Nokedli maker owned by Iona Sarkadi
Object numberM2021/028:002
TitleNokedli maker owned by Iona Sarkadi
DescriptionMetal nokedli maker owned by Holocaust survivor Iona Sarkadi (nee Reisz).
According to Ilona's grandaughter, Ester Sarkadi-Carke, this Nokedli maker was brought from Hungary to Australia after the World War II. It was used to cook nokedli (Hungarian dumplings) in the Sarkadi family's restaurant "Manhattan" which ran between 1960 and 1964.
The Sarkadi family opened their restaurant in Melbourne two years after after they had arrived to Australia on 10 April 1958. Though neither Ilona nor her husband, László had experience as restaurateurs, they established a successful business with the help of Ilonas mother, Margit, who was a talented cook.
Their sons, Joseph and Stephen successfully campaigned to name the restaurant "Manhattan", inspired by their dream to move to America. The restaurant served Hungarian-influenced cuisine to fellow ex-patriots and migrants from elsewhere in Europe.
Part of a collection of items donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors Ilona Sarkadi (nee Reisz) and László Sarkadi (formerly Spitzer).
László was born on 30 November 1907 to Joszef and Etelka (Etel) Spitzer (nee. Weiss) in Kunszentmiklós, Hungary. Ilona was born in the same village on 30 March 1916 to Ignacz and Margit Reisz.
Ilona and László were married in Kunszentmiklós on 18 March 1934. They had three children; Joseph (b.1934), Stephen (b. 1938) and Emily (b.1947).
In 1939, László was drafted into forced labour and worked on series of projects related to heavy construction, earthworks and anti-tank installations for the duration of the war.
After they were crammed into a multi-storied “Jewish House” in early 1944, Ilona and her two young sons fled Kunszentmiklós and survived the war in hiding, in and around Budapest.
After the liberation of Hungary by the Russian forces in 1945, Ilona, her parents, and her sons returned to Budapest where they reunited with László who had escaped from the Jewish Labour Service.
In their search for living family members, László discovered that his sisters Ilonka, and Margit, and their children had been murdered at Auschwitz. László’s brother, Jenö, and his father, Joszef, were also murdered at Auschwitz. Ilona’s brothers Feri, and Emil, had died as forced labourers. Ilona’s Uncle Josef Herceg was also murdered. László’s sister Margit and her husband Miklos both survived.
The Sarkadi family rebuilt their lives in Budapest and Ilona gave birth to their daughter, Emily, in 1947. The family were eventually persecuted by the Communist government, having their property in Budapest and Kunszentmiklos confiscated.
In December 1956 Joseph and Stephen fled, having been involved in student demonstrations associated with the Hungarian Revolution. After moving around Europe, they made their way to Melbourne.
In 1957, Laszlo, Ilona and Margit obtained passports from a government minister in exchange for allowing him to move into their apartment. Early in 1958 they travelled to Vienna, then to Trieste, Italy, where they boarded the ‘Toscana’ ship to Australia.
Settling in Melbourne, they purchased the Wachtel Restaurant at 319 Barkly Street, Elwood. Though László and Ilona had no experience as restaurateurs, the business thrived with the help of Ilona’s mother, Margit, who was a talented cook. Joseph and Stephen, who harboured dreams of moving to America, successfully campaigned to rename the restaurant “Manhattan”. They served mainly Hungarian cuisine to fellow ex-patriots and migrants from elsewhere in Europe.
Shortly after Margit’s death in 1963, Joseph was killed in a car accident on 11 December 1963. Following their deaths, the family never reopened their restaurant.
In 1972, after a lengthy legal process, László, Ilona and Stephen received reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Laszlo passed away in 1986. Stephen passed away in 2004. Ilona outlived both of her sons, passing away in 2010.
According to Ilona's grandaughter, Ester Sarkadi-Carke, this Nokedli maker was brought from Hungary to Australia after the World War II. It was used to cook nokedli (Hungarian dumplings) in the Sarkadi family's restaurant "Manhattan" which ran between 1960 and 1964.
The Sarkadi family opened their restaurant in Melbourne two years after after they had arrived to Australia on 10 April 1958. Though neither Ilona nor her husband, László had experience as restaurateurs, they established a successful business with the help of Ilonas mother, Margit, who was a talented cook.
Their sons, Joseph and Stephen successfully campaigned to name the restaurant "Manhattan", inspired by their dream to move to America. The restaurant served Hungarian-influenced cuisine to fellow ex-patriots and migrants from elsewhere in Europe.
Part of a collection of items donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors Ilona Sarkadi (nee Reisz) and László Sarkadi (formerly Spitzer).
László was born on 30 November 1907 to Joszef and Etelka (Etel) Spitzer (nee. Weiss) in Kunszentmiklós, Hungary. Ilona was born in the same village on 30 March 1916 to Ignacz and Margit Reisz.
Ilona and László were married in Kunszentmiklós on 18 March 1934. They had three children; Joseph (b.1934), Stephen (b. 1938) and Emily (b.1947).
In 1939, László was drafted into forced labour and worked on series of projects related to heavy construction, earthworks and anti-tank installations for the duration of the war.
After they were crammed into a multi-storied “Jewish House” in early 1944, Ilona and her two young sons fled Kunszentmiklós and survived the war in hiding, in and around Budapest.
After the liberation of Hungary by the Russian forces in 1945, Ilona, her parents, and her sons returned to Budapest where they reunited with László who had escaped from the Jewish Labour Service.
In their search for living family members, László discovered that his sisters Ilonka, and Margit, and their children had been murdered at Auschwitz. László’s brother, Jenö, and his father, Joszef, were also murdered at Auschwitz. Ilona’s brothers Feri, and Emil, had died as forced labourers. Ilona’s Uncle Josef Herceg was also murdered. László’s sister Margit and her husband Miklos both survived.
The Sarkadi family rebuilt their lives in Budapest and Ilona gave birth to their daughter, Emily, in 1947. The family were eventually persecuted by the Communist government, having their property in Budapest and Kunszentmiklos confiscated.
In December 1956 Joseph and Stephen fled, having been involved in student demonstrations associated with the Hungarian Revolution. After moving around Europe, they made their way to Melbourne.
In 1957, Laszlo, Ilona and Margit obtained passports from a government minister in exchange for allowing him to move into their apartment. Early in 1958 they travelled to Vienna, then to Trieste, Italy, where they boarded the ‘Toscana’ ship to Australia.
Settling in Melbourne, they purchased the Wachtel Restaurant at 319 Barkly Street, Elwood. Though László and Ilona had no experience as restaurateurs, the business thrived with the help of Ilona’s mother, Margit, who was a talented cook. Joseph and Stephen, who harboured dreams of moving to America, successfully campaigned to rename the restaurant “Manhattan”. They served mainly Hungarian cuisine to fellow ex-patriots and migrants from elsewhere in Europe.
Shortly after Margit’s death in 1963, Joseph was killed in a car accident on 11 December 1963. Following their deaths, the family never reopened their restaurant.
In 1972, after a lengthy legal process, László, Ilona and Stephen received reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Laszlo passed away in 1986. Stephen passed away in 2004. Ilona outlived both of her sons, passing away in 2010.
Production placeunknown
Production date 1930 - 1945
Object nametools
Materialmetal
Techniquebolted
Credit lineIn appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.