Afternoon tea in the Syrian tradition for Altona residents

Nayran Tabiei. Photo: Joe Mastroianni

Altona residents can enjoy a new cultural experience enjoying afternoon tea in the Syrian tradition as part of Refugee Week celebrations.

Resident Nayran Tabiei will be serving up some of Syria’s most popular meals at Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre on June 22.

Ms Tabiei, an asylum seeker who arrived by boat from Syria in 2012, had worked as a chef and once owned her own restaurant and café.

She will share her experiences and give insights to visitors about Muslim culture and understanding refugees, as well as putting on a cooking demonstration.

“In Syrian culture, food plays an enormous role in bringing people together,” she said. “Cooking and serving foods is one of the best ways to show hospitality.”

Since Ms Tabiei has been in Australia, she has volunteered in kitchens and held cooking workshops at the Immigrant Refugee Women’s Coalition, Maidstone Community Centre and Braybrook Maidstone Neighbourhood House.

Ms Tabiei also volunteers as an interpreter in Arabic and Persian for Brimbank council.

For information: ljac.genesisperpetual.com.au/