One of the very best parts of visiting a foreign country is trying out the traditional foods that locals eat daily or for special occasions. Now, you may be thinking that this means a trip to Australia will necessarily entail the consumption of Aboriginal delicacies like witchetty grubs or honey ants. But in fact, there are plenty of Australian foods that are much tamer and decidedly easier for squeamish westerners to eat. So forget the myths about the way they eat down under. Open your mind and open your mouth and you’ll find that there are a ton of truly delectable foods to sample when you visit the continent of Australia. Here are a few that you absolutely must try.
1. Vegemite. The quintessential Australian food-spread is like the down-under version of peanut butter, as it gets spread on everything from toast to crackers to fruit slices. The taste of this spread, which looks a bit like apple-butter jelly (but is thicker and stickier), is somewhat on the salty side, but the real flavor that will stand out is a bitter sort of yeasty-ness. It’s a bit difficult to describe unless you’ve tried it, but if you’re going to sample the flavors of Australia, you really can’t miss out on this staple of the everyday diet.
2. Shrimp (from the barbie, naturally). The phrase “slip a shrimp on the barbie” didn’t come from nowhere. Actually, it was first uttered by iconic actor Paul Hogan (you may know him better as Crocodile Dundee) in an ad developed by the Australian Tourism Commission back in the ‘80s. It’s pretty clear that the ad was aimed at American tourists since the Australian word for shrimp is actually prawn. In any case, there are plenty of these little critters floating around the continent and making for a delectable treat once grilled on the barbecue (or barbie).
3. Sausage rolls. Although meat pies may be slightly more popular, they are not exactly native to Australia. The sausage roll, on the other hand, is a spinoff that you should definitely have a go at. It consists of a puff pastry filled with (what else?) sausage, as well as onions, herbs, and spices. It is commonly served with tomato sauce on top and as of late, it has undergone somewhat of a makeover as restaurateurs have started adding world flavors to the mix (with international sauces and spices).
4. Lamingtons. When a food is added to a list of Heritage Icons (Queensland) and given its own day of celebration (National Lamington Day falls on July 21st), you should probably consider it a sign that the food in question is worth a taste. This treat, in particular, is bound to delight just about anyone, although it is a rather simple confection. There are a couple of different ways to make it, but traditionally it comes in the form of a small piece of sponge cake that has been covered in chocolate icing and then rolled in desiccated coconut. Some people also like to put a layer of strawberries and whipped cream in the center of the cake, but this is optional.
5. Pavlova. There is some contention concerning the origins of this tasty dessert, as it is claimed by both Australia and New Zealand. Despite the controversy, you should definitely try it on your visit to the outback. The dessert consists of a baked meringue base (crispy on the outside, marshmallowy on the inside) topped with whipped cream and local fruit (strawberries, kiwi, etc.). It’s totally delicious, wherever it originated, and you simply must have some when you visit Australia.
Lisa Ryan writes for AdvanceMe, the nation’s leading merchant cash advance provider and credit card factoring company.