Sydney food enthusiasts, we have a treat in store for you on Sunday, August 18th, 2024. Welcome Merchant is hosting a Malaysian pop-up event at Little Lagos in Enmore. The star of the show is Malar Sathasivam, the talented chef behind Sangee’s Kitchen. This event promises to bring authentic Malaysian street food flavours to the heart of Sydney.
Malar’s passion for cooking started in Malaysia, where she grew up surrounded by a vibrant food culture that blends Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous influences. Her father, whom she considers her culinary hero, ignited her passion for cooking at a young age.
“From a young age, I was inspired to become a chef by my father,” Malar shares. “His passion for cooking and the joy he found in sharing meals with our family sparked my love for the culinary arts.”
In 2018, Malar moved to Australia, bringing with her a wealth of culinary knowledge and a dream to share the flavours of her homeland. This led to the creation of Sangee’s Kitchen, where Malar specialises in cooking Malaysian street food. True to her roots, she makes all sauces, curries, and dishes from scratch using her own recipes.
When asked about her favourite Malaysian dish, Malar doesn’t hesitate. “My favourite food is Assam Laksa,” she says with enthusiasm. “It’s like a sweet and sour soup with egg noodles. It’s everyone’s favourite dish in my family.”
For the upcoming pop-up event, Malar has created a menu that showcases the diversity of Malaysian cuisine:
Starter: Pani puri / samosas
Main Course: Yellow fragrant rice, spicy chicken sambal, and pineapple cucumber onion salad
Vegan Option: Yellow fragrant rice, spicy tofu sambal, and pineapple cucumber onion salad
Dessert: Pandan pancake wrap (vegan)
For those inspired to try Malaysian cooking at home, Malar recommends starting with her chicken sambal. “That is my authentic special,” she says. For vegans, she suggests trying her vegetable kurma, describing it as “creamy and loved by everyone.”
Tickets for this 3-course lunch is $85 per head, it includes a $5 donation to WAGEC, a women’s only shelter in Sydney. Vegetarian options are available, and the chicken served is halal. Drinks will be on sale at Little Lagos to complement the Malaysian flavours.
Pop-up Dinner Details:
Date: Sunday 18 August 2024
Location: Little Lagos, 125 Enmore Road, Enmore
Time: 12.30pm
Price: $85 for a 3-course meal
This event is organised by the team at Welcome Merchant, a social enterprise that supports businesses owned by people from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds. We split ticket and food costs 50/50 with chef Malar, ensuring that your attendance directly supports Malar and her catering business.