Discover Indian cuisine in Camberwell Junction

Renowned for its variety of spices, Indian food is one of the most aromatic and vibrant cuisines in the world.

While Indian cuisine is known for its rich spices and flavours, it is also heavily influenced by its historical rule, religion, culture, and traditions.

Thick and creamy curries, spiced vegetables, cooling lassies, and charred naan are popular fare in Indian cuisine, but the flavours depend heavily on which region they come from.

Chillies and turmeric hail largely from the Rajasthan, Kashmir and Gujarat regions of India, while peppers, cardamom and cloves are harvested mainly in the south.

That’s why the eastern regions are famous for chilli curries, while seafood and coconut are prominent ingredients in the west.

When it comes to the rest of the country, the northern regions are famous for their tandoori and korma recipes, the south are known for their hot and spicy dishes, and the central regions take inspiration from the surrounding areas.

Indian cuisine is also influenced by Hinduism, as the largest practiced religion in the country.

While the Hindu diet doesn’t prohibit eating meat, many people practice vegetarianism and incorporate products derived from animals like milk, however this depends on regional traditions.

Trade and colonialism also introduced new ingredients such as potatoes, tomatoes, and peanuts to the Indian subcontinent.

During British colonial rule, Indian cuisine was blended with western food, leading to new dishes like kedgeree, which is a rice and lentil meal for breakfast, and mulligatawny soup.

Indian cooking has influenced cuisines from around the world over the years as well, so much so that some believe chicken tikka masala was invented in the UK.

Next time you plan to take a night off cooking, why not try lamb rogan josh, palak chicken, masala dal and some tasty samosas.

Find Indian cuisine in Camberwell Junction

Indulge your senses with the fresh flavours and fragrant aromas of Middle Eastern cuisine.

Middle Eastern cuisine features a kaleidoscope of different cooking traditions, originating from different parts of the region.

Arab, Afghan, Iranian, and Israeli cuisines fall into the category, as well as Assyrian, Azerbaijani and Armenian cooking styles.

Georgian, Kurdish, Cypriot, and Turkish foods are also part of this broad offering.

The different cooking styles within Middle Eastern cuisine share some common ingredients, including olive oil, pita bread, lamb, poultry, haloumi, chickpeas, and other grains.

Herbs and spices like garlic, sumac, parsley, and mint feature heavily in Middle Eastern cooking, not to mention sweeter items like honey, figs, and dates.

The region is said to be home to the fertile crescent, where wheat was first cultivated, followed by barley, lentils, and other local foods.

Sitting at the centre of Asia, Europe, North Africa and the Caucasus, Middle Eastern cooking has been influenced by trade and wars throughout the ages.

For example, the region is believed to have discovered turmeric and other spices from India, as well as dumplings from the Mongols.

Hospitality is at the heart of Middle Eastern cuisine, known for its impressive feasts with tender meats, spiced salads, and colourful mezes, which are small plates of flavoursome dips and sides.

Today, hummus, falafel, tabouleh, and shawarma are popular Middle Eastern foods that are found across the globe.

But if you’re looking for something more traditional, try Kabuli Palau, which is an Afghan rice dish with carrots, sultanas, almonds, and either lamb, beef, or chicken.

Alternatively, try some mantoo steamed dumplings, filled with lamb, onion and spices, or koroutti yoghurt soup.

Find Middle Eastern cuisine in Camberwell Junction

Even though it has a history that dates back more than 9000 years, Mexican cuisine is still enjoyed across the world today.

Mexican cooking is heavily influenced by beans and corn, but it’s the flavours of chilli, coriander and lime that make this cuisine so fun and fresh.

Mexican cuisine is believed to have originated with the Maya people thousands of years ago, but this style has changed over time as different ingredients were incorporated into their cooking.

The Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire in the 16^th century is believed to have introduced a wider selection of ingredients to their diet, particularly meat, poultry, dairy and rice.

Today, Mexican cooking has reached the far corners of the globe, especially the USA-style version of the cuisine commonly called Tex Mex.

In fact, traditional Mexican cuisine is so important that it joined UNESCO’s representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2010.

In Mexico, the cuisine varies from region to region, influenced by the different climates, geographies and communities.

For example, popular dishes in central Mexico include braised or roasted pork dishes known as carnitas and pozole, which is a pre-Columbian era meat stew.

Recipes in the north of Mexico feature a lot of beef, goat and ostrich, while dishes in south-eastern Mexico have a Caribbean influence, with popular fish recipes and spicy chicken and vegetable dishes.

