Refugee-run food businesses to support this Refugee Week

Tuka Tuka Kothu Roti Man is run by passionate chef Niro Vithyasekar. It’s named after the sound of machete-like knives coming down on a hot steel plate which makes a ‘tuka tuka’ noise. And kothu roti is a Sri Lankan street food comprised of chopped roti, eggs, vegetables, spices and at times meat. You’ll spot his food stall at various markets around town and can keep up to date with his goings-on here.

Best known for dishing up Dadami (otherwise known as Dad’s Dip) Café Sunshine and SalamaTea House is fast becoming a Sunshine institution. Run by Hamed Allahyari, the social enterprise café-restaurant was started in 2019 as a venue that provides asylum seekers and refugees work. Hamed was inspired to help others following his own experience as an asylum seeker fleeing Iran. 

For homestyle Syrian food look no further than Shamiat in Northcote. The family-owned venue is helmed by husband-and-wife team Attalah Abo and Helda Morane. Attalah previously ran a textile business but the war in Syria forced the family to relocate twice around Syria until the fighting became too much. Helda used to be a chemistry teacher and is now the chef at Shamiat and whips up the likes of fried kibbeh, samousek and more.

Opened in 2018, Trio Pasta, Sweets and Nuts is a family-owned Syrian pastry shop and takeaway. The venue was established just three years after Joumana Charaf and her family arrived in Australia. Joumana got the idea to start her business when she was working at SisterWorks, the Melbourne-based not-for-profit social enterprise. While there, a SisterWorks volunteer suggested that Joumana start selling Syrian sweets at markets.

A Pot of Courage is a Ballarat-based social enterprise that also doubles up as a café, cooking school and caterer. The organisation provides migrant and refugee women in regional Victoria employment and business mentoring opportunities. Dishes available at the café rotate via cuisine and promise a delicious education into different cultures.