Consider The Sauce’s pals at Raw Materials are throwing open their doors at 148 Cowper St, Footscray, for open days on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 and 15, for open days.

Their “shop” will open for business and there will be free tastings, refreshments and a paella for people to sample.

More details here.

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The Fun in the Aussie Sun Festival will celebrate Australian multiculturalism at Flemington Community Centre, 25 Mt Alexander Road, Flemington, on Saturday, 21 December, from 11am 50 3.30pm.

As well as sports and cultural activities, there will be – yes! – food stalls and traditional African coffee.

More details here.

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Some recent online research (meandering) has alerted me to the existence of Anthony Ang’s blog Beautiful Altona

According to this story by my colleague Goya Dmytryshchak, he started his blog as a reaction to a shock jock saying former PM Julia Gillard lived in a “rat hole”.

I have yet to find any foodie coverage on Anthony’s blog, but I did enjoy his post about the pending sale of the former Gillard abode – and particularly his inspired, thoughtful, entrepreneurial but nevertheless slightly whacko list of ideas that could profitaly accompany the real estate action!

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Another of Goya’s stories at the Maribyrnong Hobsons Bay Weekly covers the advent of paid parking at Altona’s new IGA in Pier St, Altona.

As someone who grapples with parking all over the west, this all seems a bit strange to me.

One can sympathise with traders who offer free parking – especially on premises so close to a train station – being frustrated with their spaces being hogged on an all-day basis by non-customers.

But there must surely be a better solution than the one devised here – offering free parking for the first hour but requiring patrons to display tickets – and then slapping them with a fine if they don’t!

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One of our favourite westie food haunts, Vanakkam, has a swish new look.

Vanakkam was the subject of a recent and yummy story by our very good pal Lauren of Footscray Food Blog in the Footscray Life “Signature Dishes of Footscray” series.

As well, Vanakkam was the venue of the rice-laden and in every way delicious second Consider The Sauce Feast.

We love the Vanakkam biryanis – and specially the $10 Tuesday nights – but as Lauren’s post indicates, there’s lots more to be had.

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As time rolls by, the amount of spam, promotional offers and emails from publicists CTS receives continue to increase.

But in terms of misreading what we’re about, they do not come any more comical than a recent approach to do an interview with a celeb foodie “seeing as health & beauty and products are topics of interest to you”!

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Meanwhile, in Yarraville …

… a substantial revamp is underway at Alfa Bakehouse with, according to the sign, the likely result being a much broader approach than has previously been the case.