MOSAIC Cooking Class: Romania | Association of the Romanian Community in SA

Bună tuturor! 👋🇷🇴

In collaboration with the Association of the Romanian Community in South Australia (ARCSA) and supported by the City of Unley, join us as we learn how to make 'Papanași' - traditional Romanian Fried Donuts with Cream and Jam! The event will also feature traditional Romanian songs and dance performances.

MOSAIC Cooking Classes bring people together to create spaces that foster close-knit friendships, strengthen community wellbeing, and nurture intercultural understanding.

These events foster connections between international students, newly settled migrants and established residents, who live and breathe the challenges of adapting to life in Australia.

MOSAIC uses culture, connection and participation as mechanisms for social connection, preventive wellbeing, access to support, and improving intercultural understanding.

THE CHEF:
Mariana Mpala migrated to South Australia at the end of 2016 in search of a new life, joining the ARCSA Executive Team last year. Mariana has worked as a registered nurse in Romania, and has a passion for sharing her culture through food. Mariana is a well-known cook in the Romanian community, often baking cakes and cooking traditional food for community events - for Mariana, food is not just something to keep your stomach full - food carries emotion, history, stories and thousands of years of tradition. Mariana is excited to share Romanian culture and history with the South Australian community at this cooking class.

THE DISH:

Papanasi are a traditional Romanian dessert with a rich history rooted in the rural customs of Eastern Europe. This fried or boiled treat originated in the mountainous regions of Romania, where fresh dairy products like cottage cheese (brânză de vaci) were readily available. This key ingredient gives papanasi their fluffy texture and distinctive flavour. Over time, papanasi became popular across the country, featuring in family celebrations and traditional restaurant menus.

The name “papanasi” likely comes from the Latin word "papa", meaning "food" or "mush", suggesting that this recipe has been part of Romanian cuisine since ancient times. While the original recipe was simple, using just a few ingredients like flour, eggs, sugar, and fresh cheese, the dish’s popularity has led to various regional versions, each with its own unique twist.

- https://lapatisseriedumonde.com/recipes/cottage-cheese-blueberry-donuts-history/

ARCSA also recently participated in MOSAIC Festival 2026 where they took home the 'Best Bazaar Stall' Award:

WHEN: Saturday, November 14th
TIME: 11:30am - 1:30pm ACDT
WHERE: Unley Community Centre, 18 Arthur St, Unley SA 5061 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/EsjUHgSfexPS9zj48

TICKETS: $15.00

See you soon! / Pe curând!
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Disclaimer: Please note that we will be taking photos and may be recording the session to publish to our social media channels! If you do not want to be featured in photos or video, please notify our team before coming into the class.

Want to volunteer with us? Find out more via our volunteering form here: https://linktr.ee/mosaicadelaide

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What do we do? We're building an intercultural South Australia. Together.

Wondering what to expect? Check out highlights from our previous MOSAIC Cooking Classes here: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE4MDg4MjMwNjU4NDQ0MjU2?igsh=cXM0dzV4c2hlcno=

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