Sri Lankan chef Niro Vithyasekar has faced discrimination, detention and uncertainty – but none of that has lessened his determination to share his culinary culture with his adopted home.
In early May, Niro and his team will return to Woodend to cook up a feast of mouth-watering traditional Tamil food as guests of Macedon Ranges Rural Australians for Refugees.
Niro spent over six years in Australian detention centres, ending up at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation before being released.
It was at MITA that he met Dori Ellington, a regular visitor lending his support to detainees. Niro and Dori bonded over a shared love of food and cooking.
When Niro and his fellow Tamil asylum seekers were finally released from detention in 2015, Dori encouraged the group to cater for occasional dinners at CERES, the not-for-profit organisation where he worked in East Brunswick.
Niro and his mates were only too happy to showcase their culture and traditional cooking.
The response from diners was overwhelming.
These occasional banquets soon evolved into Tamil Feasts, a social enterprise featuring communal dining and showcasing stories three nights per week.
In 2019, the group received an enthusiastic welcome in Woodend and return visits were eagerly anticipated. Then COVID-19 intervened and plans were put on hold.
Now Niro is back for his long-awaited return on May 7, together with his new team from Tuka Tuka Kothu Roti Man.
The feast will be held in the Norma Richardson Hall, 15 Buckland Street, Woodend. Doors open at 5.30pm and meals will be served from 6pm.
Tickets are priced at $35 each, $15 per primary school child and $90 for a family of four. BYO drinks with a corkage fee donation. Places are limited to just 50, and tickets are on sale now, so be sure to book early.
Tickets available through Trybooking: www.trybooking.com/CHLWG
