I grew up in a large, multicultural family that loves food.
When visiting with European neighbours or my Italian relatives I would look forward to Italian sponge fingers dipped in coffee. Divine! These were either made fresh or sourced from one of the many European delicatessens in the Illawarra with stores in Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, Port Kembla and especially Warrawong, known locally as our own ‘little Italy’. My favourite is Oskar’s Deli with a long history of quality produce and community spirit.
As a child I grew up exploring the aisles of European Delicatessens, reading the labels on exotic products, learning about European-style small-goods, exotic cheeses and sampling delicacies not available in mainstream supermarkets at the time. I grew up visiting Italian providores such as Pasta Fina in Wollongong for freshly made pasta and lasagne as well as frequent visits to Tonnitos Patisserie in Port Kembla – famous for their cannoli and zabaglione.
There are so many hidden gems to explore. Take the time to travel the world within the Gong, talk to migrants about their favourite foods and where they source them. I love the Gong and will continue to document my journey eating my way around Wollongong. I have a taste for the Gong.
You can read more of my food experiences in Wollongong on my blog.