Mole, which is a traditional sauce pronounced ‘mol-eh’, is one of the most popular Mexican foods for festivals and special occasions.

If you’re looking to try some Mexican or Tex Mex dishes, grab yourself some tacos, enchiladas, guacamole, and elote, which is a grilled corn dish and popular Mexican street food.

For an extra kick, enjoy your Mexican fare with tequila or a margarita.

Find Mexican food in Camberwell Junction

If you want a break from cooking, Camberwell has a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and food stores offering premium dining experiences you can enjoy from home.

Many restaurants, cafes and food stores are still trading in the Camberwell shopping precinct amid the COVID-19 restrictions, offering pick-up, home delivery and other special promotions.

From fine dining restaurants to your favourite takeaway stores, Camberwell is home to a range of cuisines with something to suit every taste.

Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion or just want a night off from making dinner, Camberwell still has it all.

Here are some ideas on how to enjoy Camberwell’s array of restaurants, cafes and food stores during the COVID-19 restrictions:

• Cafe Paradiso: Cafe Paradiso is offering pick-up and free, contactless delivery services on its takeaway menus.
• Coltivare: Coltivare is offering next-day home delivery on orders made before 5pm from Monday to Friday. Delivery is available for homes in Camberwell, Hawthorn, Glen Iris, Deepdene, Canterbury, and surrounding suburbs.
• Deco: Deco is open every day for pick-up and takeaway.
• East End Wine Bar: Try one of East End Wine Bar’s primo wine packs featuring six of their favourite wines. Deliveries are available seven days a week, with same-day delivery available for orders made before 4pm.
• Fiorelli: Fiorelli is offering a 10 per cent discount off all bills. Their takeaway menu is available between 12pm and 7.45pm from Wednesday to Sunday.
• Georges Restaurant: Georges Restaurant Bar Cafe is offering a 10 per cent discount for online takeaway pickup orders over $50. Home delivery is also available.
• Tandoori Den: Tandoori Den is offering pick-up and home delivery services seven days a week.
• The Chocolate Box: The Chocolate Box is trading online, with home deliveries available. Same-day delivery is available in Camberwell for orders made before 10am Monday to Friday.
• Franco-Belge: Enjoy French-Belgian cuisine with take-home meals and delivery to local suburbs available.
• Enjoy your daily coffee fix while out for a walk from the following cafes: Rex Espresso, Choclatte, Petit Franco-Belge.

View a full list of food and dining traders in Camberwell shopping precinct here.

The Camberwell Traders’ Association is also working closely with Boroondara Council to help our local cafes and restaurants expand their trading to outdoor spaces once lockdown restrictions ease. Stay tuned for more information about this.

Food lovers are invited to enjoy the best of Camberwell’s food and beverage offering at Dine In Dine Out, which returns for its fifth year.

Camberwell’s premier food event will run on Saturday, August 5 and offer laneway pop-up parks, food tastings and demonstrations, in-store promotions, a market family day and entertainment for families.

The Camberwell Traders’ Association organise and run the event to showcase the best in local cafes, restaurants, niche food stores and market produce.

Camberwell Traders’ Association manager Kerry Daly said she was pleased to see Dine In Dine Out return for its fifth year.

“Our Dine In Dine Out event has grown each year and been a great success. It has given visitors the chance to explore the many food and drink options available across Camberwell precinct,” she said.

“We have more than 140 food businesses across the Camberwell precinct, which might surprise people. Dine In Dine Out gives us the chance to showcase the diverse food and dining options in the area.”

On August 5, Camberwell will come to life as two pop-up parks will operate from different locations across the shopping precinct from 10am – 3pm.

The Evans Place laneway will become a Pop-Up Park, complete with turf, festoon lighting, seating areas and games including giant chess and checkers. There will also be vendors selling and demonstrating delicious food and drinks.

The Marketplace Park, located in the Station St car park near the Camberwell Fresh Food Market, will be ideal for families with children. The area will offer plenty of entertainment including roaming performers, free rides, fun activities and a mobile animal farm.

The Camberwell Fresh Food Market will also host their Family Day – guests can get involved in a tomato crushing event, try their hand at the spinning wheel and take advantage of exclusive offers available on the day.

In addition to these events, visitors to Dine In Dine Out can look out for performances from a Caribbean steal band at Aerial Walk (near the junction), hop on an antique fire truck for free rides around Camberwell precinct and challenge themselves to slot car racing with Race Party at the Pop-Up Park.

