Folding it all in
Bethany Ryan’s story is one of craft, care and steady dedication. As the owner and founder of Meringue & Magic, she has created a place where creativity, discipline and connection come together. Her macarons are known across the region, but the heart of her work lies in the relationships she’s built and the joy she finds in her craft.
What drew you to the work you do, and is it what you expected?
I’ve been a pastry chef for 12 and a half years. I did my apprenticeship in Bathurst at Legall’s Patisserie Café, completing my qualification nine months early. It was my dream to become a chef, but I never expected to fall in love with pastry the way I have. My love has continued to flourish. Baking is my happy place.
What’s it been like building a career in a regional area?
I built an incredible foundation for pastry in Bathurst, and those skills were really put to the test when I moved to Sydney. I learnt so much and found my passion for dietary‑requirement foods – dairy‑free, gluten‑free, vegan, allergen‑friendly. Had I stayed in Bathurst, I wouldn’t be half the chef I am today.
It’s a niche profession and a specialised set of skills, which has helped me stand out among home‑based food businesses.
Who has supported you most, and what did that look like?
My partner, Liam. Although it sounds cliché, it’s true. Liam stays up at night with me to help pipe filling into the macaron if I’m behind. He encourages me to do more markets, gives me flavour ideas and is my official taste tester. He tells everyone he meets about my business.
He brought our three‑week‑old baby to my Christmas markets last year so I wouldn’t have to be separated from bub. I’d had a c‑section, so he set up my entire market stall so I wouldn’t miss out on the busiest markets of the year. When I don’t feel like baking, he encourages me. He’ll get the ingredients out and do the boring jobs – like separating 200+ eggs!
“Technology is not my strong suit, and I don’t keep up with trends. Navigating the online business world has been extremely difficult.”
What do you wish someone had told you at the start?
I wish someone had told me how hard it is to run a business without a storefront. I rely heavily on social media to promote my work. Technology is not my strong suit, and I don’t keep up with trends. Navigating the online business world has been extremely difficult.
What does success look like for you right now?
Success right now is getting my orders baked on time. My schedule is so full that if we veer from it even slightly, it becomes hard to give my macaron the attention they deserve. Getting orders is a huge achievement now, especially since stepping back from markets and moving solely to online ordering.
I originally wanted to provide wholesale macarons to restaurants and cafés – maybe even a storefront one day, selling cake decorations, tools and, of course, macaron.
What’s a typical week for you?
Liam works FIFO: away for 14 days and home for 7. The two weeks he’s away are really hard. Our five‑year‑old son is deaf and autistic. He has multiple appointments from Monday to Thursday, one to two a day. Every second Tuesday is the hardest, with four appointments almost back‑to‑back. I have about 1.5 hours the entire day to do anything. I don’t often eat that particular Tuesday.
We also have a 10‑month‑old son. I bake around his nap times. He takes his day naps in my arms. My baking oven turns off automatically when the timer rings, which makes it easy to put a batch of macaron on and continue with my day. I’m grateful that my boys are happy‑go‑lucky and give me small pockets of time to squeeze my business in.
“Success right now is getting my orders baked on time. My schedule is so full that if we veer from it even slightly, it becomes hard to give my macaron the attention they deserve.”
Is there anything else you’d like women to know?
I am beyond grateful for the friendships I’ve made through my business. I didn’t expect to find my tribe among my customers. Pickups that turn into six‑hour conversations on my front porch on our first meeting. This business is so much more than an income for me.
Between naps, appointments and a partner away half the month, Bethany keeps Meringue & Magic going – one batch, one order at a time. Read more from Bethany about the magic behind Meringue & Magic.
