Refugee-Run Eatery Four Brave Women Is Opening a Pop-Up International Bakery

When Four Brave Women launched in Summer Hill in April, the restaurant opened with a simple but important aim. As well as serving up delicious food to inner west residents, it provides refugee women and families with the experience, skills and funds to launch their own businesses.

Run by not-for-profit organisation The Trading Circle, the eatery offers eight-week placements to its budding chefs, who take on the responsibility of running the place during their tenure — including designing the menu, which changes with each new group. But two months taking care of buffet-style lunch and dinner offerings isn't always enough, so Four Brave Women also started longer barista placements to cover its breakfast service and coffee cart.

Next, the outfit is opening a pop-up international bakery and catering company, in another continuation of its core mission.  Located next door to Four Brave Women's existing spot in Lackey Street, it'll be overseen by refugee and migrant women who have already been working in the organisation's program. Zara from Iran, and Yulia and Iana from Ukraine and Russia will head up the bakery and work among the catering chefs.

Officially launching on Monday, October 8, the bakery will open from 7am—3pm Monday to Saturday, boasting an array of sweet and savoury treats. Like the restaurant, its menu will be feature culinary favourites inspired by the heritage of its cooks.  Zara is known for her bespoke cakes and Persian biscuits, while Iana and Yulia will bake specialties such as Ukrainian ricotta donuts, vegan pirozhki (a savoury Eastern European stuffed pastry) and medovik (a Russian layered honey cake).

The bakery's temporary lease runs until December 31 — and as well as a wood-fired oven and a large commercial kitchen, it also features an extended outdoor courtyard next to the original Four Brave Women restaurant. For those eager to follow up their baked snack with a coffee or meal, the adjacent eatery will be focusing on dishes from Iraq, Kuwait and Turkey for the next eight weeks, under the guidance of Iraqi sisters Matheel and Vivian.

Find Four Brave Women at 26 Lackey Street, Summer Hill. The neighbouring bakery opens on Monday, October 8, operating from 7am—3pm Monday to Saturday.