This is Kate Foods, established in 1998, a long-standing grocer specialising in food products from Sri Lanka, India, Mauritius, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The store also offers a range of homemade Sri Lankan bakery items, including rolls, patties, and cutlets that reflect the island’s snack culture.
Beef Roll ($2.20 each)
Contained very little beef—only a few small flecks of mince—within a mashed potato and onion filling that evoked the texture and flavour of an inexpensive sausage roll. The filling was soft and pasty, lacking texture or depth of seasoning.
Fish Roll ($2.20 each)
Delivered a distinct oceanic aroma, suggesting the use of canned tuna. The filling was seasoned with curry leaf and combined with mashed potato and onion, which softened the sharper fish notes, creating a milder, more rounded profile. The texture was cohesive and uniform, though somewhat monotonous.
Fish and Egg Roll ($3.00.99 each)
The inclusion of egg introduced both textural variation and flavour contrast, enriching the familiar tuna filling. The creaminess of the egg balanced the curry leaf seasoning, making this the most enjoyable of the rolls.
Fish Cutlet ($1.70 each)
Essentially the same tuna-based mixture as the rolls but shaped into a ball and coated for a crisper outer layer. The interior was slightly drier than the rolls but retained the same curry-leaf seasoning and mellow fish flavour.
Fish Patty ($1.50 each)
The shortcrust pastry provided a delicate, crumbly crunch with a toasty, Maillard-rich flavour that contrasted well against the smooth tuna filling. The pastry contributed complexity and structure, elevating the otherwise repetitive filling and making this the most balanced and satisfying of the selection.
Overall, Kate Foods offers nostalgic, homestyle snacks, though the fillings could benefit from greater variation in texture and proportion.
Kate Foods is located at 41 Boomerang Pl, Seven Hills NSW 2147.