From 6pm – 10pm, the Evans Place laneway will transform into an After Dark Jazz Park where a live band, Dr Jazz and The Gangsters Palace, will put their stamp on popular jazz tunes. The evening show will also include swing dancers, fire twirling and daring magic tricks.

Visitors are invited to drop in for a wine tasting on their way to one of Camberwell’s fine restaurants or they can stick around to enjoy the lively atmosphere.

For a full list of activities and events on the day, visit the Dine In Dine Out website.

To enter a brave new world of flavours, visit Infuse in Camberwell.

Following renovations and a complete overhaul, the restaurant reopened in October 2016 to offer food lovers a culinary experience that pushes the boundaries of traditional cooking.

With more than 15 years’ experience cooking a range of Asian cuisines, Infuse’s co-owner and chef Mick Huang saw an opportunity to blend authentic Asian flavours with a western touch. He runs the business with Greg Lee, who has also played a key role in designing the dishes and creating the concept of the restaurant.

Although Huang trained to prepare and cook Asian cuisine in traditional ways, he was always keen to experiment in the kitchen.

“I was looking for a different concept. I noticed that some incredible Asian food was not being embraced in western cultures, especially when it came to dining out,” he said.

“So, I decided to fuse the traditional flavours of Asian cuisine with modern, westernised cooking techniques and presentation.”

One example is Infuse’s pork belly dish. Huang said pork belly would traditionally be marinated and roasted in an oven when cooked in Asia, but he has adopted the popular westernised method of slow-cooking the meat. He then brings in Asian elements like Chinese five-spice and Vietnamese-inspired rice crisps and adds another western touch – apple puree. The result is a delightful fusion of flavour.

Huang said he had to experiment a lot in the kitchen when developing recipes to ensure the combination of different flavours, cooking techniques and presentation worked.

“We can’t follow a traditional recipe because we’re trying to do something different,” he said.

“It’s about finding the balance in the flavour. I’m always asking: do we have to balance sweet with sour flavours? Do I need to add some crunchy texture? We’re always thinking about ways to balance a dish while keeping it interesting.”

A one-stop eatery

Infuse not only blends the flavours on their menu, it also combines a café environment with restaurant-quality food and a bar menu to match.

The eatery is almost round-the-clock and is an ideal choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Guests can pop in for a quick breakfast of coffee and a toastie, call in for a light lunchtime salad, or take their time to enjoy a long and slow dinner with multiple courses. The restaurant is an option for evening drinks too, with an extensive beer, wine and cocktail list on offer.

The breakfast menu leans more towards a westernised meal – expect smashed avocado on toast, buttermilk pancakes and eggs your way – while flavours become more interesting for lunch and dinner.

One of the restaurant’s most popular lunch and dinner dishes is the Atlantic salmon with grain salad and miso caramel, as well as the seared tuna salad (pictured, above) which incorporates fresh ingredients like cos lettuce and mango.

“The tuna salad has got that sashimi taste but then it’s seared on the outside. And the peanut sauce, which is slightly sour, has a distinct Asian flavour,” Huang said.

A place to feel at home

Venue manager Amy Zhang said Infuse was focused on giving customers a friendly and local experience.

Some of the restaurant’s staff members have been around for years, serving at the site when it was run under previous businesses, and have cultivated a loyal relationship with regular visitors.

“We want to offer that local quality and give people a reason to keep coming back. We want to make people feel like they’re at home when they visit Infuse,” Zhang said.

Offering quality customer service is also a strong focus for Infuse.

With front-of-house staff working closely with those in the kitchen, “there’s no tip-toeing around what customers want”, Zhang said.

This close communication among the team means that dishes can be easily altered to a customer’s preference, and the menu is a direct reflection of what the people want.

“A lot of our specials are a result of customer feedback,” Zhang said.

“We’ve had a lot of people ask for dishes like porridge for breakfast and soups for lunch, so we pass that on to the chefs who then develop specials around what the customers want.”

But it’s about more than the food at Infuse.

The small dishes and sharing plates for dinner, in particular, encourages people to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and gradually order food while they sip on a glass of wine. It’s all about appreciating the dining experience in your own time, Zhang said.

“For us, coming from an Asian background, eating is all about a sharing experience. We really encourage that sharing element and bringing people together over food,” she said.

“The infusion element is going beyond the food, it’s part of the experience as well.”

Visit the restaurant

Infuse

2 Burke Avenue, Camberwell (next to Coles entrance at The Well)

Phone: (03) 9813 1333.

