Festive Holidays - What do They Mean?

A small but characteristic church (above picture) can be seen along George Street, Sydney CBD, for Christmas. Liz, the person I also enjoy chattering to at my local petrol pump, mentioned about having to prepare so much in time and effort, ostensibly just for an apparent one hour gathering with family at Christmas time. I mused about this whilst sipping Absolut vodka and orange juice in the glow that happens on the eve of the festive holidays. After the so-called season is over, each of us gets back to so-called routine and regime, or better still, embark on new adventures and initiatives.

Jews light the candles in commemoration of the successful retaking over of a significant temple and this occasion is still faithfully recalled in Hannukah. Most of human festivals recall the triumph over challenges and difficult times, many celebrate charismatic figures and often relate so much to the turning of the planet Earth and its impact on its denizens. Modern day festivities may sometimes have been called by different names in previous epochs. It may be in the human persona and make-up that we need to gather, regather and reflect. Commerce may have hijacked part of this inherent ritual by the layers of purchasing, night parties, restocking and supposed customs, but once any one pulls away such ostentations like the Christmas tree, one may rediscover the possibly true meaning of such occasions. Image below, from the Strand Arcade in Sydney CBD, December 2011.

All that glitters may not be true gold. Beneath the shiny baubles, each of us has to manage the reality, navigate the journey to realise the dream and enjoy the sights along the way. At the same time, festivals remind us to think more of others. It is true that we have to put our own house in order before we can meaningfully relate to others, especially special ones. To me, I believe that is a concurrent journey, and my own experience is that I learn and receive so much more from other human beings when I reach out to them in a positive way.

Festive occasions also offer an opportunity to get away. Away from our day to day runs. To have the pleasure to dream again. To do the things we find we may otherwise not have the time for. One can literally get away physically, but one need not to. More importantly, it is the occasion to be able to immerse yourself inside your heart, and your heart will show the way forward.

A summery Christmas season in Australia offers opportunities for cutting down the sugar fix and balancing with fresh cherries, bananas and lychees. Thee last mentioned three fruits echo the various climes in which I have lived through, and to consume them at year's end can be symbolic of recalling the fruits of personal labour and conviction, the love of immediate family plus other relatives and the support of mates and close friends. Christmas fruit pies (picture above from Out for Lunch, Wollongong NSW) may be eaten only once a year, but the meaningful relationships each of us have are more reliable to the nourishment of both our heart and soul. And for us to be grateful about them.

The Backstreet Cafe, Wollongong CBD

It can be special and rare when I get to enjoy authentic food, prepared in the same way as still being done in the source country. Australian multiculturalism can also mean fusion in implementaion, especially when it comes to realistically attracting local diners. Whilst fusion in cuisine can also be exciting and inspiring, there is also room for transplanted communities to serve traditional styles of preparation. This authencity was experienced by me recently when Wills suggested trying out the Backstreet Cafe, a modest outfit beside an unassuming lane located off the pedestrian mall of Crown Street in Wollongong's city centre. The cafe specialises in northern Chinese noodles, both stir-fried or in soup, but also offers other choices in ramen and dishes from other parts of China and south-east Asia. Above image, hand made noodles in rich stock soup accompanied by katsu battered chicken.

Wills and I had an entree of Korean-styled kimchi (image above), which had a zip and kick of chili smeared and marinated with cripsy fresh bites of vegetable. That heralded a good start in our impressions of the cafe. The small dining area was also tastefully decorated with Beijing opera masks, hello porcelain cats and soft tiger cub toys, all remniscient of the north-eastern corner of China (picture below).

The beef version of noodle soup (above) with the katsu chicken below.

Albee's Kitchen, Campsie, Sydney

Albee's Kitchen is located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the main strip in Campsie, sited south-west of Sydney CBD. (282 Beamish Street, on the same side as the shopping centre with K Mart). This suburb has emerged as a very good example of multi-culturalism, a product of over thirty years of open minded Australian government policy and implementation in freeing up immigration from sources hitherto unthought of before 1980. The operators of Albee's Kitchen come from Sarawak, a state on the Borneo side of Malaysia, but they provide a variety of beloved street foods from Peninsular Malaysia, unique dishes of south-east Asia and reflecting the three main ethnic groups that still reside in Malaysia today. Above image - the most delightful curry puffs, with a half portion of hard boiled egg in each, together with a most appetising curry mixture.

