Voted a category winner at the "Restaurant Caterers State Awards for Excellence" in 2003, 2005 and 2006, held in Sydney, Sesames held the title of "Best Asian Restaurant in NSW" and has been described as a "hidden treasure" in the Herald's dining out section.

For 9 years, locals at the Junction as well as visitors have enjoyed the Sesames menu. "Our patrons are always praising us on the consistency of our meals, the freshness of our herbs and vegetables and the variety of flavours in our dishes. We haven't gone with the traditional long-winded menu, we've carefully selected the best dishes from the different regions of South-East Asia, and have worked on enhancing those flavours to come up with our own Signature dishes."

Original owner Miss Tevy Kang-Kem was born and raised in Cambodia by an English mother and Cambodian father. Sesames is very much a product of her multi-cultural Eurasian background. Tevy explains... "We've gone through a transition over the last 8 years starting with authentic Thai & Cambodian meals to a now more modern blend of 'East meets West'. We maintain the traditional flavours in the dishes but we have added our own special touches...which has made us unique".

A contempory new Menu was launched in October 2005 with exotic dishes such as a Prawn & Banana flower salad, Diced chicken with mandarin, young ginger & crushed peanuts on Betel leaves as well as spicy oyster shooters in a Laksa broth. "We are now at the final stage of our gradual transition from being just another Thai restaurant and our new menu reflects this." Tevy explains "we want to offer our customers a dining experience that other Asian restaurants in Newcastle have not yet offered"

"We have worked very hard to maintain our high standards. I believe that what makes Sesames is not just our passion for flavour but also our quality service. I'm very proud to have such a professional team".

The opening of Sesames on the Lake at Belmont in December 2004 has been a great success. Now Lake residents can enjoy the same exotic cuisine whilst relaxing by the waterfront. Tevy & partner Brad Cooper (pictured above) sold the Junction restaurant in June 2007 to concentrate on their newly built premises in Belmont. Opened since January 2008, the larger and more elegant restaurant has been very popular with the locals and holiday makers.