Go Down Under with Global Gourmet. Australian Foodie Culture is Booming. And Dying, While Aussie PM "Prays for Rain".

News from Down Under

File this under "good news: bad news" Australia has booming food and wine business and a growing world reputation as foodie haven. They're also enduring a drought of Biblical proportions.

Revolving restaurants are making a comeback. This Australian spinning venue is noted in Bloomburg's. I have never been a fan of revolving restaurants. I wonder if south of the equator they turn in a different direction?

Luckily, there's lots of other good things to report on, as well as some grim news. As always, action alleviates panic and resignation. Options for ordinary citizens without superpowers will be found below.

Beginning a Global Gourmet Exploration

Curiosity about other places, peoples' food customs and traditions can teach you a lot about the world. Sometimes knowledge is a double-edged sword. Introducing the topic of culinary vacations and exploring gourmet food around the world struck a chord. My poll about which world cuisine you were most curious about showed Australia in the lead.

I've been lucky enough to meet a few Aussies in my time, and after the fog of drink subsided, I could barely tell you their names though I could remember we had a great time. A bit of a stretch, but not too much. This is a culture deeply rooted in a set of priorities ordered a wee bit differently from ours here, at least in New England. Fun, enjoyment of food and drink are very high on the list for most Australians I've met.

Before I was married, these friends urged me to travel to Melbourne. They insisted that, as the food capital of Oz, it was surely the place I would meet my match. Plans to travel were put on the back burner due to the expense of the trip. The itinerary which once included “just” to dive the Great Barrier Reef, see the sights in Sydney, Melbourne, then trek out to the outback, see Ayers Rock and of course head over to NZ and Tasmania. The more I learn about these places, the more it becomes obvious that lots of time and money will be needed. Thankfully, I met my match right here in Boston. We now look forward to sharing a trip down under together. At least that's one thing I can tick off the list!

Focus on Food

Tracking interesting developments in food and wine in this region will have to satisfy for now. Let's do a little armchair culinary travel, eh mate? We hear relatively little here about Australia's food culture. Thankfully, this is changing. A recent episode of Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie explored Slow Food chefs, vintners, farmers and restaurants. It reminded me how passionate my old Aussie friends are about everything. It's intense and exhilarating.

For an interesting introduction to the Melbourne food scene, see the Diary of a Foodie website. This article by Anthony Bourdain is a little dated (originally published in 2004) but the fact that it is included in their overview of this region indicates to me that it probably still represents something true that I have observed in Aussies that I've met. There's an intensity and a determination to have fun that is apparent in his observations. Even if chefs have shuffled to other restaurants (as chefs do) my guess is that the representation of the food culture is still true.

Sustainability

October is National Sustainable Seafood Month. This is a topic that more of us are learning about and rightly so. We mostly hear of our own North American agricultural issues. Did you know that Australia is suffering a drought that may be its worst in 1000 years? We're talking catastrophic impact on farms, fisheries, wineries and restaurants. Many of us have barely become aware of sustainable food issues when we find our favorite fish is no longer on the menu. Australians are worried about whether they'll have water enough to drink, never mind to irrigate crops.

The Prime Minister, when questioned about irrigation restrictions, simply said “Pray for Rain.” We really can do better than that, can't we? This NYTimes Op-Ed piece by Chef Justin North is succinct and thought-provoking. It deserves our attention.

Without finger-pointing, he deftly traces his own growing awareness that these issues are more significant than what fish we might be able to afford to put on the menu on a given night. For those of us who care about food, if only for our own comfort and delight, we must begin to learn about our impact on the food systems and what we can do to reduce the destruction of the very things that sustain us.

What can we do?

Hand-wringing is not sufficient!

1. Educating ourselves about choices that we make as consumers is the first step. This article shows Chef North's deepening commitment and his perspective on the drought's effects on his own behaviours. If Becasse can do it - so should we.
2. Applying this knowledge to our grocery-buying as well as our restaurant dining choices is step two. This free pocket guide is available from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
3. Making sure those who profit (or don't) from our choices know what matters to us.
4. Enjoy new foods, foods from different countries, and foods prepared responsibly. Share them with friends and family.

Ever try a Pavlova?

This iconic dessert originates either in New Zealand or Australia, depending on whose version of the story you listen to. The dessert takes its name from a famous ballerina Pavlova for whom it was created. Pavlova is simple and sweet and a perfect foil for summer fruits. Meringue like base, whipped cream and fruit.

Finally, don't forget to laugh! Thanks to Epicurious' Epi-log for this tip on a Creative use for Australian wines.

If you want to learn more about Australia and New Zealand, check out our Travel and Culture section.