Muffins are always a great idea no matter what time of the day it is. Somehow, biting through the soft, flavorful bread brings a level of comfort that nothing else can.

It’s a good thing The Muffin Man products are now available at The Flock Café! This means that you can easily head to The Aviary Hotel for a quick taste of that comfort. 

But behind those tasty muffins is an even deeper story of hard work and making dreams come true.

Rising From Humble Beginnings

There’s a very good reason why Dieng Dorm – otherwise known as The Muffin Man – is passionate about bringing comfort to his customers through his food. It’s because comfort is not exactly something he experienced growing up.

Dieng knew that success is the result of hard work. Growing up in Brasat Village, he is the second of 8 children and the eldest son. This meant that he already had a huge burden on his shoulders even at a young age. 

He just completed Year 12 when his parents told him the truth – despite their willingness to sacrifice as much as they can, it was time for him to pitch in. He went to Thailand and did hard labor for four years. 

But this didn’t bring him down. In fact, this made him keep going even further. He wanted a better life, but he didn’t have money to continue his studies. 

Truly, the universe always finds a way to give back to those who deserve it. 

He was given a sponsorship to take English lessons and study Tourism and Hotel Management at the Australian Centre of Education (ACE). He worked two full-time jobs to help pay for his other needs. That marked the new path being paved for him and his future.

A Future in Muffins

It was in 2019 when Kerry, Dieng’s mentor and supporter, came up with a brilliant idea. She wondered if Dieng could supply muffins to cafes in Siem Reap. This reminded him of his dream of eventually opening his own café. Thrilled with the possibilities, he agreed and jumped right into training.

Kerry taught him not just how to bake muffins, but also how to price his products strategically as well as other tips in doing business. This was how The Muffin Man was born.

Before he knew it, Dieng was selling more and more muffins to different cafes all over the city. He finally opened his own café in 2020.

More Dreams To Come

One thing that stands out about Dieng is his ability to dream big dreams regardless of his circumstances. 

With the opening of his café, he was able to cross off one dream off his list. And now, he dreams of bringing his siblings back from Thailand and having them help him out in further expanding the business. He dreams of seeing his brand reach other provinces, and who knows? We might one day see The Muffin Man going beyond Cambodia’s borders as well. 

For now, Dieng enjoys the fact that he is harvesting the benefits of all the seeds of hard work he planted. And it’s a huge benefit for everyone in Siem Reap that his dreams now bring comfort to all of his customers day in, day out.