By CASEY NEILL
GUIDED tours have unlocked the hidden gems of central Dandenong’s Afghan Bazaar, which has a fresh new look.
The cultural precinct’s heart is Thomas Street and today (Monday) Multicultural Affairs Minister Matthew Guy, Greater Dandenong mayor Jim Memeti and the Afghan Ambassador to Australia officially opened the upgraded space.
Changes included more effective street lighting, the removal of overhead powerlines, expanded footpaths, landscaping and a feature artwork called The Lamp.
The Journal recently joined one of the City of Greater Dandenong’s Afghan Bazaar Cultural Tours, which are held regularly.
It started at Mashreq Carpets in Thomas Street, which was filled with 400 carpets from Afghanistan and around the world, and other homewares.
The next stop was Maiwand Bakery in Scott Street, which makes tandoori bread for a steal – just 75 cents – and cooks up to 800 per day.
Tour-goers picked up exotic ingredients at the Maiwand and Bamyan supermarkets, and the tour concluded with a feast of traditional Uzbek and Afghan cuisine at Pamir Restaurant.
Barbara Parker and Mark Boyle had come for the tour from Ferntree Gully.
“It’s good to get out and experience different cultures,” Ms Parker said.
“This makes it more accessible.”
Jennifer Lovell said the tour helped her discover ingredients she’d seen in recipes but didn’t know where to find.
She spotted cans of fried celery, carrot jam and cream on the supermarket shelves.
“Also, we got to learn a bit about the rejuvenation of Dandenong,” she said.
Sarah Sneddon said the area wasn’t somewhere she would have gone “on the off chance” so the tour was a great introduction.
“I hadn’t been to Dandenong in quite a while,” she said.
Visit www.greaterdandenong.com for more information and tour bookings.
