"Just one question," says Monik Thacker, co-owner of Shreeji – The Taste of Kutch food truck. "Because you have tried all sorts of different food and we are foodies too… what would be your recommendation?"
I'm on the side of the road in 234 Fun Galore's car park where the Thackers – who permanently park their food truck outside the Braybrook go-kart centre – are excited at the prospect of trying Ethiopian food for the first time.
They live around the corner from a thriving Ethiopian population and as vegetarians, there are plenty of options for them.
A local recommendation is the least I can do after the family has introduced me to Western Indian cuisine. Monik and his wife Deepa moved to Melbourne 10 years ago. His brother Hiten and sister-in-law Charmi followed in 2016. Between the two couples are three young children, and the seven of them live together with their parents.
"Back in India we have tradition; we like to stay together," says Monik. "In India, we don't have Centrelink, we don't have aged care – that's all family."
For the last two years, the Thackers have been quietly running Shreeji food truck, an understated white van bringing "The taste of Kutch". Source: Shreeji - The Taste of Kutch
This is something on the side, a place where we all can work together and something which we can call ours.
For the last two years, the Thackers have been quietly running Shreeji food truck, an understated white van bringing "The taste of Kutch" in the western Indian state of Gujarat to West Melbourne. Deepa works full time on the truck, Monik is in construction, Hiten in university administration and Charmi is a nurse. "This is something on the side, a place where we all can work together and something which we can call ours," says Monik.
Most people have heard of roti, but dabeli is less familiar. The dish described on Shreeji's menu as an "Indian veg burger" appears on the table; a soft, squarish bun spread with butter and stuffed with tangy, spiced potato mix. Peanuts and sev (dried chickpea noodles) add crunch. "People used to like it in olden times when they would work and come home; they want something pretty quick, and our Indian cooking generally takes a lot of effort, a long time," explains Monik.
Dabeli, described on Shreeji's menu as an "Indian veg burger" appears on the table; a soft, squarish bun spread with butter and stuffed with tangy, spiced potato. Source: Shreeji - The Taste of Kutch
Another Shreeji signature is the Kutchi bowl, made from rusk (a sweet bread baked until hard and often had with tea), with the same spicy potato mix, thin tamarind chutney and garnished with spiced peanuts, sev (a popular snack) and diced onion.
There are about 20 dishes including a variety of puffed puris and masala tea that sometimes sells out an hour after opening.
A Shreeji - Taste of Kutch signature: The Kutchi bowl. Source: Shreeji - The Taste of Kutch
This taste, you won't get it anywhere else.
It tastes as good as it looks. Source: Shreeji - The Taste of Kutch
"[These types of recipes], generally we cook it at home as well, so the flavour is a bit familiar," says Deepa. "But to give some uniqueness to that taste we have added some spices and created our own recipes," says Deepa. "This taste, you won't get it anywhere else."
Having lived in West Footscray for the last decade, the Thackers have seen the area change drastically and consider their multicultural Australian neighbours "honest and helpful".
The chai maska bun. Source: Shreeji - The Taste of Kutch
Like many businesses in the area, their success has been purely word of mouth. The same way they enjoy trying new cuisines, they hope to continue to share a taste of their home with others for many years to come.
Love the story? Follow the author here: Twitter @sofiaklevin and Instagram @sofiaklevin. Photographs supplied by Shreeji – The Taste of Kutch.
Outside 234 Fun Galore, 234 Ballarat Road, Braybrook
Tue-Thu & Sun 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Fri & Sat 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
SECRETS OF INDIAN CUISINE
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