 The Lamington
Lamingtons are a sponge cake (or, more traditionally, butter cake) in the shape of a cuboid, coated in a layer of traditionally chocolate icing then desiccated coconut. They are sometimes served as two halves with a layer of cream and/or strawberry jam between, and are commonly found in Australasian outlets such as cafes, lunch bars, bakeries, and supermarkets.
Lamingtons are named after Charles Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington, who served as Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. According to legend Lamingtons were first served in Toowoomba when Lord Lamington took his entourage to Harlaxton House to escape the steamy heat of Brisbane.
 Vegemite
Vegemite dates back to 1922 when the Fred Walker Company, which became Kraft Walker Foods in 1926 and Kraft Foods Limited in 1950, hired a young chemist to develop a spread from one of the richest known natural sources of the vitamin B group - Brewers Yeast. Following months of laboratory tests, Dr. Cyril P Callister, who became the nation’s leading food technologist of the 1920s and 30s developed a tasty spreadable paste.
In an imaginative approach, Walker turned to the Australian public to officially name his spread. He conducted a national trade-name competition offering an attractive 50 pound prize pool for the finalists.
That winning name was Vegemite and in 1923 Vegemite first graced grocers' shelves. It was described as "Delicious on sandwiches and toast, and improves the flavour of soups, stews and gravies". However, it took 14 long years of perseverance from Walker before Vegemite finally gained acceptance and recognition with the Australian people.
 The Chiko Roll
This iconic snack was the brainchild of a boilermaker from Bendigo, Francis (Frank) McEncroe. From the 1930's to 1950's, Frank and his brothers had run a large silver service catering venture, where they, along with 30 hometown staff, catered to the hungry hoards at various country shows around Victoria. Watching a man selling chicken rolls outside a football ground set his mind thinking. He experimented with a variation of the Chinese spring roll, but was concerned that the crispy wrapping wouldn`t stand up to long trips. So he set to work, and before long he had found a solution. He made his first rolls on a small hand fed sausage machine that he got from a butcher friend.
Using this self-modified device, he concocted a mixture of boned mutton, celery, cabbage, barley, rice, carrot and spices and wrapped the combination in a thick slab of egg and flour dough, he then fried the resulting cylinder, and hand painted on the ends. The Chiko Roll made its first appearance at the Wagga Wagga Show, NSW, in 1951, and has never looked back.
Aeroplane Jelly
 Aeroplane Jelly was created in 1927 when Sydney tram conductor Bert Appleroth first made the now classic jellies in his bath tub and distributed them along his tram route. Bert came up with the name after seeing an aeroplane for the first time in the skies over his house when he first made the jelly and being overwhelmed and excited by what he saw.
|
 Damper
In early colonial times, damper was a very simple mixture consisting of flour and water, with salt added for flavour. It is thought that the term "Damper" is derived from this practice of placing the flat layer of dough upon the open, hot coals. The dough acted as a damper, smothering, or damping the heat of the fire. Other methods for cooking damper included wrapping the dough around a suitable stick and holding it over the heat of the fireplace until cooked. As the colony developed and towns sprang up closer to the centres of activity, such as goldfields, cast-iron camp ovens eventually became part of the bush cook's belongings.
 Billy Tea
Billy Tea is quite simply ordinary black tea made in a tin can over an open fire by campers in the bush. Traditionally, billy tea was made in a billycan, a lightweight cooking pot used by bushmen of old on a campfire or a camping stove, hence its name. Before the tea is removed from the fire, green gum leaves are added to the infusion for added flavour.
Nowadays you can buy the famous Billy Tea from your supermarket shelf to drink in the comfort of your home or office. You can still add a gumleaf if you prefer. Billy Tea is made by Lyons Tetley (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
 Pavlova
The Pavlova is a dessert dish that consists a base made of a meringue crust topped with whipped cream and fresh fruits such as kiwis (the fruit!), strawberries, etc. It is considered a fresh fruit pie with a meringue crust. There is disagreement who first created the Pavlova, but the name and the recipes first began appearing soon after Russian prima ballerina, Anna Matveyevna Pavlova (1881-1931), toured both Australia and New Zealand in 1926 and Australia again in 1929. Anna Pavlova was considered the greatest ballerina of her time and her visit to New Zealand has been described as "the chief event of 1926." It was said "She does not dance; she soars as though on wings." From this you get the sense that this is a light, airy dessert.
 The Meat Pie
While Americans love their hamburgers, Australians love their meat pies and sausage rolls. We are the world's biggest consumer of meat pies with over 260 million eaten each year. The traditional Aussie meat pie is about 15cm in diameter, just large enough to hold in one hand and covered in tomato sauce. The pastry is usually shortcrust (heavy enough so it doesn't fall apart in your hands), and the filling is beef or chicken with enough thick gravy inside to stick it all together.
 Penfold Grange wine
Penfolds Grange is without doubt one of Australia's and the world's most famous wines. Made predominantly from the Shiraz (Syrah) grape and usually a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, it is widely considered Australia's "first growth" and its most collectable wine. From humble beginnings in the 1950's, Grange has maintained its place as Australia's most prestigious red wine over four decades and lead the charge of Australian wines onto the world market. Today, it is a wine of international fame challenging the First Growths of Bordeaux as the Worlds best.
|
