Traditional Australian Cuisine?

       http://www.trespassmag.com/rites-of-passage-eating-vegemite-in-australia/

Most of us can associate different countries with specific types of food without really thinking about it, Italy and pasta, China and noodles, Japan and sushi, Mexico and tacos, USA and 'take-out', but living in Australia, it can be hard to describe a 'traditional food', we can however look at what has shaped our kitchens into what they are today.

Australia's cuisine was first strongly influenced by the English who brought their own traditions to Australia when they settled.  It was then later influenced strongly by Asian and Mediterranean cuisines when immigration began to increase.  

Today you can find most foods from around the globe in any Australian supermarket.  You can find ingredients typical in Asian foods, European foods, American foods as well as popular foods and brands from neighbouring islands in the Pacific.

Globalisation is changing the way we eat and the way we look at foods.  Australian's tend to eat a variety of foods for breakfast lunch and dinner, and no particular meal sticks out as the 'most important'.  Different families have their own traditions which seem to stem from their own personal heritage.

While the 'barbie' (a barbeque) is an iconic Australian summer tradition, it is also popular in many other countries.  Even Vegemite which was traditionally Australian owned and made is now owned by Kraft (which was bought by America some years ago- and ironically- the sale of Vegemite is actually illegal in some American states because of the high level of sodium).

In saying this, Australia has claimed certain foods as its own (to an extent) over our short but rich history as a nation.  Think pavlova's, meat pies, fish and chips (at the beach of course), Anzac biscuits, Christmas barbeque lunches, and yes- Vegemite- you will always be seen as Australian!


(And to the Australian's who have spent time overseas- you know how rare it is to see things like Milo, Freddo Frogs, Caramello Koalas, Eucalyptus drops (the real ones), Tim Tams, Jaffas, Pollywaffles and Burger Rings) I guess we don't always realise how Australian some of these products are.