Preparations for EID celebrating the end of the fasting month of Ramadan are underway across the world. And one commercial kitchen in Sydney’s west is a hive of activity.
Ms Khan is 32 and her new business Aliana Catering and Cuisine is getting busier as orders for Eid pour in. She says the support of her husband is vital to her success. “Majority, majority doesn't go for the job and not going for the education, not completing for the education also because family not allow. I am angry because I want to try to go outside and do the job, like this one, but I don't allow.”
Ms Khan is among 16 entrepreneurs working at a social enterprise kitchen called FoodLab Sydney. Backed by crowdfunding, the spacious modern facility in South Strathfield is home to a diverse range of chefs – according to managing director Jamie Loveday. “It is really difficult getting permits, the barriers of actually affording a commercial kitchen space as well as reading contracts and even translating contracts. So, all of these things amount to a really difficult industry to break into for people who are just starting out in the food industry. So, we try to lower those barriers to entry.”
“I'm making candied nuts today and the nuts are inspired by flavours of Fiji so the spices that I get from Fiji actually grown by marginalized women in Fiji. They're taught how to grow spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, and ginger. And then they onsell those spices to earn their income and support their families.”