On every table at Almond Bar are small wooden plates holding four different types of almonds: cinnamon, smoked, zaatar and smoked chilli and sesame. Since we were kids, Carol Salloum tells me, Mum’s kept a container of nuts in the fridge for when guests come over. The kids would get in the fridge and almonds would always been the first to go.
Sisters and Almond Bar co-owners Carol and Sharon Salloum drew media attention in August this year for their decision to drop Uber and Deliveroo services from their business. Their explanatory Instagram post read:
“We are hoping to make change in our already lonely society. The more we encourage people to eat out with friends or even come in alone and eat with us, the more human interaction enhances the lives of those around us.”
Carol and Sharon grew up in a traditionally Syrian household in the western suburbs, with a father who believed that any ailment was down to not eating enough and a mother who was constantly cooking and entertaining house guests.
“I was going out to restaurants and seeing the beginning of food sharing culture here. I thought, ‘this is what we’re about, this is what we were brought up doing, I reckon we could do this,” said Carol.
“After 9/11 Middle Eastern people weren’t being respected, so we felt like we needed to show people that we’re a good culture, we’re hospitable, we look after people. Food is in our blood, so is serving people and knowing people.”
Almond Bar’s Big Syrian Barbecue is now a fixture of Darlinghurst’s culinary calendar. Twice a year the back laneway is flooded with locals, often waiting in line for over forty minutes for their share in the feasting festivity.
“It’s massive and it creates such a beautiful atmosphere. Music’s going, our family’s here, it’s about being together in whatever capacity and knowing that you’re part of a community,” said Carol.
Having family in Syria, for Carol and Sharon it felt instinctive to approach Refugee Settlement Services and help Syrian refugees with their settlement in Australia.
“For us it was a personal thing. Any one of those people could have been our family. It made sense to get involved with them,” said Sharon.
“It started with helping out in their community kitchen in Auburn, and we now try to match employers with refugee employees, in more areas than just hospitality.”
“People didn’t even know where Syria was when we first opened. Now everybody knows where it is for the wrong reasons. We just want people to see it as a beautiful country with hospitable people. Maybe one day people will be able to go there and see what it’s really like,” said Carol.
Follow @almondbar to stay up to date with events like the Syrian Barbecue, Syrian Breakfast and Mulukhiyah and Vegan Nights, recurring throughout the year.
