he past few years I have been lucky enough to form a wonderful friendship with author and consummate "foodie" Colleen Rush. We have had many outings together on the food terrain and even had a homemade sausage making day along with Tonette and Zsofi. You can read about the sausage adventure on Colleen's blog. http://jujube.typepad.com/jujube/2007/02/i_finally_broke.html These "foodie" posts are for Colleen who requested a full food report. Hopefully everyone else will enjoy them too. I have tried to find things that are specifically Australian. Many foods,
like America, were imported from other countries and adapted to this culture. I will start with the most iconic Australian food I know....Vegemite. Vegemite has been around since 1922 and is a spread made from Brewer's Yeast. Vegemite was a distant second to the popular English Marmite until 1935 when the Kraft company ran coupons for free Vegemite with the purchase of cheddar cheese. Popularity boomed again in 1939 when Vegemite gained official product endorsement from the British Medical Association as a significant source of B vitamins. During World War II Vegemite was a staple for Australian troops. The yeasty spread gained international fame in the 80's with the release of Australian band Men At Work's Land Down Under. http://youtube.com/watch?v=DNT7uZf7lew I have tried Vegemite and while it isn't awful I would say it must be an acquired taste.
like America, were imported from other countries and adapted to this culture. I will start with the most iconic Australian food I know....Vegemite. Vegemite has been around since 1922 and is a spread made from Brewer's Yeast. Vegemite was a distant second to the popular English Marmite until 1935 when the Kraft company ran coupons for free Vegemite with the purchase of cheddar cheese. Popularity boomed again in 1939 when Vegemite gained official product endorsement from the British Medical Association as a significant source of B vitamins. During World War II Vegemite was a staple for Australian troops. The yeasty spread gained international fame in the 80's with the release of Australian band Men At Work's Land Down Under. http://youtube.com/watch?v=DNT7uZf7lew I have tried Vegemite and while it isn't awful I would say it must be an acquired taste.Anzac Bi
scuits (aka cookies) are considered by many to be the national cookie of Australia.
scuits (aka cookies) are considered by many to be the national cookie of Australia.There is a possibility they are a variation of Scottish Oatmeal Cakes but they became specifically Australian in World War I. There are two variations on the story of Anzac biscuits. Some people say these cookies were made by soldiers in the trenches with provisions they had at hand and to diversify their food rations. The other thought is that these biscuits were a popular treat made by women on the home front and sent to the soldiers. I made a batch and they are quite yummy. The main ingredient that isn't so popular in the states is Golden Syrup which is made in the process of refining sugar cane. It is similar to honey without such a strong flavor. You can find the recipe here. http://www.recipelibrary.net/content/view/18/3/
Pasties are definitely an import from England but have became very popular in Australia. Pasties were originally made in Cornwall for men
who worked in the tin mines. The miners were unable to leave the mine for a lunch break and were covered with dirt and sometimes arsenic from the tin. The outer pastry could be peeled back and the miners would eat the inside contents of the pastie without contaminating anything. The filling of the pastie varies containing various meats, vegetable and potato. Some even used to contain two courses, meat on one side and sweet fruits on the other. The dirty outer crust was traditionally always left in the mine to appease the "knockers" (aka brownies or Irish leprechauns) and distract them from mischief. Pasties have been in literature since the 1100's first noted in a story by Chretien de Troyes. Shakespeare makes reference to pasties in three of his plays. Pasties are very tasty and best with a little bit of ketchup.
who worked in the tin mines. The miners were unable to leave the mine for a lunch break and were covered with dirt and sometimes arsenic from the tin. The outer pastry could be peeled back and the miners would eat the inside contents of the pastie without contaminating anything. The filling of the pastie varies containing various meats, vegetable and potato. Some even used to contain two courses, meat on one side and sweet fruits on the other. The dirty outer crust was traditionally always left in the mine to appease the "knockers" (aka brownies or Irish leprechauns) and distract them from mischief. Pasties have been in literature since the 1100's first noted in a story by Chretien de Troyes. Shakespeare makes reference to pasties in three of his plays. Pasties are very tasty and best with a little bit of ketchup. "Australians eat more meat pies per head than any other nationality. It is the country's signature dish, a cultural identity with a squirt of tomato sauce."
One in the h
and, Sydney Morning Herald, August 27, 2003. So yes, this is another English import but has become uniquely Australian just by the vast quantity of pies that are made and consumed here. There were companies that only made pies established as far back as 1883. The largest meat pie company in 2007, Four N'Twenty, makes 50,000 pies and hour. Where hotdogs are the common food at sporting events in America one could not attend an Aussie Rules Football match without consuming a meat pie. This one was purchased at the Beechworth Bakery and is named after Ned Kelly.
One in the h
and, Sydney Morning Herald, August 27, 2003. So yes, this is another English import but has become uniquely Australian just by the vast quantity of pies that are made and consumed here. There were companies that only made pies established as far back as 1883. The largest meat pie company in 2007, Four N'Twenty, makes 50,000 pies and hour. Where hotdogs are the common food at sporting events in America one could not attend an Aussie Rules Football match without consuming a meat pie. This one was purchased at the Beechworth Bakery and is named after Ned Kelly. Lamingtons are made with sponge cake, dipped in chocolate and sugar then roll
ed in coconut. They were named after Baron Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 9 April 1896 to 19 December 1901. Lamington was originally the slang term for the homburg hat that the Baron wore and then the cakes were named for him. Usually served simply as small squares but sometimes slit in half and stuffed with cream. I know you can get delicious Lamingtons in Chicago at Tipsy Cake on California Ave. I hesitate to recommend this bakery for custom orders having witnessed a birthday cake debacle caused by them but they do make wonderful brownies, lamingtons and rasberry scones. http://www.tipsycakechicago.com/
ed in coconut. They were named after Baron Lamington, Governor of Queensland from 9 April 1896 to 19 December 1901. Lamington was originally the slang term for the homburg hat that the Baron wore and then the cakes were named for him. Usually served simply as small squares but sometimes slit in half and stuffed with cream. I know you can get delicious Lamingtons in Chicago at Tipsy Cake on California Ave. I hesitate to recommend this bakery for custom orders having witnessed a birthday cake debacle caused by them but they do make wonderful brownies, lamingtons and rasberry scones. http://www.tipsycakechicago.com/Tonight I am going to attempt to make a Pavlova. I will post some more finds after my attempt at this traditional Aussie dessert.
