The Food of Oz

Australia is primarily known for its rugged outback, amazing beaches and unusual wildlife. However it doe shave a unique cuisine, party due to the people who settled there and partly due to good old Aussie inventiveness.

Australia was first inhabited by the indigenous people of the island and then by the Dutch in the 1600's. The British only came later in 1770 when Sir James Cook first arrive d in Botany bay. A gold rush in the mid 1800's along with criminal transportation brought a wealth of English people and culture to the world's smallest continent. It is the English that left a large culinary stamp on Australia their breakfasts are the English breakfast, consisting of bacon, eggs, tomatoes mushrooms and beans (also known as an English fry up or heart attack breakfast). The Aussies also like vegemite (remember it was mentioned in the song from Men Down Under)It's a black vegetable paste that can be spread on toast.

Like American Australia is a melting pot. Italian , Chinese, Greek, Portuguese and Indian all have lent their influences. Sometimes they put a spin on it like serving hamburger with pineapple slices. The Aussies have been inventive with desserts creating the ethereal Pavlova, actually a New Zealand born dessert. It's a meringue type of cake with fresh fruits strewn across it. Another true Aussie dessert is the Lamington cake, named after Lord Lamington. this is a chocolate cake rolled in fudge icing and then again in coconut. In fact the Aussie equivalent of a bake sale is a Lamington Drive in which the cakes are sold to raise money for schools and organizations.


Australia is the land of wonder but also of wondrous food. It's a country worth visiting not only for its' wildlife but also for its' food.