A mother and daughter duo in Western Sydney are using food to bridge cultural divides and share their heritage with the broader community. Sivine Tabbouch and her daughter Karima Hazim, both of whom fled conflict in Lebanon, have turned their culinary traditions into a platform for connection and understanding.

Sivine left Lebanon as a young girl amid the country’s civil war, arriving in Australia without knowledge of English and facing numerous challenges adjusting to life in a new environment. Despite language barriers and limited access to familiar ingredients, food became a vital link to home and a source of comfort during a difficult transition.

Today, the pair continue to honor their heritage through cooking, using their passion for food to tell stories of family, resilience, and cultural identity in Western Sydney’s diverse community. Their efforts align with the recent opening of Powerhouse Parramatta, where they have been invited to share their culinary traditions and narratives.

Karima and Sivine’s journey highlights the broader experience of many immigrant families who use food not only as a means of sustenance but also as a bridge to foster cross-cultural understanding and break down racial barriers. Their work celebrates the rich tapestry of backgrounds that characterize Australia’s suburban communities, emphasizing the role of shared meals in bringing people together.

By inviting others to experience the tastes and tales of their homeland, the mother-daughter team contributes to a growing recognition of multicultural contributions within the region, illustrating how cultural preservation and integration can coexist through the universal language of food.