The day of my most recent visit to Albee's had their tables fully occupied, with access to behind the kitchen seating areas for those unable to find a table at the front. Small in size, the cafe-restaurant offers a menu with variety. There are impressive photos on the walls to initiate newcomers to Malaysian food, but the fellow lunchers that Saturday seem to know their fare. My attention was caught by a most savoury tasty hotpot ordered at a neighbouring table - egg noodles al dente and more in a rich stock, aromatic of Cantonese traditions and topped by a poached egg. I saw the luscious and tempting photo of char koay teow, a must for any visitor to Penang island. There are stir-frys, curry dishes (notable is the curry fish head) and oodles of noodle choices. Service was friendly and efficient in an atmosphere of a family run business - the customer could readily feel at home as well.

I tested their version of Hainan chicken rice (picture above) - I appreciated their serving of a wholesome soup (upper left) and the extra pickled vegetables beside the vinegar flavoured chili condiment.

Beamish Street also offers fare from Korea, the Philippines, India, the Middle East, Pakistan, Thailand and China. This includes dry goods, spices, groceries and household items. I dropped by an outlet offering practically priced kitchen utensils and equipment. I also got samplings of barbecued roast pork and soy sauced chicken done ala Hong Kong (southern Cantonese). Vehicle parking is best secured along the side streets of Beamish.

Sassy's Red, Pitt Street Mall, Sydney

There are many cuisine distractions at Level 5 of Sydney CBD's Pitt Street Mall Westfield. Becasse pastries, Charlie and Co burgers, Din Tai Fung dumplings, amongst others, vie for your wallet and attention. After a long day of business in the city centre, I wanted something quick, easy and relatively light in a meal before making track back to Wollongong (90 km south). I chose the wok prepared sar hor fun from Sassy's Red (image above). The noodles were as expected, but I found the gravy under whelming and lacked the street food flair found in Malaysia. The curry laksa, chiken or seafood, is much better in comparison.

Sassy's Red recreates the theme and spirit of the ubiquitous coffee shop (kopi tiam) still found in numerous towns and cities across Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. This is epitomised by the chopstick holder, marble table top and the classic coffee shop chair (picture above). The Laughing Buddha (foreground in image below) shows the connection of the operators of Sassy's Red with Cinta Ria, which offers another Malaysian dining experience at Sydney's Darling Harbour and that in Melbourne. The dishes with their names at the top of the photograph below are Malaysian favourites, especially chili prawns and chicken curry (best served with steamed jasmine or basmati rice). Nasi goreng and rendang beef is commonly available in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Notice the curry laksa and nasi lemak being available as well, and they are best taken at breakfast time.

A variety of commonly used sauces in Chinese-Malaysian cooking are carefully displayed at one corner of the small Sassy's outlet at level 5 of Westfield Pitt Street Mall (picture above). Note the classic red coloured thermos flasks (commonly used by households for over a hundred years in the Malaya and Singapore of old) on the upper right corner, on the very top shelves.

The owners have also taken up one of the tenancies just a floor up on level 6 ( Cinta Ria, in the mood for love), together with Max Brenner chocolate, Chat Thai, Lombardian food at Spiedo and the Xanthi cuisine based on Constantinoiple and Perama cooking traditions.

A New IKEA Store- Tempe, Sydney

I could not believe my eyes and ears - the above pictured meal cost me less than five Australian dollars in 2011. I had been aware of the bargain meals available at IKEA store canteens for years in various countries, but this was the first time that I have actually sampled it. If not for the bottomless and refillable glass of soft drink, it would have cost me under three dollars. The two hash browns were crispy and tasty, but best of all were the eggs.

IKEA's relatively new store at Tempe, in Sydney's south, with easy access from the Princes Highway, is the size of twenty football fields. It has the feel of a small airport and somehow gave me the vibes that it was better organised and laid out than either Sydney International or Domestic air terminals. Vehicle parking was logical sufficiently to make it easy to locate your car or motor bike after coming out. The usual IKEA store's recommended one way customer walk through flow system was most assuring. The store at Tempe provided more room scenarios like in an actual house, not just for lounge, study, bedroom, bath, kitchen and laundry, but also made lay out suggestions for children's spaces, compact unit requirements and storage areas. Staff members were still fresh and eager enough to help and be human. Visitors could sign up on line at various terminals near the canteen lobby to register to be members and receive various discounts. Usersers of the canteen were encouraged to place their trays and empty plates and cutlery on a conveyor belt in an effort to help clear tables fast.