Literature Review

 

Below is a collection of sources that I believe best describe Australian food. They come from a wide range of mediums with each one describing a different aspect of “Aussie’s” food culture. Watch a clip from the great Anthony Bourdain discussing Australian seafood, or get ready to bake some ANZAC biscuits that will satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth. I invite you to learn more about what makes our food so delicious.

Video Series

“Anthony Bourdain Mouthwatering Seafood from Australia: No Reservations” YouTube, uploaded by TheMachojohn, 13 Jan 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onm0vUQH7JE&t=23s

  • Both modern and traditional influences are presented through seafood as it remains a staple of Australian cuisine, a point that Anthony Bourdain makes within this YouTube video. He tries multiple types of seafood cooked in a variety of ways, commenting that no amount of seafood is “too much of a good thing,” making him “a happy man” as he makes his way through the menu.

 

Scholarly Articles

Symons, Michael. “The Confection of a Nation: The Social Invention and Social Construction of the Pavlova.” Social Semiotics, vol. 20, no. 2, Apr. 2010, pp. 197-217.

  • Symons presents history regarding the cultural appropriation of Pavlova, a dish claimed by the countries of New Zealand and Australia. The article describes how Pavlova is prepared, with an emphasis on how each dish means something to each nation. Symons’ article asks the question of whether there is only one true pavlova or two, saying that each one is made slightly differently and with slightly different recipes.

Farrer, Keith. To Feed A Nation. CSIRO Publishing, 2005.

  • This book tells the history of what it took to feed a nation as large and as arid as Australia. It focuses on the invention of new technologies that were used to enhance both taste and to prevent spoilage, with the invention of the refrigerator and meat processing being focused upon heavily. It argues that sugar was an important staple of Australian cuisine as it was easy to grow and import.

 

Newton, John. The Oldest Foods On Earth. NewSouth Publishing, 2016.

  • Australian aboriginal food culture is one of the oldest in the world, a topic that is explored within this book. It deals with the original diet that the Aboriginal Australians consumed and then describes their shift in diet that was influenced by the arrival of the first fleet. It details the problems experienced by the Aboriginal population as they struggled to adjust the diet that had served them for thousands of years.

 

Cookbooks

Germaine, Elizabeth, and Burckhardt, Ann. L. Cooking The Australian Way. Lerner Publications Company. 2004.

  • “Cooking the Australian way” contains a collection of Australian cuisine that places a focus on all the major meals and “holiday and festival food” that are considered quintessentially Australian. It begins with a brief introduction of Australian history before switching to what is needed to cook in regards to ingredients and utensils. The pictures contained within the cookbook show what the food is meant to look like and its step by step instructions on how to cook the meals provide helpful tips.

 

“Anzac Biscuits.” King Arthur Flour, https://www.kingarthurflour.com/recipes/anzac-biscuits-recipe. Accessed 1 Sept 2018.

  • The recipe for ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) biscuits detailed on this website contains both an accurate recipe for making this traditional Australian desert, but also contains a brief description of their use in the first world war. They details it as a staple on the war front as mothers and wives of soldiers sent them to their husbands and sons. Containing a detailed yet easily understood list of ingredients and cooking instructions, there is also a tip from the bakers who recommend to add salt if the eater prefers the biscuits to be salty sweet.

 

Popular Works

Ormond, Jane. “Top 10 iconic Australian foods.” Goodfood, 18 June. 2016, Accessed 1 Sept. 2018

  • This top ten list details the most iconic Australian foods, discussing each food in a conversational manner while also giving a brief history about the food as well as any nicknames by which they are generally known in Australian culture. The list includes a wide variety of food, ranging from everyday meals to deserts with an emphasis on truly iconic Australian foods such as Vegemite and Tim Tams.

 

Cranston, Amanda. “What is Vegemite And Why Do Aussies Love It So Much?” TravelNQ, 5 August. 2015, http://travelnq.com/vegemite/. Accessed 1 Sept 2018.

  • Vegemite is an Australian cultural icon. This article details what exactly this spread is and why it is such an iconic food when thinking about Australia. Detailing its beginnings and initial popularity, the article describes the various commercials using the jingle “Happy little vegemite’s” and how they have been implemented throughout history. The article mentions the different ways in which Australians consume this spread but advises foreigners to use it sparingly should they be expecting it to taste like peanut butter or honey.

 

“Home.” Down Under Box. https://www.downunderbox.com.au. Accessed 2 Sept 2018.

  • Many Australians overseas continually miss not only home, but the food that was once easily accessible to them. Enter the down under box. This popular website allows family or friends to send their loved ones food care boxes that contain Australian foods such as Milo or Vegemite. The website features many examples of the different foods that are available as well as detailing many of the underlying details by which the box can be ordered. A true gift for an Australian living overseas.