Regular readers will know that, in the depths of lockdown, Marmelo Kitchen founder Natalie and her team launched a crowdfunder to reinstate a unique former bakery on the corner of Francis and Murchison roads.
The building had been theirs for a while as Marmelo & Son, which had opened to cater for photo shoots and film sets, with an airy upstairs area for special dining events.
But, during the first 2020 lockdown, Natalie enrolled at a pottery class at Turning Earth on Argall Avenue and met her newest partner-in-crime. “Sophie is a passionate pastry chef with over twenty years of experience,” she says. “She’s creative, flavour-focused and has a real drive and flare for her craft.”
Sophie and Natalie then decided it would be a winning idea to expand their baking bug into a full-time bakery – and could think of no better place to do it. “With the building originally having been the local neighbourhood bakery and closed for many years before we took it over, it feels like coming full circle to reinstate it into our lovely community.”
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You’ll know by now that they smashed their Pay-It-Forward campaign to fund the required specialist ovens, mixers and to upgrade both the machinery and interior.
And it’s now open. Morny is a “modern Viennoiserie” – the word is embellished on the window – where you might pop in for a warm croissant or pain au chocolat, or treat yourself to an Eton Mess pastry with strawberry compote, fresh strawberries and mint. “It’s about big ideas with delicious flavours, but also our own donuts stuffed with unusual things, such as creamy soft-serve,” says Natalie. Home-made gelato? Bring it on.
Be warned: this morning the line snaked back up to Francis – and the shop was totally sold out by midday. Milk chocolate laced cruffins, cheesecake brownies, coconut lamingtons, all kinds of donuts (nutella honeycomb, anyone? Blackberry chilli jam with lemongrass cream?) Forget that beach body now. And there are savoury croissants and more, too.
“Thank you all so much,” says Natalie. “We’re a little overwhelmed by all the lovely support we got this morning – and now have a lot of baking to get ready for tomorrow.” See you (right) at the back of the queue.
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