Global Gourmet/Australia

Australia

Today, Australian cuisine is rich and diversified due to the mixtures of multicultural tastes from many different ethnicity. It is especially influenced by neighboring countries.

Vegemite

The most well known Australian food of all time is probably Vegemite, which is also popular in New Zealand. Actually, Vegemite is just a Kraft Foods brand name for a salty and bitter, brown paste made from yeast extract, rich in Vitamin B and protein. It usually serves as a spread on toast or sandwiches but can be use other ways. A Vegemite sandwich to an Australian kid may be equivalent of a peanut bully and jelly sandwich to an American kid, although the taste is nothing the same. It was invented by food technologist Dr. Cyril P. Callister after being instructed by his employer to develop a spread from leftover brewer’s yeast extract. Many non-Australians soon became aware of Vegemite from the popular Australian group Men at Work’s Down Under song lyrics.

Lamingtons

Lamingtons is a type of chocolate/strawberry jam/gelatin-coated, sponge cake squares, rolled in desiccated coconut, and is usually served with afternoon tea or at picnics. This treat was believed to be invented in the Queensland Government House kitchen as creative use for stale cake and named after Lady Lamington, the wife of the Governor of Queensland (1896-1901) but no one really knows its true origin.

Pavlova

Pavlova is a light and fluffy meringue dessert named after the ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova. The origin of pavlova is unknown, with Australians and New Zealanders both claiming the recipe as their own (as like many other food that is popular in both). Pavlova is decorated with fresh fruit and whipped cream, strawberries, peach slices, chocolate chips, passion fruit, and/or kiwifruit. Ready-made pavlovas can be purchased at supermarkets.

Kangaroo Meat

The kangaroos have always been a main source of food for Australians dating way back in time. Kangaroo is considered to be tender red meat with a strong flavor, since it is game meat. It is high in protein and iron (thus giving it its dark color), low in fat, and it best cooked rare. Most Australian supermarkets are now stocked on kangaroo fillets, steaks, and bangas (sausages). The kangaroo meat industry have been attempting to find a different name for it (ex; pig is called pork) and ‘australus’ is the winning entry although it is still not officially adopted.

Australian Meat Pie

Australian meat pies are pot pies containing mostly minced meat and gravy. It is quite popular as a takeaway snack that it is consider Australia’s national dish –unofficially-. It is also common to consume while watching sports, such as Australian rules football. The meat pie manufacturer Four’N’Twenty stated that the pie was invented by L. T. McClure in a small bakery in 1947 but there are other stories of how it was came to be.