EIGHT awards in two states within one week has just spiced up the life of Turban Chopsticks director Mei Yong.
This month , the Indian and Asian natural food range impressed judges at the 2018 Australia Food Awards (AFA), managed by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV).
It’s Thai Green Curry paste won a Silver medal and the Thai Red Curry, Butter Chicken and Satay Peanuts sauces received bronze.
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READ NOWBack home in Perth, it was awarded another four medals, one Silver (Thai Green Curry) and three Bronze (Butter Chicken, Satay Peanuts and Thai Red Curry), in the 2018 Pantry Goods Awards by the Royal Agricultural Society of Perth.
Ms Yong, from Swanbourne, said Turban Chopsticks was also in the process of expanding and relocating from its original Mt Hawthorn base to Burswood.
“I am stoked about the awards, especially on a national level,” she said.
“We’ve just launched our food service range which goes to chefs, restaurants and hospitality places and now we are relocating and expanding in Burswood, because we need a bigger space to operate.”
Ms Yong started the venture about 10 years ago.
“I was an HR consultant and worked on a mine site, a completely different landscape, very corporate,” she said.
“Coming back from mine sites, I was always craving something authentic to eat, so I started putting together spice packets and sachets and pre-packaging it so when I came back it was quick and easy meal and convenient.”
She said she started off taking her produce to farmers markets before they were stocked at IGA, Farmer Jacks and Woolworths stores.