Immigrant Couple's Dream Cafe Brings Turkish Flavours to Wollongong
A new culinary destination has emerged on Crown Street in Wollongong, offering locals an authentic taste of Turkey. Cafe Persona, launched by immigrants Max and Sara Barry, represents the realisation of a long-held ambition that took root in their home country.
From Professional Backgrounds to Hospitality Venture
Both trained in business and industrial engineering, the Barry couple arrived in Australia seeking opportunities in their professional fields. "We came here to find a job in our professional major in business or customer experience management," Max Barry explained. Despite numerous interviews and some offers, their career path took an unexpected turn when they decided to pursue their shared passion.
"A long time ago, when we were in our country, we were both of Turkish origin. We had a dream of opening a cafe, so when the job interviews didn't go well, we told each other, why not give it a shot," he revealed.
The Meaning Behind Cafe Persona
The cafe's distinctive name originates from the owners' business background in customer experience management. "In customer experience management, there is a discussion about giving the best experience to the customers, and in there, there's something called customer journey mapping," Mr Barry elaborated.
"You map the customer journey and each step that the customer interacts with your service. The symbol of a customer in the customer journey map is named a persona. So we took the term from there and put it in our cafe."
Authentic Turkish Breakfast Takes Centre Stage
While the menu features familiar items like melts, toasts, English breakfasts, and bacon and egg rolls, the true standout is the traditional Turkish breakfast. Described as the "king and queen of the menu", this elaborate offering reflects Turkey's cultural emphasis on morning meals.
"It consists of different plates from seasonal fruits, dried fruits, and different cheese types, the tea, and of course the gozleme," Mr Barry detailed. "We thought that because breakfast is very important in Turkey and they have heavy meals for breakfast consisting of carbohydrates, fruits, teas and coffees, and also egg-based meals."
The comprehensive Turkish breakfast is designed as a shared experience, with Mr Barry noting "it is basically suitable for two to three people" due to its generous variety of components.
A Culinary Addition to Wollongong's Dining Scene
Cafe Persona represents more than just another eatery opening in Wollongong. It embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants bringing their cultural heritage to the local community through food. The Barry couple's journey from professional job seekers to cafe owners demonstrates how personal dreams can transform into successful business ventures that enrich the culinary landscape.
The establishment adds diversity to Crown Street's offerings while providing an authentic Turkish dining experience that was previously unavailable in the area. With its focus on customer experience and traditional recipes, Cafe Persona promises to become a distinctive destination for those seeking genuine Turkish cuisine in the Illawarra region.
