At Hnry Australia, it is not uncommon to hear, ‘ooh, what’s that’ or ‘that smells amazing’ when lunchtime hits.
Instead of continuing to drool over each other’s lunches, we took this as a sign to host a multicultural morning tea to celebrate the diversity of our team and finally try the food we find ourselves commenting on. It was a gathering to not only offer a break from the usual day-to-day work, but it also gave us the opportunity to bond over what makes us unique.
After all, what better way to learn more about your colleagues than through food?
Across the business, we are incredibly lucky to have coworkers who come from different countries and cultures, bringing different perspectives and experiences to the table (literally). Events like our multicultural morning tea give our team the chance to share in their traditions and heritage, helping us all understand and appreciate each other better.
In the lead-up to the morning, we encouraged the team to bring along a dish they loved or one that reflected their cultural heritage, along with a little explanation of what it was. When it was finally time to dig in, we were treated to a feast from all around the world! Treats present included:
- Empanadas: golden pockets of pure joy made of a pastry encased filling, empanadas are bursting with flavour and are often enjoyed across South America.
- Samosas: originating from India, samosas are proof that anything wrapped in pastry and fried is a great snack. Samosas tend to come in the shape of a triangle and are packed full of meat, vegetables and spices.
- Biscoff: most will know it as the internet sensation that is often drizzled on oats or baked into a cheesecake, but the distinctive caramelised taste of biscoff originates from a local bakery in Belgium.
- Baklava: layers upon layers of pastry, finely chopped nuts and sweet syrup, baklava is a treat you cannot say no to. It is commonly enjoyed across the Middle East.
- Mochi: chewy treats made from glutinous rice and traditionally filled with red bean paste, mochi is a Japanese dessert that comes in a wide variety of flavours and is guaranteed to satisfy the taste buds of anyone who eats it.
- Fairy Bread: the iconic Aussie (and Kiwi!) childhood treat, white bread slathered in margarine and coated in hundreds and thousands.
As the morning progressed, there was a clear (and very sweet) absentee which remains a topic of contention among the team: the pavlova. Besides the strong Kiwi presence in the Sydney office it looks like, on this occasion, neither Australia nor New Zealand staked their claim to the beloved meringue based dessert. Perhaps next year will be the year!
Aniketh (Internal Finance), known as one of the biggest “foodies” in the office, was always going to be up first.
The multicultural morning tea was a great opportunity for the team to wind down after a busy EOFY period, and take some time to reconnect with their colleagues. We all thoroughly enjoyed the event and learned something new about each other, whether it was through the food itself or the sharing of stories.
It also appears that the multicultural morning tea has ignited a new passion for cooking amongst some of our colleagues – or maybe reignited an old one. Inspired by the morning, a few of us continued in the next few days to treat us to more homemade treats, like baked goods and hot sauces. Watch this space for some new Hnry side hustles and who knows, they may even use the Hnry service for their new activities 😉.
Keen to join the Hnry team? We’d love to hear from you!
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