Oven Proving The Toast Of Cringila

Illawarra Mercury

Wednesday April 27, 2005

By DUNCAN ABEY

MACEDONIAN, Muslim and Aboriginal communities united at Cringila Park yesterday to unveil a communal bread oven.

In a celebration of the Illawarra's diverse ethnic mix, the oven's design has strong eastern European influences, and is decorated with a mosaic by the Coomaditchie Aboriginal Artists Co-operative.

Supported by Wollongong City Council, the communal oven has been fully operational for several months, and already Awatef Sawan has used the undercover facility several times.

"We always cook plenty so we can take some home," she said.

Ms Sawan said manakesh - an oregano, olive oil and sesame seed pastry - and yoghurt pies were the dishes most suited to the wood-fired oven.

Coral Pombo said she would use the oven to bake damper with bush tomatoes, as well as kangaroo kebabs with native thyme.

She said traditional Aboriginal dishes were usually cooked on an open fire or under hot sand, but adjusting to a brick oven had not proven difficult.

Ms Pombo said she had combined Aboriginal and Western foods for years - her favourite fusion recipes include warrigal greens quiche and witchetty grub vol-au-vents.

"I call it reconciliation," she said.

After living for a period in Spain with her husband and having to learn the Spanish language and customs, Ms Pombo said she knew the challenges cultural differences posed.

"I understand what the migrant people have to go through when they come to a new country," she said.