Cabramatta’s banh mi institution Vinata’s Hot Bread, Granville’s El Sweetie and Lakemba’s Paldo Kimchi are some of the venues involved, with tours from $10.
Food tours often pause outside the white-tiled facade of Vinata’s Hot Bread in Cabramatta, where owner Thi Bach Yen Vu slices through crusty baguettes, loading them with sweet, garlicky grilled nem nuong (pork sausage), zingy pickles and fragrant herbs.
Vinata’s is one of Cabramatta’s banh mi institutions. Vu and her family were among the first Vietnamese families to settle in the area, opening Vinata’s Hot Bread in 1989. For 36 years, they’ve been crafting pork rolls, with three generations now working side by side in the kitchen.
Usually, the cash register is as close as you can get to the action. “Cabramatta is a fast and furious place. A lot of the business owners don’t have the resources or the time to stand around and chat,” says Peter Nguyen, who runs Cabramatta food tours as part of Gourmet Food Safari.
But later this year, visitors will have a rare opportunity to step behind the counter. As part of the Powerhouse Food: Producers series – a new monthly program of talks, workshops and events curated by Powerhouse Parramatta – Nguyen will hold a one-off behind-the-scenes tour and tasting at Vinata’s, where guests will explore the culinary traditions behind one of western Sydney’s most beloved banh mi spots.
As part of the experience, Nguyen will take visitors on a walking tour to some of Vinata’s favourite local suppliers – including bustling fruit and vegetable stalls. Back at Vinata’s, guests will hear how they prepare their signature pickles, see how their bread is made, and discover what goes into the chicken liver pate and mayo.
The most interesting part of the story is Vu herself, says Nguyen. “It’s not just about the pork rolls, it’s about the people behind the food and their stories. That’s what you’re going to remember.”
The Powerhouse Food: Producers series takes guests out of the streets and into the kitchens of some of western Sydney’s most iconic producers to learn local stories of food and migration.
The program features a diverse range of experiences that capture the rich and evolving food culture of western Sydney, from a kimchi demonstration by Paldo Kimchi in Lakemba, to a Lebanese biscuit-making class at El Sweetie in Granville, and a multi-course feast of Fijian specialties in Fairfield. Here are some highlights.
Italian Cheese | Monte Fresco Cheese, Smithfield
Join owner Sam Montalto for a behind-the-scenes tour of Monte Fresco Cheese where you’ll watch a live cheese making demonstration, learn the time-honoured traditions behind their ricotta, mozzarella and pecorino, and try their fresh cheese. Wednesday 30 July, 10am–11.30am. $10.
Banh Mi | Vinata’s Hot Bread, Cabramatta
Peter Nguyen will lead a talk and tasting at banh mi institution Vinata’s Hot Bread, discussing its history while integrating stories of migration, food and culture. Thursday 11 September 2025, 10am–12pm. $20.
Local Grocers | Abu Salim, Greenacre
The Abu Salim supermarket is an iconic Arabic grocer known for its impressive range of culturally specific foods and ingredients from the SWANA region (South West Asia and Northern Africa). Join Karima Hazim Chatila, co-founder of Sunday Kitchen, for a tour of the store, followed by a cooking demonstration and communal meal. Tuesday 9 December 2025, 9am–11.30pm. $30.
The 2025 program of ticketed events is on sale from Wednesday July 28 2025 at 10am at powerhouse.com.au. The 2026 events will go on sale Wednesday 26 November 2025 at 10am.
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Erina Starkey – Erina is the Good Food App Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Previously, Erina held a number of editing roles at delicious.com.au and writing roles at Broadsheet and Concrete Playground.
