In the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, there aren't many options for good, authentic Lebanese food, but locals know Nabiha's Kitchen is the place to go.
Opened in 1989, the cafe serves all the classics - falafel, baklava, and more.
However, when Nabiha first arrived in Australia back in 1968, she came without a word of English.
"I [would] go to the shops I can’t see anything, I draw picture for it," she recalls.
Even still, she went to work straight away, finding jobs at factories and dry cleaners. Throughout it all, she cooked.
Nabiha and her family migrated to Australia from Lebanon in 1968. Source: Supplied
"I used to make the bread in a shed and people used to smell it, and come in. I’d sell it to the schools and shops."
Her bread’s popularity eventually pushed her to open her own café. Nabiha’s Kitchen has been a fixture of Wagga Wagga’s food scene ever since.
But in the past ten years, business has actually declined by about 20 per cent. Nabiha’s daughter, Vicky, says that’s because many regulars have moved away from Wagga Wagga, and competition has increased.
"We have new people that come that have never seen the food… They’re not as enthusiastic as the last lot of customers.”
While Nabiha's Kitchen still has a dedicated following, many regulars have moved away. Source: Supplied
She says the shop’s location, tucked away in an arcade, also makes it difficult to pick up passing trade.
“But eventually [customers] realise."
Even still, Nabiha’s nearly 30 years in business is a testament to her tenacity- though she credits her success to her faith in God.
At 77, she says she has no plans to retire.
"When I retire I go up there," she laughs, pointing to the heavens.
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