Bangladeshi-Tasmanian chef Waji’s pursuit of producing his signature lines in Bangladesh
He was the first Bangladeshi child, who was adopted by a Tasmanian family from an orphanage when his father died and his mother gave up on him as she failed to make ends meet
Waji Food is a household name in Australia's Tasmania for its innovative cuisines, particularly fusion food. The catering business is an initiative by Bangladeshi origin Tasmanian chef Wajiullah Spiby. He started the business as he loves to experiment with food.
The tangy, creamy and spicy taste of mustard – a popular and special condiment used in Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine – boosts flavour to any meal. And the blend of mustard with the Tasmanian food makes his catering service Waji Food a favourite destination for gastronomes.
Based in Australia, Waji is looking forward to doing something for the welfare of his community in Bangladesh.
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He has a plan to introduce his product lines – pickles, dressings, sauce etc in Bangladesh.
Since Bangladesh is a popular hub for sourcing apparels, Waji is also on the hunt for an apparel maker who can produce high-quality chef's apron.
Waji was only seven when he had flown to Australia in 1974. He was the first Bangladeshi child, who was adopted by a Tasmanian family from an orphanage when his father died and his mother gave up on him as she failed to make ends meet.
He was growing up like any other child of his community in Bhola. But the devastating cyclone of 1970 in the coastal region changed the direction of his life.
"I was too young to recall anything. But I remember there was no land, only water, not a speck of land to be seen. It was the biggest cyclone in the world and Bangladesh lost 300,000 lives that night and my father was one of them," Spiby reminisced.
His mother sent him to an orphanage and from there he was adopted by an Australian nurse.
Within a few months of his arrival in Australia, he had forgotten his mother tongue but the taste of Bengali food he had left behind.
With 30 years of experience, Waji is popular for his fusion food – blend of French, Asian, Mediterranean flavours with contemporary dishes which makes any event memorable.
He particularly tries to give a sharp taste of Asian cuisine to Tasmanian food.
Waji Food, a catering service can serve up to 1000 people in any function be it in beach, garden, bush or mountain. His team is ready to serve at any place in Hobart and Tasmania.
Waji also delivers his signature cuisines to the doorstep of a home if anyone orders food over AUD50.
Recently, Waji has been made the head of his family in Bhola. He came to Bangladesh last year and met his family.
Even though Waji was sent afar at a very young age, he has been sending his family money for 30 years as soon as he started working as a chef.
I still have a fair bit of Bengali in me, but you know they say, you change with the family or with where you go, but there is a percentage in me that feels comfortable in Bangladesh
"I probably was separated from them physically a long time ago, but it doesn't matter, they are family, so you are obliged to do something," Spiby told ABC Radio Hobart.
"I still have a fair bit of Bengali in me, but you know they say, you change with the family or with where you go, but there is a percentage in me that feels comfortable in Bangladesh."
"Not total family attachment, but an attachment to what Bangladesh is," he said.
Spiby's biological mother had passed away early this year. He could not come to Bangladesh due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. But now being the head of the family, Spiby has planned to increase the frequency of his visits to Bangladesh to help his family as well as his community.
