Rolling out across Darling Quarter from October 3–11, the Little Chef program pairs young cooks directly with precinct operators and guest mentor Morgan Hipworth for 90 minutes of genuine, hands-on craft.
Darling Quarter is hosting hands-on holiday workshops led by real operators and guest chef Morgan Hipworth. Kids get 90 minutes of genuine technique, from stretching pizza dough with Vesta Italian to crafting Dopa’s karaage chicken.
Mel Nathan sat down with Morgan Hipworth to talk shop about what’s unfolding at Darling Harbour from October 3–11.
Cooking since age seven, Morgan Hipworth launched Bistro Morgan at just 15 before judging Junior MasterChef Australia and becoming the youngest competitor on Dessert Masters. Now, he brings a lifetime of real kitchen experience to mentor the next generation.
PLATING UP THE NEXT GENERATION Guest mentor Morgan Hipworth.
Little Chef program will bring together some of Darling Quarter's most popular food retailers, including Kürtősh, Dopa Donburi & Dessert, Vesta Italian and Chatime, alongside neighbours Cinnabon and Gostoso Churros.
Across the program, children will have the opportunity to create a variety of dishes and treats, making and decorating a Kürtősh Kid Cube, crafting bubble tea with Chatime, learning how to prepare Dopa’s popular Karaage Chicken Doki Box, or stretching and topping pizza dough with Vesta Italian.
Each session has been designed to provide a different experience, encouraging participants to return and try something new.
Great chefs are taught, not born. Let your kids test their skills in the kitchen while you enjoy a well-deserved coffee break nearby.
Future Masters: Where Real Kitchen Craft Begins
Now 25, Morgan has turned that childhood passion into a thriving hospitality career, making his journey a natural fit for Little Chef and an inspiring example of where an early love of cooking can lead.
Cooking, creativity and confidence in every session.
Each 90-minute masterclass gives children the opportunity to step into the role of chef.
Little Chef: Raw Talent Meets Real Craft
Guided by industry professionals, kids will mix, roll, shape, decorate, assemble and create a range of dishes while learning simple culinary techniques in a fun and supportive environment.
Building the next generation of cooks: Free school holiday masterclasses
Sessions are tailored to different age groups with intentionally small group sizes, ensuring activities are engaging and age appropriate. Younger participants will focus on mixing, decorating and assembling, while older kids will explore more advanced food preparation techniques, all under the guidance of experienced chefs.
French Precision for Young Cooks at Darling Harbour
At the end of each masterclass, participants can enjoy sharing their creations with family members. They’ll also be able to recreate the experience at home, with a recipe card, Junior Chef apron, Little Chef certificate and commemorative badge.
While the kids cook, parents can take a breather and enjoy the precinct.
The Little Chef Program
The Partners: Vesta Italian, Dopa, Kürtősh, Chatime, Cinnabon, Gostoso Churros, and guest chef Morgan Hipworth.
The Workshops: 90-minute, small-group sessions focused on age-appropriate prep, assembly, and technique.
The Take-Home: Recipe cards, an apron, a certificate, and their own fresh creations.
For Parents: Drop them off with top industry pros and enjoy a quiet coffee nearby.
"We wanted to create an experience that was more than just entertainment," Lucia Eman, Senior Marketing Manager, Darling Quarter.
“Little Chef gives children the chance to learn practical skills, express their creativity and experience the pride that comes from making something themselves. By working alongside our retailers and guest chefs, we're creating a hands-on experience that celebrates food, creativity and community, while giving families the opportunity to make lasting memories together during the school holidays."
Here’s how Morgan’s story began...
The conversation: With Little Chef Cooking Classes, Guest Chef, Morgan Hipworth
Hometown roots? Melbourne, Australia in 2001. Never considered anywhere else.
Tell us about your technical foundation? Studying at The Ritz and Lenôtre in Paris shifted my focus from just baking fast to doing it properly. The kitchen blew me away with its quiet composure.
Best kitchens worked? The Ritz. The kitchen was surprisingly calm; Lenôtre was pure precision and repetition. My own kitchens are a totally different challenge.
Favourite cheap eat? Cheese and bacon roll.
What keeps you going? Everyone thinks hospitality is about the food, but I’m fascinated by the margins. A 1% shift in food cost sounds tiny, until you calculate it over a year at 400 covers.
Where Melbourne's dining and style culture meets
Advice to future little chefs? Learn why things work, not just how. Understanding why your dough changes with the seasons—and how to read a P&L—is what actually sets you apart.
Favourite kitchen tools? My scales and probe thermometer.
What inspired you with this project? Too young for real kitchens and surrounded by reality TV elimination shows, I taught myself to cook at home. I want kids cooking properly early on, not just decorating cupcakes. They're far more capable than we think, and learning how food actually works stays with them for life.
The Little Chef masterclass setup ready for action at Darling Quarter
Your thoughts on classic vs modern cuisine chefs? Modern cooking is just classical technique with better gear and science. You can't break the rules until you've mastered them.
How can we keep attracting more chefs into the food world? The glamour gets them through the door, but it won't keep them. Retention comes down to honest career progression, fair rosters, and competitive pay.
Favourite thing about Sydney? The best part of Sydney? Year-round alfresco dining, and grabbing a late night bite in Chinatown long after everything else closes.
Sydney sunset by the water
Early influences? I just started young, baking at home before it was ever a business. Nobody called it unrealistic, and France later gave my career structure.
Obsession ingredient? Eggs. Aerating, emulsifying, setting, enriching, glazing—no other ingredient is as versatile, precise, or fascinating.
The Details:
Little Chef Cooking Classes
What is it? Little Chef, free kids cooking masterclasses for children aged 6 to 12 years old.
Where? Darling Quarter North Village Green, 1 - 25 Harbour Street, Sydney NSW 2000
When? Saturday 3 October to Sunday 11 October 2026, NSW spring school holidays
Session times? Weekdays 9:00am, 11:30am and 2:00pm. Weekends 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm and 6:00pm. Each masterclass runs 90 minutes.
Ages? 6 - 7, 8 - 9 and 10 - 12, grouped by session
Capacity? 8 children per session for ages 6 - 7, 10 children per session for ages 8 and over.
Cost? Free
Contact us:
Bookings Free registration essential.
Websites: https://darlingquarter.com / https://www.little-chef.com.au
Social @darlingquarter
Morgan Hipworth: Plating Up Next-Gen Chefs.