MasterChef winner Larissa Takchi loves Dural
An idyllic childhood on her grandfather’s farm, access to delicious produce and a love of food started in The Hills for MasterChef winner Larissa Takchi.
MasterChef winner Larissa Takchi has also won when it comes to finding her dream suburb.
When did you move to this suburb and why?
I’ve been living in Dural and Glenorie my entire life! I guess it all started when my grandparents from both sides moved to Australia from Lebanon. They settled in Glenorie and I’ve been here ever since!
What do you like most about living there?
I love everything about Dural and Glenorie. There are so many things that I can rave on about! Firstly I love how communal we are as a group. Ever since being on MasterChef, it’s really shown how much support I have here in The Hills area. I think it’s because I’m representing this area and marking Dural as an amazing place to visit on the map. Another thing I love about this area is the produce we are so lucky to have. We live in an amazing farm-heavy area where you can buy on the side of the road produce everywhere you go and across all seasons of the year!
What do you enjoy doing on the weekend?
If I’m at home, I love spending the day baking/cooking in my own kitchen. I live on a beautiful and peaceful block of land in Middle Dural and there’s nothing so therapeutic as baking in this kind of environment.
Otherwise I love venturing out to the city and grabbing a good feed with a bunch of mates!
What is your favourite cafe/restaurant/bar and why?
Is it so bias to say Wild Pear cafe (laughs)? My mother, aunty and uncle all run this family business and it’s just amazing. There’s nothing like it in the area and I’m proud to say that it’s the best cafe to visit. The food is sourced locally, made fresh every day and with lots of love! I’m sure a lot of the locals in The Hills will agree with me on that one.
What is your best memory from living in this area?
I think my best memory would be a food memory (of course). I grew up on my grandfather’s peach farm and my earliest food memory comes from there. We used to pick his peaches (sometimes too early and my grandmother would be furious about that) and eat them.
They were the best peaches I’ve ever had and still haven’t had anything like them today.
And because we lived on this farm with four other families (dad’s siblings’ families), there were so many of my cousins together enjoying the fruits that were offered to us.
Do you have a favourite park or outdoor space?
I think Fagan Park (Galston) is a given! Such an amazing park, it has beautiful views and great seating areas. Not to mention the flying fox which I’m pretty sure is suitable for the ages under 15.
What do you wish you could change about your suburb?
I think my answer to that is quite ironic: I’m hoping nothing will change in this area. I know it’s natural for areas to develop and become more populated, but I’m hoping that Dural will keep its “ruralness” because I love the way Dural is right now; it’s about a small community that share the same values of respect and produce. I love how friendly and neighbourly we all are and love how you can pick produce on the side of the road.
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