Three To Try: One-off Diwali Feasts Lighting Up Melbourne

Whether you call it Diwali or Deepavali, and whether you’re Hindu, Jain or Sikh, the Festival of Lights is always a special time. Diwali falls on October 31, and while many will be out trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses, those observing the festival will be lighting diyas (small oil lamps), creating intricate rangoli designs at their doorsteps and savouring traditional sweets.

It is celebrated on the darkest night of the Hindu lunisolar calendar (which falls on October 31 in India) and coincides with the new moon. The festival symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. And you can enjoy a feast of Indian delicacies at one of these three diners.

Sunda

This festive season, head chef of Sunda Nabil Ansari brings his renowned Southeast Asian flair to the Diwali menu. From Tuesday October 29 to Saturday November 2, diners can choose between two options: a $110 feast or an abbreviated taster menu for $79 per person.

Menu highlights include an elevated murukku, a crunchy South Indian snack made from rice and black gram flour, topped with cured scallops and plum jam. The karanji, a coconut and muntrie pastry, is exclusive to the $110 menu. Ansari will also present his take on kalti, a nut fudge dessert, typically made with cashews, which subs in macadamia and wattleseed.

The centrepiece is a grazing platter featuring a Kashmiri curry made with slow-cooked goat and cashews; dal bukhara (slow-cooked black lentils with tamarind); and boondi raita (crispy chickpeas, baby cucumbers and hung yoghurt served with cumin basmati rice). For dessert there’s kheer (rice pudding) topped with gulab jamun (a deep-fried treat made from flour and ghee, simmered in sugar syrup) and served with saffron ice-cream. Vegetarian versions of the set menu are also available.

Bookings are recommended.

Enter Via Laundry

For two days only, on October 30 and November 1, renowned chef Helly Raichura of Enter Via Laundry will serve a Gujarati-style thali (platter of food) in collaboration with her mum.

Guests can choose between two thali options priced at $75 and $100 per person. Menu highlights include palak methi muthiya ane lila vatana nu shak (fenugreek and spinach dumplings in a sauce of braised pigeon peas, coriander and spices); dahi wali choli (tiny red choli beans cooked in yoghurt and spices); and keri ni barfi (a fudge-like treat made with reduced almond milk and pistachio).

Seatings are at 6pm and 8:30pm. The full menu is available here. Bookings are essential.

Horn Please

Diwali wouldn’t be complete without a feast from chef Amar Singh at Horn Please. This year, the Fitzroy North diner will host a special brunch and dinner series from Thursday October 31 to Sunday November 3.

The brunch menu, available only on the weekend from noon to 3pm, features street food favourites like balls of happiness (golgappas) and Indian Fried Chicken (IFC) served with homemade tempered mustard mayo. The main course involves paneer makhni (a tomato, ginger, garlic and fenugreek curry). Each brunch menu also includes your choice of one of three cocktails, beer or wine.

For dinner, highlights of the set menu include yoghurt kebab (hung yoghurt, ginger and chilli croquettes served over beetroot sauce); kadhai chicken (chicken coated in a spicy tomato masala); and kulfi (cardamom, honey and pistachio ice-cream). Both menus are priced at $69 per person. Make a reservation here.