Address: 9/993 North Rd, Murrumbeena VIC 3163

From an interview with Marwa in 2022 that has been edited

In conjunction with the City of Glen Eira as part of the Talking Shops project

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I was born in a beautiful village in Lebanon.

It was full of olive trees, figs and grapes. All the good stuff.

My dad was Lebanese, my mum was Brazilian and I grew up in Lebanon. Every time I’d go to the kitchen, my mum would say “get out of the kitchen, I want you to be a lawyer. I don’t want you to work hard, like me.” I would run to the kitchen after my mum went to sleep.

From when I was nine or ten, I would create my own spice mix using what my mum cooked with; including black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and mint. I used to smell the spices, mix them together, and write what it was on the bag.

She would cook a traditional dish and my dad would say, “have you changed anything?” She said, “just eat it, don’t worry.” He said, “Listen, whatever you changed, it was good,”

I was too scared to say I mixed the spices.

I was experimenting in the kitchen at a young age.

The reason I moved from Lebanon was because there were safety concerns at the time.

My husband was born in Syria and moved to Australia when he was a teenager. He went to visit his sister in Lebanon, who was married to my neighbour. He came at the right place and time and after we got to know each other, we were married.

Moving to Australia was challenging. I spoke no English and had no family there. Soon after I arrived, I found out I was pregnant. We lived in Noble Park with my husband’s immediate family, who had a mixed business – a milk bar and sandwich bar. I worked there, but I couldn’t understand a word the the customers were saying.

I would just say hello and how are you to customers.

Every time I spoke to my family in Lebanon, the phone bill would be $300-$400.

I began to thrive at work. In the shop, I realised that everyone was lining up for me. I was the fastest out of everyone. People would line up for me to make them sandwiches.

I’ve come to realise It wasn’t about the ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches I was making, I think it was that I loved what I did, so it tasted better. After I had my first child, Natalie, and was pregnant with my son George, I wanted to start my own business. We bought a tattslotto outlet.

I would run between the two businesses in Frankston and Noble Park while raising my two kids.

When my second son Michael was two months old, I enrolled in a one-year make-up course at Dandenong, TAFE.

We sold the Tattslotto outlet after a few years, and I went back and worked at a different sandwich shop. My mum passed away young, so working with food was a way to connect with her. Whenever there was a crisis, I went back to food.

After a couple years my husband and I went searching for our own cafe. He found a shop for sale in Murrumbeena. At that time, it was a Lebanese bakery that was so run down and dirty, but we knew that with enough time we could turn it around.

Oasis was born in November, 1998. At that time, we bought products in small quantities and paid at the point of purchase, which helped to build relationships with suppliers. I was studying to become a chef, so I could learn the rules of running a café.

When I would get tired, I’d sleep on the bags of flour in the storeroom.

I wanted to make Oasis a one of a kind store, that had something for everyone.

I’d wake up at 12am and aim to bake and finish making the pastries at 7.30am. I’d get my kids ready for school, come back, and open the shop at 8am. I opened a small kitchen, started to make and sell shawarmas and other dishes for customers, and created about 500 spice mixes.

We started the café around 2004 – which fitted about 45 seats – and this allowed me to sell healthy, good value meals. It was often the food that I made for my family, in bulk. Customers enjoyed them, asked how to make these dishes, and I’d provide recipes using ingredients that could be found at Oasis.

I also introduced good quality products from all around the world, not just from the Middle East.

The business started to grow, with people found us through word of mouth.

In ten years, I never went to the hairdresser or fixed my nails.

I just wanted my dream to come true.

I introduced my kids to the business, so they could understand what was involved. They’d come to the shop, and I had a special table for them to do homework. Over time, I shared with them what I did in the shop.

For instance, the nut counter was very high. I remember asking my three kids, “how can we make customers see the salesperson behind the counter?”One of my sons said we should shorten the counter. Then, my daughter said we had to select the best produce to present. My other son said we should change the colour of the counter.

I said these are good ideas, and – when they came back – I made those changes.

They were very proud.

However, I didn’t want them to work here long-term.

I wanted them to have an easier life that me. When they got older, and wanted nice things, they worked here part-time. That was fine, as they could develop skills in whatever field they chose.

Eventually, Oasis didn’t fit us anymore.

I drew up my dream store with a nice café, a big kitchen, and staff to help me with what I was doing. I remember, one Friday night, my kids and I sat down, and worked on expanding where we are now.

We added more space for fresh produce, and a shop design that promoted the best products from around the world.

It’s how we got to where we are now.

A few years later, I started my second cookbook –Yalla, Yalla!, after Yallateef! – while working too many hours at Oasis.

My youngest son sat me down over coffee and said that he wanted to get married and have kids. 

If his kids asked about their grandma, he would show them my first cookbook.

I said, “why?” and he said, “If you continue working this hard, you’ll die.”

I quickly took a step back. I hired chefs to run kitchen service, and I took my apron off.

My kids took a more hands-on role, making it a real family business.

We always share what we’re doing, and still have time to share beautiful moments together.

I’m very proud to be in Murrumbeena.

And locals are proud to have Oasis in the area. We’ve had so many offers to open Oasis in other areas. We’re now in Fairfield and Mornington as well.

I will never stop cooking. This is my passion, and my life, and it helps me connect with people.

And I’ll never stop creating, and helping people learn to cook healthy food at home. 

I’m very proud of where I am now. I couldn’t have done it without my family, and without my customers.

Written by Aron Lewin with all photos by Tatiana C.C. Scott

talesofbrickandmortar@gmail.com