Meet some of the cooks who have inspired some of the diverse cultural flavours you’ll find in this year’s gift boxes. These passionate members of the ASRC Catering kitchen have delicious global food recipes to life, whilst sharing their unique journeys, inspiration, and love for food.

Learn more about these cooks to appreciate the thought that goes into every delicious bite.

Manel

"My dream, forever, is I want to be here, with my son. My future now has become better and better and better. When I came to Australia, I wasn’t good at English. I was a little bit scared of everything. I’m independent now – and strong. I’m so happy."

Harchana

"I came to Australia in 2019. At first, I worked in a factory packing biscuits but I couldn’t get enough shifts. So I went to ASRC and talked to their Employment team. That’s how I came to be working here at ASRC Catering.

Here at ASRC Catering we have Chicken Rendang and a Vegetarian Rendang option using soy meat and tofu both are my recipe."

Douha

"The best thing about the ASRC, I meet a lot of people from different cultures, I enjoy with them. We, we feel like a family there. "

Sam

"With no family here in Australia, Sam sometimes feels the weight of this. “I’m lonely here sometimes,” he reflects. Instead, Sam has built his family through friendships, particularly a special bond with Manel (link to Manel’s story), a fellow ASRC Catering cook. Manel invites Sam to join social gatherings with her family, treating him to her delicious Malaysian food."

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Cathy

"I like the kitchen, the people are very kind when you have problems, they assist you, when you come to work, it’s not stressful.

They teach you a lot here. If they teach me, I will do it. I want to know more, I want to know a lot about cooking."

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Tulasi

"How I cook at home, is how I cook here – it’s my style. Sambal with yellow lentils and vegetables, bubur, green lentils with coconut, pandan, fried noodles - these are the flavours of Malaysia.

In that kitchen, I learnt a lot of things: how to be patient with other people and how to work quickly when times are busy."