A guide to modern Australian food

When you think of Australian cuisine you probably think Vegemite, Witchetty Grubs and Billy Tea. Well let me assure you if you were to visit Australia today you would experience a far more diverse variety of cuisine. With an abundance of fresh produce and an array of multicultural choice Australia has some of the best “tucker” in the world.

Development of Australian cuisine

The native Australian Aboriginals were hunters and gatherers. They collected fruit, nuts, roots, berries and vegetables, hunted game and fished the seas. They ate these foods raw or cooked without any additions. They did not have recipes they simply ate to survive. European colonization brought English influence to Australian food. Before long this was followed up by immigration from other European and Asian countries. This resulted in the Australian cuisine expanding to include traditional dishes from countries like Italy, Greece, China, Thailand and Vietnam.

Australian’s were exposed to a very multicultural diet which established a framework for what is now known as “Modern Australian Cuisine.” 

Modern Australian Cuisine

Modern Australian cuisine is a union of culinary inspiration from around the world. Not only does east meet west, but indigenous Australia fare meets worldwide ethnic traditions. Australian chefs haven’t been driven by traditional rules and recipes; they have taken inspiration from everywhere to create new and exciting dishes.

Australia is a large continent with a wide-ranging landscape. This means virtually anything can be produced locally. Beef is readily available and affordable, clean seas provide an assortment of seafood and cooler areas are home to world class wineries.

In addition to this Australia is home to thousands of plant and animal species that do not occur anywhere else.

Some delicacies you will experience in fine dining restaurants include Kangaroo, crocodile, Wagu beef, pearl meat and Oysters.

A typical Modern Australian menu would read something like the following:

Entrees:

-Lamb cutlets crusted with fresh mountain pepper, served with rosella jam

-Salad of spicy bush tomatoes, spinach leaves and red wine vinaigrette dressing

-Lemon myrtle tossed prawns on a bed of linguine

Mains:

-Barramundi in a Thai Green Curry  

-Wood fired Tandoori chicken pizza

-Loin of Wagu in a Cabernet Sauvignon glaze with basil chats

-Kangaroo fillet served on Asian Greens

Desserts:

-Wattle seed sticky date pudding with toffee sauce and vanilla bean ice-cream.

-Chilled trio of ice-creams- macadamia and white chocolate, tropical fruits and mixed berry swirl

-Pavlova topped with fresh citrus infused cream, raspberries and blueberries

All of these choices can be complimented by several locally produced beer and wine selections.

Other choices in Australian food

The choices in Australian cuisine are not limited to modern Australian fine dining. You will find many different international food choices from; Chines to Indian, Italian, Vietnamese, Thai, Burmese, Ukrainian, German, Greek and African.

Just as in America, fast food is also very popular with outlets like; Subway, Pizza Hut, KFC, Burger King (known as Hungry Jacks), and McDonalds as well as several locally owned outlets like Red rooster and fish and chip stores.

Finally, if you would like to eat traditional, typical Australian foods you will find things like Vegemite, meat pies and Tim Tams at local supermarkets. Many Australia tours also provide the opportunity to try things like Damper, Billy tea and witchetty grubs.