The Inveresk Tavern is a classic Australian pub – one where the beers are cold, the chips are hot and a meat tray is up for grabs.
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But on Sunday the menu will undergo a radical overhaul in favour of traditional Korean dishes thanks to a collaboration between the Dry Street pub and the Migrant Resource Centre.
Over the next 12 weeks the Inveresk Tavern will lend its kitchen to culturally and linguistically diverse community groups to help them raise funds for their activities.
Sunday will see the Korean International Students Society take control, followed by the Filipino Women’s and Children’s Group, Sudanese Community Launceston, the Bhutanese Community of Tasmania North, Women’s Friendship Group (Afghan) and the Bhutanese Kirat/Buddhist Association of Tasmania.
The alliance makes sense to Migrant Resource Centre chief executive Ella Dixon and Inveresk Tavern licensee Charlie Rayner.
Ms Dixon had long been thinking about social enterprises for the Migrant Resource Centre’s clients and Mr Rayner said he had wanted to create a community kitchen since taking the reigns of the hotel in November last year.
“This is using food as a cultural bridge and showing what circumstances people are arriving in in Launceston,” Ms Dixon said.
“Until you’re in the mix you forget why some of our clients are here.
“When you use food it’s almost an invitation to say ‘I want to get to know you’.
“It’s a simple project that can achieve many things.”
The experience will expose community groups to the Inveresk Tavern and Launceston residents, give them a chance to practice English and customer service skills as well as helping them build their networks.
Mr Rayner said the benefits went both ways.
“Some of the folks who come in on a Sunday afternoon come for a beer and a packet of Samboys, and this will open their eyes too,” he said.
“I’ve worked with people from different cultures and when you spend time with people it humanises those stories you hear on TV or read about.
“When you get to know them you lose all your preconceptions.”
Launceston’s Multicultural Flavours will be held each week starting Sunday to September 18 from 1 to 3pm.
This week’s menu will include bulgogi and mandu.
