionally and personally.
doughnut devotees lined up early that Saturday sweet morsel. One restaurant owner got a taste Mike, Sally, and their family rejoice in the niche
morning selling out of their artisan treats within of Mike’s oh-so-good creations and offered up the they have been able to carve in the community
hours. use of his kitchen and food license in exchange for they love. They believe if you have more than
This was a heart-warming show of support doughnuts. With this opportunity, Sally thought if you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence.
for this dynamic doughnut duo who came to they could sell them at the markets while Mike was After everything they overcame, they’re most
slinging bedazzled dough in the face of dark still cheffed at his day job, an extra $200 a week proud of giving back by starting a breakfast club at
days of adversity. The young family was lifted by would certainly help get them out of debt trouble. Mossman State School. Being fortunate enough to
the community they sweetly call home and local Sally, the methodical well-oiled machine, put the live in an affluent area, child hunger is something
business owners who supported their newfangled plan in place, while Mike worked like mad in they believe can be fixed at a local level.
upscale confections. his signature blissfully organised chaos kneading, When not working Mike and Sally are savouring
Mike, an accomplished chef, and Sally, a clever rolling, and resting the dough for their first Sunday time with the family at either Four Mile Beach or
restaurant manager, met while working together market. Lake Tinaroo. Of course, nothing beats relaxing
at a Vancouver eatery. As the two became more Going in blind with no expectations, they sold with a coffee and fresh doughnuts.
smitten their lives aligned to trade in the Great out within hours, and every week just got bigger.
White North for the Great Barrier Reef. Sally knew Dukes was launched to drooling acclaim. They
the charm of Port Douglas from previous visits, grew from making a couple of dozen a day to dukesdoughnuts.com
and warming Mike to the idea wasn’t difficult, almost 1000 a week, scaling up supplying Cairns’
living in the tropics versus shivering in Canada for cafes and Rusty’s markets.

DYNAMIC DUOS