Flavours of old Darwin hit the road

CULINARY delights from a popular Darwin restaurant have become more accessible for Top End diners.

Aboriginal-owned Soul Essence on the Bay, located at the Cullen Bay Marina, recently purchased a food truck, providing a new mobile outlet to showcase unique dishes which reflect “the flavours of Old Darwin Town”.

“The food truck is a commercial kitchen on wheels, it’s amazing. We can travel anywhere and produce almost everything that we sell from the restaurant out of that truck,” co-owner Petra Adams, a proud Larrakia and Yanyuwa woman said. 

“People who have visited the truck at the functions that we’ve attended and catered, there’s been a big response, and people are very excited about getting us to cater upcoming birthdays. 

“We’ve even got a wedding booked in, so we’re very excited about being able to take our food and produce it like we do here in the restaurant at private functions.”

The food truck concept moved from dream to reality when Soul Essence on the Bay was successful in obtaining the backing of Aboriginal Investment NT, via its initial round of grant funding. 

“Support from Aboriginal Investment NT allowed us to purchase the food truck and some more furniture for the restaurant and a shade sail out the front for alfresco dining.  It has been amazing support, and it has made a huge difference.”

It’s the latest evolution for the established family business, which began operation in February last year. 

“As a Larrakia woman, I have special memories of growing up in little old Darwin, where family and community were at the heart of everything in life and being part of an Aboriginal family of mixed heritage.

“We grew up celebrating diversity and cultural experiences, which were always accompanied by beautiful food, laughter and togetherness.

“Naturally, I grew up with a passion for food and began experimenting with flavours and infusions I learnt from my grandparents, parents and other family and friends. I always treasured those times that brought people together, so I found myself always getting involved in big cook-ups and creating safe and loving spaces for family and friends to share deep connections and create lasting memories.

“It was through my working life and involvement in community activities relating to good mental health and well-being, I rediscovered the power of food and how bringing people together to share a meal and simply be with each other to nurture relationships was the essence of who we are as people and a cornerstone of positive well-being. 

“This passion inspired Soul Essence on the bay, quite organically, where we are building a vision to showcase the iconic and nostalgic, true flavours of little old Darwin, through a beautiful restaurant in Cullen Bay, as well as through events catering with the Soul Essence food truck.”

Petra describes Soul Essence on the Bay as being “like no other restaurant you’ll go to anywhere”.

“We are showcasing the old Darwin recipes, styling them up and making them more presentable.

“The highest seller from the beginning has been our curry bully beef arancini balls, and that’s just the old humble bully beef tin hamper and made into an arancini.

“Our chicken vermicelli is in a spring roll, we do chashu marinated goose on a boa bun.”

Soul Essence on the Bay is also proud to support other Aboriginal businesses, which supply the restaurant with a range of products. 

“We proudly support, partner and collaborate with other Indigenous businesses. We work with Shannon and Daniel Motlop, who supply us with produce like magpie goose, green ants, some warrigal greens and saltbush. We also have their line of green ant gin, which is very popular among our customers.

“We get out tomahawk steaks from Gunbalanya Meats out at Oenpelli, and that meat is excellent, you can’t compare it.”