A big ‘thank you’ to all who attended Camberwell’s Dine In Dine Out event in August. It was our biggest food fiesta yet, with Camberwell traders putting on a busy day of food tastings, demonstrations, free kids’ activities and live entertainment.

The winter food fiesta took place on Saturday, August 6 and marked the fourth consecutive year of the event.

This year, we did things a little differently and operated two pop-up spaces, including one at the Marketplace carpark and the other in Evans Place. Burke Road also came alive with traders putting on food tastings in the street, while live performers roved across the shopping precinct to entertain shoppers and children throughout the day.

Thousands of people flocked to the Camberwell shopping precinct to experience the colour and flavours of this memorable event.

Camberwell Centre Association manager Kerry Daly said the 2016 Dine In Dine Out event was a success.

“It is always a pleasure to bring together the chefs, restaurateurs, entertainers and local traders to celebrate and showcase the best of Camberwell,” she said.

“This year, we went all-out with our Evans Place Pop-up Park, the Marketplace Park, street food tastings in Burke Road and extra performers. Camberwell came alive for our food fiesta.”

Marketplace Park

Located near the Camberwell Fresh Food Market, the Marketplace Park offered visitors the chance to experience food tastings and family-friendly activities.

There were games and rides including giant checkers, a miniature Ferris wheel, carousel rides, distorting mirrors and free ‘paint-a-plate’ crafts.

Thanks to Lady Paella, Bin – The Asian Store, Crepes for Change (supporting homeless youth), the Outside Broadcast Van, Sprinnt, Minimax and traders in the Camberwell Fresh Food Market for getting involved in the Marketplace Park.

Children and adults also made the most of the free rides in the antique firetruck, which departed from the pick-up point in the carpark. Passengers got the chance to ride around Camberwell in style in between enjoying the food on offer.

Evans Place Pop-up Park

Camberwell eateries had the opportunity to showcase their winning recipes and favourite dishes of the season, and shared tips for making cooking at home more enjoyable.

Camberwell restaurants and cafes that sold food and participated in the Evans Place Pop-up Park included Firechief Pizzeria, Red Robyn, The Source Bulk Foods, Michel’s Pattisserie, Coltivare, Boss Pizzeria, Little Pony, Minimax, Lady Paella and Rainbow Meats.

Race Party also held slot car racing to give racing fanatics the chance to test their skills on the track, while roving performers and face painters kept people entertained.

From 6pm, the pop-up park transformed into an After Dark Jazz Park, which included food, wine and plenty of live music from Dr Jazz & the Gangsters Palace.

Street food tastings, market fun and Pokemon lures

Several Camberwell traders, including Juno and May, Café Platia and Cuppa Cha, showcased their cuisine through food stalls along bustling Burke Road. It gave traders the opportunity to highlight special dishes and offered passers-by tastings of food and drinks.

The Camberwell Fresh Food Market hosted cooking demonstrations, offered visitors food tastings and shared dinner meal ideas. The market also gave away a hamper every hour on the day, with many lucky winners leaving with full tummies and a smile on their face.

Pokemon Go fans flocked to Camberwell to take advantage of the many lures that were placed around the shopping precinct for Dine In Dine Out. The busy day offered a perfect setting for gamers to get involved and catch ‘em all!

Roving performers and entertainment

Dine In Dine Out wouldn’t have been the same without our roving performers to keep visitors entertained.

Balloon modellers, face painters, jugglers and stilt walkers kept the day full of energy and fun.

Children also took part in Bubble Muffin’s educational food workshops where they learnt about different fruits and vegetables and how to prepare them in simple yet tasty meals. And the best part? The kids got to eat and enjoy what they made too.

View more photos from Dine In Dine Out in the gallery below:

This year we celebrate our fourth instalment of Dine In Dine Out in Camberwell.

Our premier food event returns as a single-day fiesta on Saturday, August 6 which will be packed with plenty of activities including laneway pop-up parks, street food tastings, in-store promotions, a market family day, roving entertainment and fun for the children.

The Camberwell Traders Association have created and run this event to support our traders and share with the community the fantastic food on offer in the Camberwell shopping precinct. We have fresh market produce, a huge range of cafes, restaurants and niche food stores.

Visit the pop-up park in Evans Place, the Market Place Park or join the Camberwell Fresh Food Market for their family day. Be sure to wander up and down Burke Rd and through its laneways to stumble upon food stations and make the most of street food tastings.

