Australian Cuisine

[k2clones29]

To my mates from down under:

SWMBO roped me in to doing a wine tasting as a part of a large group. She chose Australian wines. We are looking to pare with food and I was hoping to find something Australian. Thus far, all I have been able to come up with are Anzac Biscuits (primarily because we don't have kangaroo or alligator around these parts). Any recommendations on other dishes?

 

[Andy]

Just a couple of ideas

Lamington fingers
Pavlova
Spiced apple damper
Aussie beef and beer pie
Marinated lamb chops
Spiced red wine poached pears
Cinnamon baked pears

 

[Legion]

Australia doesn't really have it's own cuisine, as such. Traditionally our recipes tended to be based around English and European foods, depending on what your family history was.

These days our tastes seem to be heavily influenced by Asian cuisine, but an eclectic mix with local twists, and using local produce. Think nice stir fry lamb or kangaroo, perhaps marinated in a Moroccan dressing, with fresh Chinese bok choy. The food you can buy in Aussie restaurants these days is second to none, but it definitely is a fusion of many different cultures.

 

[Luc]

Australia doesn't really have it's own cuisine, as such. Traditionally our recipes tended to be based around English and European foods, depending on what your family history was.

These days our tastes seem to be heavily influenced by Asian cuisine, but an eclectic mix with local twists, and using local produce. Think nice stir fry lamb or kangaroo, perhaps marinated in a Moroccan dressing, with fresh Chinese bok choy. The food you can buy in Aussie restaurants these days is second to none, but it definitely is a fusion of many different cultures.

I got to disagree as I was from the outside and did see a definitive difference in Oz compared to, let say Canada. I would say the exact same about Canadian cuisine (it's nothing special, expect for the Tourtière, but what do I know?)...

I find that Australian cuisine has a strong British influence (since it was a British colony) and a mix or fusion with Asian cuisine. I think that would be the best way to describe it.

If you push it, Kangaroo, Crocodile, Emu, Dingo are fairly common in the wild but not that much on the table. Kangaroo is available at the grocery store but it's not a big seller compared to Lamb, Beef or chicken. I didn't find that pork was very popular down under (more for me)!

There are a few spices that are native to Australia (Coles/Safeway sells them in a small metallic tin). Those are quite nice and different.

This might help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_cuisine

 

[k2clones29]

I looked at a lot of information about it since having to come up with ideas. Luc seems to be correct. It is european-influenced, but has a flair of its own with a lot of Asian accents and native tastes. Thanks to Andy for those links. This is actually going to be more fun than I thought!

 

[Luc]

I ran out the door quickly this morning...

Outback Spirit where the herbs that I bought back in Oz that were quite nice (http://outbackspirit.com.au/products/retail/gift-packs/sauce-dressing-sampler/). The Wild Herb Salt had native bush herbs mixed with salt. Those herbs had a hint of licorice. The Lemon Myrtle is very common and traditional down under. I mean, Lemon Myrtle cookies? I'm there!

This would be a bit more reading: http://www.sbs.com.au/food/cuisineindex/RecipeByCuisineMain/384 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Australian_herbs_and_spices

There are great dishes down under. You can find your meat pie on many corners. BBQ is often part of the menu. I'm far from being an expert in Australian cuisine but you would get a lot of different dishes that are worth mentioning other than the ones up here. One thing is for sure, the quality and freshness of the ingredients are making a huge difference on your end results. It might sound strange but basic stuff like eggs. Eggs are not as good here. There's a bunch of different honey that I've never seen before, my favourite was orange blossom. I usually get dried up ginger here, over there, it's super fresh like it was picked yesterday!

 

[ouch]

 

[oc_in_fw]

View attachment 272520

I am hungry now.

 

[djh]

View attachment 272520

She missed a couple of parts....

 

[oc_in_fw]

She missed a couple of parts....

the best ones.

 

[-dave-]

Rissoles, lamingtons, snags, pies, sausage rolls, pavlova, trifle, Vegemite,

 

[Judge Dredd]

View attachment 272520

She probably doesn't need the Vegemite to taste like Vegemite...

 

[Giant Kiwi]

Think you might find the mighty Pav is ours.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlova_(food)

Vegemite and Roo is about all they have.

 

[YetiDave]

Vegemite? Sod that!

 

[rearviewmirror]

shrimp on the barbie?

 

[Rushman2112]

Has to be the barbie and a beer!

 

[ouch]

Foster's. It's Australian for food.

 

[mrgreengenes]

Australia doesn't really have it's own cuisine, as such. Traditionally our recipes tended to be based around English and European foods, depending on what your family history was.

These days our tastes seem to be heavily influenced by Asian cuisine, but an eclectic mix with local twists, and using local produce. Think nice stir fry lamb or kangaroo, perhaps marinated in a Moroccan dressing, with fresh Chinese bok choy. The food you can buy in Aussie restaurants these days is second to none, but it definitely is a fusion of many different cultures.

I agree with this.. I've struggled with this question for many years when my overseas relatives have asked..

 

[Judge Dredd]

My parents told me, back in the 50s/60s (perhaps even in the 70s), local Chinese restaurants used to have 2 menus: a Chinese one, and an Australian one.

The Chinese one had beef and black bean sauce (or a variant thereof), chop suey (which is, I believe, actually an American dish) and rice.

The Australian menu had butter sandwiches and lamb chops.

It's come a long way since then...Melbourne is now a foodies' paradise.

 

[Legion]

This is true. I had lunch in the food court in a mall in the city today. The food at the Thai place was better than most expensive resterants in other states and countries I have tried. We are spoilt here. The food is A1. And the coffee.