Latin flavour on the shelves of Brisbane

Thursday, 2 of June 2016
By Amanda Paixão

Stores offers products that make you feel at home

One of the pleasures of living in a foreign country is to discover new flavours or even try out exotic dishes, such as kangaroo meat. However, sometimes we need all those titbits and popular delicacies typical of the Latins. When thousands of kilometres separate the exchange student from most of them, some stores in Brisbane try to bring a little home to Oceania. In some of these establishments, you can find from “arepas”, a traditional food made in Colombia and Venezuela to the famous “pao de queijo” or cheese bread, imported directly from Minas Gerais to the Kangaroo land.

Located in the neighborhood known Woollongabba, near the Gabba stadium, is Pennise Cuisine.

The distributor is known among immigrants by selling products from Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and other countries in Latin America, Europe and Central America. According to the owner, Kata Pennisi, friendly lady born in Yugoslavia, the establishment is a family business and has been operating for over 40 years in Brisbane. She said that her husband John Pennisi, an Italian born in Australia, realized the need to import articles for Australia, with the arrival time of growing immigrants.

"We have one session for Brazilian goods and one for Colombians. Brazilians buy more “Guaraná, farofa, açai and pao de queijo (cheese bread)”. The Colombian has much to buy arepas and chilean herb for mate tea", explained proud of its stock that is separated according to the country of origin.

The prices are also gentle as the owner. A box with 24 units of 330 ml of Guaraná Antartica costs $ 29.95. The “goiabada” sells for $ 4.95 and crumbly package yoki $ 5.50.

On the Colombian`s shelf there are products like the cookie Saltin Noel ($ 4.95), chocolate Azucar Morena Luker ($ 9.95) and the famous Pan. The flour in white and yellow colour is used to make arepas and are sold for $ 5.50 and $ 6.95, respectively.

In addition, if the demand is Mexican food, the store offers Mexican corn flour ($ 6.50), which can be purchased along with the presser used in the manufacture of tortilla ($ 26.95).

Kata also revealed that Chileans rather look for Mate to drink, which is sold between $ 6.95 and $ 15. The tiler Luiz Emilio Vilugron, born in Chile, is one of customers. He has been buying in the place for above 8 years and at least once a month he uses the store to remember his origins. "I grew up drinking it and this is one place we know of where easily find my mate. This is my food, my origin. I cannot say that I still miss because I always find here", Vilugron said.

The Chilean want to pose next to the owner for the photo published in this portal. "Almost a family relationship", said both laughing.

                                                                                         Luiz Emilio Vilugron and Kata                   

In the city, residents of Brisbane can also find some products in Latin Shop, located at 150 Adelaide Street.

                                                                                     The Colombian receptionist Oscar Betancourt

The shop is in a small space where are an education agency and an Internet cafe. The small business works in the reception site and gained more space in the last year. There is possible to find “harina” (flour), “malte polar”, “platain”, “goiababa” and the “Brazuca Guaraná”. "Each Tuesday we sell ‘Tequeño’ , food from Venezuela, and usually ‘empanadas’ in Wednesdays”, warned the Colombian receptionist Oscar Betancourt, 36.

He says that the products are popular not only for Latino students but also for Australians who want to try recipes from other countries.

                                                                         Latin Shop

There are two other stores, Monika Grocery, located in Fortitude Valley and the Centre Cocos in Annerley.  There you also can find ‘tortillas’, ‘arepas’, peppers, flour, lentils, mates, steak and chicken heart. For the Brazilian sales consultant, Leila Goddard, these products make us feel a false, but comforting feeling of being at home. "Guaraná has taste of home, reminds me of the meetings of my family," says Goddard nostalgically. More than remembering home, these products helps us to decrease the homesickness.