I actually can’t remember the last time my family and I all got together for Christmas. With my sister living in a different state from my parents (and now us too!) and everyone having to navigate around things like travel restrictions during the bleak covid lockdown years, work commitments, overseas holidays, visiting in-laws, etc. it made it almost impossible to get us all in the same place during the busiest time of the year.
But earlier this year, we made the commitment that this year was going to be THE YEAR. We planned it so that we would get together a week before Christmas at mum and dad’s house in Sydney (the offical middle point for us), and spend an extra long weekend together before parting ways again for Christmas and New Years.
So on the weekend that just passed, my sister, brother in law and my 3 nieces drove up from Melbourne, and we flew down from the Gold Coast. There was just nothing better than all of us congregating together under the same tiny roof for 3 nights. There was also something so special about it being hosted in our childhood home, and being able to share that with Jamie.
It was his actually his first Christmas with my family, and he got to experience firsthand the amount of cooking, eating, drinking and noise that happens when we all get together for Christmas, and he absolutely loved it!
We all arrived within an hour of each other on Friday night, and mum of course got started straight away with cooking up some of our favourite foods. We grew up eating some of the best homecooked traditional Lao food from my mum (I know I sound biased, but is it biased if it’s true?), and I always miss it when I’m away from her for too long.
She made us a spicy cucumber salad in her mortar and pestle, and served that with Thai style fish cakes, spicy Lao sausages, dried fish, chilli “jeow” (dipping sauce) and piping hot sticky rice.
Funnily enough, this meal would probably be considered a very normal and almost a very plain meal in any village in Laos, but I think it’s pretty special. It’s a taste of home to me, and brings me back to the many childhood memories of eating this at the table with my family. Also there’s just so many flavours and textures, it’s so far from plain or simple in my mind.
On Saturday morning, we prepped for our pretend Christmas Day celebrations. Because it was such a hot weekend in Sydney, mum decided rice paper rolls were the best option for food as it was a light, refreshing meal and you could basically just roll them and eat them all day (big plus).
There was a lot to prepare for the rolls, so we each had a “prep station” we were assigned to. Me, my brother in law, younger brother and Jamie were all on prawn duty – peeling and deveining a casual 4kg of fresh prawns was no easy feat. My sister was in charge of washing all the lettuce and herbs. My mum took care of cooking the mince and the “nem nuong” (a Vietnamese spiced pork sausage) and slicing all the veggies. And my dad cleaned up for us as we went along.
As I was prepping and chatting away, it really made me reflect on just how big of a part that food plays in our family gatherings, and how it’s not just about the eating. We also cook and clean together, and when I think back, I guess I’ve just never known any different. We talk, laugh and bond during this time, and it’s actually one of the parts I enjoy the most. I hope one day if/when I have kids, it’s something I can share with them too!
Once all the food was prepped and ready, my aunty, uncle and cousin arrived with MORE food (my uncle made his famous “Kua Mee,” which is Lao fried noodles), we handed out all the presents and got stuck into a full day of eating and drinking. I honestly think we all slept so well that night!
On Sunday, we decided to spend the day in the city looking at all the Christmas decorations and doing some shopping, and once we were over the heat and the city crowds, we all ventured back to my aunty and uncle’s house for… you guessed it, more food.
He made “Lad Na” which is fried flat rice noodles topped with a protein of choice, vegetables and a gravy type sauce. He made it so you could pick your own toppings from a choice of beef, or a seafood mix, or both. (I chose both, obviously). I loved watching him cook it, and tried to keep up and take some notes to give it a go myself in future (good luck to me is all I can say!).
We finished strong with his coconut sticky rice, mango and ice cream for dessert and I felt like I was in heaven. There is absolutely no better dessert in summer, and no one can convince me otherwise.
It was another late night, discussing plans for my dad’s 70th birthday next year over shared bottles of wine. We decided we’re going with a 70’s theme, and dad is dressing up as Elvis. What an absolute riot that’s going to be! My sister and I cackled loudly together for hours on end looking up costumes for ourselves and our parents.
Monday was a bit of a somber day. My sister and her little family left at 6am to make their drive back down to Melbourne, and the house was left a little quieter and emptier. Jamie and I didn’t have to leave until early afternoon, so Mum cooked us brunch of whole fried fish, while I walked through her garden and looked all the things she had growing (there’s always something new and exciting in there!).
We ate the fried fish with 3 different types of “jeow” and sticky rice, and then my parents dropped us off the airport. It was a quiet ride, and I think it was because we all knew the next time we’d all be together again is my dad’s 70th birthday in July next year.
It was bittersweet saying goodbye, but I honestly came back home feeling so full. And not just because I ate too much (though that definitely played a part), but simply full with love and memories I’ll cherish for years to come.
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, and fill yourself with food and love this festive season too!
Laura x
