D'oh for Doughnuts

You could say Melbourne’s crazily intense brunch culture is epitomised by the long-standing reign of Morgan Hipworth’s ‘Bistro Morgan’ in all the coolest cafes. Waiting on the side of the street with your friends for forty five minutes to get a seat becomes okay when you can then go on to eat some smashed avocado which is just impossible to replicate at home (no matter how hard you try), with one of Morgan’s doughnuts for dessert. All around town, Homer Simpson’s image of an iced and sprinkled pink doughnut has been scrapped, and readily replaced with gastronomic combinations of salted caramel, rocky road, or tim tams; topped with colour, vibrancy and if you’re lucky, a syringe filled with delicious sauce. Morgan’s doughnuts have a unique quality which sets him above last year’s Nutella doughnut craze. His business is not just about money, or about churning out products. There exists an incredible creative flair in his work, in his weekly new flavours, that just cannot be replaced. Hipworth is young, talented, and definitely one to watch in the food industry; his business is no crazy week-long brunch fad; there is longevity in his culinary art. I was lucky enough to ask Morgan some questions.

What was the first doughnut you ever made?

Was it heart shaped?

What’s your favourite aspect of Melbourne’s food culture?

Cool cafes, forever changing food trends, diversity.

Increasingly, the word entrepreneur is being used to describe young people like yourself; how do you see yourself as an entrepreneur and what do you think the label means?

I see myself as a young person with a great work ethic and a passion. I think the label refers to a person with initiative and a willingness to give it a go, I am happy therefore to be referred to as an entrepreneur.

Why doughnuts? Do you ever see yourself expanding to other foods in your business in the future? (Not that we’re complaining about the donuts)

Doughnuts. Why not! However you may be surprised to know I can cook pretty much anything put in front of me! Doughnuts and desserts are just a small part of what I can do!

Do you think social media has influenced your success, and if so, how?

Yes definitely, social media has been a very positive social platform for Bistro Morgan, people eat with their eyes so it is great being able to showcase the doughnuts by posting images. It has also been a very positive exercise posting for each cafe we supply and drawing customers to the cafes.

Do you consider your business a potential job or a hobby?

I guess it is a bit of both at the moment as I am limited as to how much I can grow the business just now as I am still in school, but judging by the hours, effort and dedication put in it is definitely leading to a potential job in the future.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love being creative, it is exciting creating new flavours each weekend and seeing the end result. I love the cool cafes I supply, and some of the amazing media, press and radio coverage I have been fortunate to be part of.

So aside from the weekend happiness which Hipworth’s doughnuts provide, I think we can all see something inspiring in his business. He makes hundreds of doughnuts every week, on top of his social media efforts, and still manages to take on all responsibilities of school and life as a 15 year old, and it beats me how he manages it. Head to his website http://www.bistromorgan.com.au/ to find out more, and on this week’s Sunday brunch, I’d recommend you hit up a café which stocks his creations. I promise #noregrets.

Love, Ingrid

Photos from Gram Magazine and Buro 247