Let your hair down in the evening (6pm – 10pm) when Evans Place transforms into an After Dark Jazz Park, featuring live jazz band  Dr Jazz & The Gangsters Palace. The band is renowned for their mix of classical jazz, boogie and rhythm ‘n’ blues, and will be sure to get your toes tapping. There will also be swing dancers and acrobatic performances to keep you entertained. Drop in for a wine tasting on your way to one of Camberwell’s fine restaurants, or stay and enjoy the atmosphere and hit the dance floor.

Camberwell precinct will come alive with roving entertainers. Fun, free activities will keep the children interested and in-store events and promotions will delight shoppers on the hunt for something new.

Visitors can also make the most of the day by dining at Camberwell’s restaurants and cafés or exploring specialty food stores to source ingredients for the perfect meal at home.

For a full list of events taking place across the Camberwell precinct on August 6, visit our Dine In Dine Out website.

We hope you can join us this year at Dine In Dine Out and we look forward to having you in Camberwell.

Kerry Daly,
Manager of Camberwell Traders Association.

More details at DineInDineOut.com.au

By Sharon Green

Earlier this week Camberwell had the pleasure of hosting two entrepreneurs who shared an insight into running a food business.

The Camberwell Entrepreneur’s Network led the event that featured Bernard Chu and Yen Yee, co-owners of a luxury patisserie in South Yarra called LuxBite.

Held at Firechief Pizzeria in Camberwell, the duo shared an insight into their journey as trainee pastry chefs, to working at top eateries and finally stepping out and starting their own food business.

Between them the pair have accumulated a wealth of experience working at some of Australia’s leading restaurants including Quay and Pier in Sydney, Summit Restaurant, Comme Kitchen, Rockpool Bar & Grill, and Giuseppe Arnaldo & Sons.

But it was in late 2010 that Bernard and Yen decided to branch out and start their own business, LuxBite, a patisserie that specialises in unusually-flavoured macarons and beautifully decorated cakes.

So what are their tips for success in the food business?

Work hard

The pair follow a hard-working style of practice that they say is evident throughout the operation of their business.

“I say the better the rest is, the harder you have to work. It has taken a lot of hard work to get to where we are now,” said Bernard.

“We have high standards after working in top restaurants. We have a strict work ethic.”

Stay true to yourself and what you believe in

Bernard and Yen migrated to Australia from Malaysia about 11 years ago so it’s no surprise that their patisserie has a focus on infusing Asian flavours in interesting ways.

Their beautifully crafted macarons come in a range of unexpected flavours such as caramalised white chocolate, mandarin jaffa, green tea pistachio and rose lychee.

They also release a limited edition of wild flavour combinations frequently – cherry blossom with hints of orange and red bean, and Nutella with freckles have been recent creations.

Find opportunities for exposure

After being invited to appear on MasterChef in June 2013, the pair encountered staggering success.

LuxBite received 250 emails about their famous Lolly Bag Cake created on MasterChef, within the hour it aired on TV. The majority of the emails were requests to order the cake featured on the show.

The exposure has meant LuxBite now attracts a wider and more varied customer base.

Collaborate with others in your industry

Bernard and Yen are advocates of what they call “brand sharing” or collaboration with other established brands and businesses in their sector.

They don’t view competing businesses as a threat, but instead approach it as an opportunity to create new relationships and learn from each other.

They cite Adriano Zumbo, one of Australia’s most celebrated patissiers, as their mentor and admit he helped them in the initial stages of setting up LuxBite.

Bernard and Yen have also teamed up with other restaurants and events as a way to collaborate and expand their reach.

But they don’t see collaboration as simply self-serving. It gives them the opportunity to learn and grow, too.

“We try to give back to the food industry by sharing our knowledge,” said Bernard.

“If you have a successful brand, don’t be selfish with it. Share it with others.”

Take feedback on board to improve your business

LuxBite started out as simply a patisserie that specialised in sweet treats. But after being positioned in South Yarra for a while, they received numerous suggestions to offer breakfast.

They toyed with the idea of offering a mix ‘n’ match breakfast ordering system where customers could choose variations of typical breakfast ingredients to create a plate they wanted.

But they’ve settled on a dine-in brunch menu that offers what LuxBite does best – offering a fusion of Asian-inspired flavours in their food products.

Customers can enjoy dishes like pulled pork and lap cheong (Chinese sausage) with corn fritters, and their popular Pandan chicken burger with apple and kiwi relish.

“It helps to listen to what people want and adjust yourself and your business accordingly. But do it in a way that doesn’t stray your business direction,” said Bernard.