Australia, in fact, does not really have a recognisable cuisine of its own as do countries such as India, Thailand or Italy. Australians used to eat English-influenced foods, but those days are long gone.
Over the years, Australia has been influenced by the cooking styles the people who have arrived on its shores, in particular, Asians. You might hear our cuisine referred to as ‘Asian Fusion’. And it is good!
Having said that, Aussies still love their barbeques! The tradition of cooking with family and friends in the garden or at the beach will never die! We love a good steak and salad in the sunshine! Meat pies and sausage rolls with a cold beer are also old favourites, but you are just as likely to see an Aussie teenager eating a kabab on a late night out.
Australians really do love food for all over the world. Popular international restaurants include Thai, Chinese, Italian, French, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indian. Other cuisines such as Mexican and Korean are gaining in popularity.
Does Australia have its own cuisine?
The Aboriginal peoples of Australia, Australia’s first inhabitants, have for thousands and thousands of years hunted and gathered their food in the Australian bush. This food is known as ‘Bush tucker’ and is still eaten today by Aboriginal peoples in remote areas of Australia. Bush tucker includes kangaroo, emu, crocodile, witchetty grubs, Quandong, bush tomato, yams and macadamia nuts. Many of these native foods have been incorporated into contemporary cuisines and you will occasionally find these ingredients on the menu of restaurants and cafés in Australian cities.
Iconic Australian foods
You are likely to come across these iconic Australian foods when you move to Australia:
- Vegemite – sadly not an Australian owned company anymore, this thick dark brown yeast spread is a great source of vitamin B and is adored by many Australians. Australian children have it ‘for breakfast, lunch and tea’ according to the ‘Happy Little Vegemites’ jingle of 1954.
- Chiko roll – these spring roll like deep fried snacks can be found in convenience stores and fish & chip shops across Australia
- Tim Tams – made by Arnotts the Tim Tam is probably Australia’s favourite chocolate biscuit, it’s impossible to have just one!
- Lamingtons – invented in Australia they are essentially squares of sponge which have been dipped in chocolate and coconut.
- ANZAC biscuits – crunchy cookies made of rolled oats, golden syrup and desiccated coconut named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
- Pavlova – An Aussie BBQ for some is not complete without a Pavlova for dessert. Although the origins of the Pavlova are unclear Australians like to claim it as their own. It was created for the ballerina Anna Pavlova who toured Australia in the 1920s.
- Weetbix – you can’t really get more Australian than these wheat biscuits eaten for breakfast which are endorsed by the Australian Cricket Team (Cricket being Australia’s national sport)
