How one sandwich came to hold more than just lunch together.
At VicX, the rhythm of the day is dictated by arrivals, departures, and you on the move, move, move. What you eat has to keep up! This new sandwich does just that, plus a lot more.
The Fold is the name of the new cafe at VicX, conceptualised and run by social enterprise Two Good Co, whose Work Work program employs, trains and supports women who have experienced homelessness, domestic violence and trauma, helping them rebuild confidence and independence through hospitality employment.
Operationally, it’s like any other cafe but behind the scenes, there is something really important at play. The Fold is a profit for purpose model with 50% of profits being diverted back to Two Good’s Work Work program.
It’s a name that conveys community and support, but it’s also the name of their signature sandwich, which sees fluffy Turkish bread folded over a variety of grilled, pickled and fermented ingredients and sauces you can choose between, to ensure lunch is an adventurous and delicious part of your ever-in-motion day at VicX.
“As Two Good Co doesn't have an executive chef, we all contribute towards the food identity which makes it very rich and eclectic.”
We chatted to Two Good Co.’s General Manager of Hospitality, Marlon Kigonya, about how this special sandwich came about…
Tell us about The Fold’s signature sandwich, what’s so exciting about it?
The Fold itself is made with fluffy and light bread. We wanted the filling to be substantial, juicy and tasty, without being messy. It needed to work well as a take-away item as well as an eat-in order, because of all the people on the go at VicX. We have lamb kofta, chicken and grilled eggplant, each with their own sauce that complements the main ingredient. Alongside the hero ingredient is also a beautifully dressed salad to make sure you're getting your daily greens!
Why is this such a great option for lunch in North Sydney?
Because it’s filling, nutritious, quick and easy, without being boring. The lunch market in North Sydney is competitive, but we knew people wanted the convenience of a sandwich, so we wanted to create something which complemented what’s on offer from all the other great operators in the VicX precinct, but in a uniquely Two Good Co way. Leaning into our head chef Ayse Moonen’s Turkish heritage, we landed on the lamb kofta being the hero, but we already have plans to allow other staff to express themselves by contributing various different fillings for future ideations. As Two Good Co doesn’t have an executive chef, we all contribute towards the food identity which makes it rich and eclectic.
Talk us through the bread R&D process? Did it take long to land the final recipe?
The R&D process was really exciting – we tested so many different breads in our other kitchens beforehand, but because VicX is a completely green kitchen with no gas, there’s no chargrill. So we had to change some of our initial ideas on how we were going to cook the bread. We worked with amazing suppliers who were able to help us create something authentic and handmade, meaning we could focus on the filling and final cooking technique.
“One of our core values is that everyone is equal at our table.”
Besides Ayse, who else should we look out for at The Fold?
Matalou is a key member of our team. Not only is she a graduate of our Work Work program, but she’s worked in Victoria Cross for 18 months as a barista in our coffee cart. We’re super happy to finally be able to offer Matty a permanent role in VicX tower. Matty, like all of our staff, has contributed to the development of the entire menu by providing direct feedback on the food itself but also in a customer facing role she is able to pass on customer feedback to the kitchen team on what is and is not working.
Why is the connection between people and food important to Two Good?
Two Good Co builds connection through food. One of our core values is that everyone is equal at our table.
Everyday at 12:30pm in our main site at Eveleigh the bell rings and the entire organisation stops to share a communal lunch together. Through the creation of beautiful, high quality food and products, we support, empower and employ women with lived experience of homelessness, domestic violence and complex trauma. By supporting Two Good Co, you’re creating opportunities for someone to change their life and rebuild their self-worth and independence, in order to break free from the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage. And of course, everything we make tastes so good, not only because it’s fresh and vibrant, but because it’s meaningful, in more ways than one.
Visit The Fold, now open at VicX.
