Ok, so y'all know all about Vegemite, right? If not you should read this post in which I explain how best to eat it. But here in Australia we don't survive on Vegemite alone.
I mentioned in my post about how Australians speak that we are a very multicultural nation down here. This has influenced the food that we eat.
The first wave of non-Indigenous Australians were convicts and free settlers from the UK. They brought with them a love of traditional "meat and three veg" meals, featuring roast beef, lamb or chicken with potatoes, carrots, peas, beans and the like. They also introduced traditional baked goods like bread, cakes, slices, scones and biscuits.
During the Gold Rush Australia experienced a wave of Chinese immigration. Consequently, every Australian town has at least one Chinese Restaurant. For Australians my age or older, a "Chinese Banquet" at a restaurant is a vivid memory from childhood.
During the Twentieth Century further waves of immigrants from all over Europe and Asia have further expanded the Australian palate and restaurant scene. Asian and Mediterranean flavours and recipes have particularly made their way into our hearts.In Australia we pride ourselves on using fresh seasonal produce and we believe that our restaurants create innovative dishes that are full of flavour.
When cooking at home, we follow the traditions of our parents. Many Australians learn to cook baklava or nasi goreng or pasta using traditional methods from mothers and grandmothers that grew up in Greece, Malaysia or Italy. Others cook lamb roasts and sponge cakes every Sunday just like their mothers and grandmothers before them.
Most busy Aussie mums that I know rely on quick child-friendly meals like stir-frys, casseroles, spaghetti bolognese, chicken or sausages. We tend to eat a lot of salads rather than hot vegies during the warmer months. We love to get together with family on the weekend for a "barbie". Generally the men congregate around the barbecue drinking beer and cooking the meat while the women prepare salads and desserts and talk, talk, talk!
Of course there are plenty of fast food outlets in Australia. Aussie kids are partial to a bit of Maccas (McDonalds) or KFC, but they seem to have more sophisticated tastes these days than I did when I was a kid! Lots of Aussie kids will make a beeline for the Sushi at the food court, or request Thai takeaway on a Friday night. Rather than the traditional battered fish and chips of my childhood, kids these days are just as likely to ask for some Salt and Pepper Squid!
Now it's your turn. Write a post for me about the food in your country or region. You can let me know about typical meals that you enjoy, restaurants near you, local delicacies or your favourite recipes. Link up using the linky below. I'm soooo looking forward to reading what you write!
