Newcastle dumpling doyen Sukimama rallies hospitality community as she prepares to relaunch

SUKI Kwon's catering business Sukimama has been hit hard by Covid-19

She can still see an upside.

"The most positive is that it has brought a lot of businesses together, it's been a wake up call for everyone. There are businesses in compeition who have been for years and now they've realised, 'Hey, we are in the same boat, we need to support each other.'

Raised in the Korean/Japanese restaurant her mother Sonia ran - Kim Chee House in Hunter Street, Newcastle West - Ms Kwon was booked to travel to her birthplace of Korea in April when the pandemic began to emerge.

"I noticed what was happening so we didn't go, and I had a buffer because I had booked out that month and because I am a full-time parent as well, the focus was on the kids," she said.

Pillows of goodness: A selection of Sukimama dumplings.

As her own business activities - catering for private parties, cooking classes at The Essential Ingredient and pop-up events - ground to a halt, she soon put her life-long skills in hospitality to use to support others.

"I saw the panic in everyone and I needed to give back - it was the right time and the Newcastle community is so supportive," says Ms Kwon, the former owner of Cafe Momo in Charlestown.

She set up The FOOdFIGHTERS of Newcastle on social media, allowing eateries to post their lockdown menus and deals.

"I reached out to some of the chefs and now it's getting really amazing sales for all the local businesses, and it's been really good being able to help businesses not knowing what to do, because a lot were not set up for takeaway," she says.

Compassion: "If you are kind to someone, you will get kindness back," says hospitality veteran Suki Kwon, founder of Sukimama.

Ms Kwon is also making her dumplings weekly for Newy Burger Co's kindness boxes, for those in need.

She sources meat donated by Hungerford Meats in Branxton and vegetables from Sandgate-based Rarity Wholesale and provides the rest: "We've made a promise to do it as long as we can."

Renowned for her Korean street food, Ms Kwon is happy her cooking classes will soon return as she plans to bring her dumplings to the people in a new format.

"I am all about my ready made meals ...easy for working mums and dads and kids. It's always been my focus."