Brisbane cafe owners go from food to film stars

Three of Brisbane’s most renowned eatery operators have been transformed into movie stars for a special new project.

Three of Brisbane’s most interesting eatery owners are set to become film stars next week when a special documentary series on their lives airs.

Vietnamese suburban personality Maggie Nguyen behind Annerley’s Cafe O-mai, master of home-style Indonesian cuisine Mie Mie Wing Keefrom Mamaku in Clayfield, and local ramen pioneer Taro Akimoto, who owns Taro’s Ramen eateries across the River City, will share the stories behind their restaurants and the dishes that have shaped Brisbane’s culinary landscape in the production Mother’s Table.

A scene from the documentary Mother’s Table starring Maggie Nguyen from Cafe O-mai in Annerley

Screened as part of this year’s BrisAsia Festival showcasing contemporary and traditional Asian arts and cultural events, the mini doco also tells how the three have overcome adversities to reach success. This includes how Nguyen’s mother Kim was a Vietnamese refugee who travelled to Australia in a boat made by her uncles in 1982, travelling for five days and nights when she was three months pregnant with her daughter with not enough food or water.

The online-only installation can be viewed on the BrisAsia Festival website brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/whats-on-and-events/brisasia-festival from February 1-20.