Founded in 2022, Flying Chillies has grown from a farmer's market favourite to a beloved Malaysian and Indonesian cafe in Ballarat Central. The cafe enriches the community with authentic flavours, supporting migrant entrepreneurs and sourcing local ingredients. Owner Lilly Wright, one of Ballarat's Intercultural Ambassadors, extends the cafe's impact beyond dining by offering cooking classes and fostering cultural exchange. Flying Chillies is a vibrant hub where culinary skills and community connections thrive, creating a welcoming space for all. It has become a key destination for those seeking both delicious food and meaningful cultural experiences in Ballarat.
Eating together essentially enables us to stay connected with the ones we love. Families and friends often use the time at the dinner table to talk about their days, weeks, life in general or current affairs, allowing bonding and connections to take place over the food.
Keeping Mum’s Legacy
My whole life I am grateful to my mother, for teaching me how to cook and bake. Food brings people together and my mother ensured it united our family. Many of my childhood memories include the wonderful smell of cookies, rendang, and kuih muih baking at our home. She rarely used a recipe and she always invited me and my sister to join her in rolling curry puff dough, sifting flour for biscuits, or preparing spice paste for cooking. To this day, meals taste better when prepared by my mother, even if it’s just a fritter. Her touch is nostalgic, delicious, and made with love. She showed me that putting good energy into your cooking will make you happy and comfortable.
“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” - Ajmah Nordin