Mouthwatering scents wafted through Griffith Central shopping centre from a makeshift kitchen.

The cooking workshop was a terrific way to whet the appetite in preparation for the main festival on Saturday according to the vice-president of the Multicultural Council of Griffith Gulshan Ara.

“It is a perfect day because you can taste traditional cooking and more importantly see how to cook it,” Ms Ara said.

“When I try to cook these types of dishes it always comes out with an Indian taste because I am so used to cooking Indian.

“By seeing how the cultures cook their own dishes, you get an understanding of where you have been going wrong.”

Tables full of locals tucking into the culinary treasure lined the shopping centre, a break from the norm of busy shoppers.

Local Filipino Gerardo Rala who came to Australia in 2008 said it was a pleasure to share the tastes of home with his fellow Australians.

“These are traditional dishes that have been handed down through the generations,” Mr Rala said.

“It is fantastic to share food with the Griffith community that we have learned in the Phillipines from our parents.”