Imported Eastern European Food Melbourne Exploring the Culinary Delights of Australia

Australia is a country known for its diverse culinary scene, with influences from all over the world. But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, when the first Englishman, William Dampier, explored Australia in 1697, he believed that there was nothing to eat. He wrote, “The earth affords them no food at all… there is neither herb, root, pulse nor any sort of grain for them to eat that we saw.”

Fast forward a little over 150 years and the dining options in Australia were still lacking. Caroline Chisholm, a humanitarian, described the cuisine as consisting of “salt beef and flour, minus mustard, pepper, and potatoes.” However, waves of postwar immigrants from Italy, Greece, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands, followed by Cypriots, Lebanese, and Vietnamese in the 1970s, introduced their own food cultures to Australia. In the past 15 years, Australia has become famous for its cooking.

Melbourne: A Culinary Capital

Melbourne was the first city in Australia to seize the crown as the culinary capital. With its Victorian grid of wide streets and narrow lanes, Melbourne’s food and drink scene flourished. Today, it is a city for wanderers, with its central business district (CBD) offering a plethora of dining options. From trendy shops in Fitzroy to the bars of Collingwood, Melbourne has something to offer every food lover.

Breakfast at Pope Joan

Pope Joan, located in the suburb of Brunswick, is a must-visit for breakfast in Melbourne. The Turkish eggs, poached eggs with spicy ‘nduja sauce, dill yogurt, and toast, are a delicious way to start the day. The coffee and tangy cultured butter are also worth mentioning. While the location outside the Sofitel may not be as charming as the original location, the food more than makes up for it.

Mains from £9

Queen Victoria Market: A Food Lover’s Paradise

Opened in 1878, the Queen Victoria Market is the largest in the southern hemisphere. This huge covered space offers a wide variety of ingredients from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia. You can find everything from Indian and Indonesian cuisine to Turkish and Spanish specialties. Be sure to try a doughnut and, of course, a coffee while you explore this food lover’s paradise.

Lulu’s Char Koay Teow: A Taste of Malaysia

If you’re in the mood for lunch, head to Lulu’s Char Koay Teow on Hardware Lane. Named after Chee Wong’s mother-in-law, who sells the dish in the market in Penang, Malaysia, this caff-style room serves up a delicious mess of flat noodles, Chinese sausage, hard-boiled egg, chives, bean sprouts, and chili tossed in smoking pork lard. The dish is worth the wait, and don’t forget to pair it with a cup of milk tea.

Char koay teow £10

Smith Street Bistrot: A Taste of Melbourne’s Craft Beer Scene

For dinner, head to Smith Street Bistrot in Collingwood. This restaurant offers a combination of Aussie Café Rouge and a louche, fin-de-siècle vibe that perfectly fits the neighborhood. The menu features dishes like humpty doo baby barramundi, cucumber, crayfish beurre blanc, salmon roe, and soufflé framboise. Enjoy your meal with a glass of prosecco and soak in the lively atmosphere of Smith Street.

Mains from £22

Overall score 7/10

Adelaide: A Rising Culinary Star

Adelaide, often disparaged as the most boring city in Australia, is making a name for itself in the culinary world. With its proximity to the River Torrens, which flows through the city and comes equipped with barbecues, and a growing food scene, Adelaide is giving Melbourne a run for its money.

My Kingdom for a Horse: A Hipster Haven

Start your day in Adelaide with breakfast at My Kingdom for a Horse. This backstreet café roasts its own coffee and offers a range of unique breakfast options. Try the blue swimmer crab and chili jam omelet with wilted pea tendrils for a flavorful and satisfying start to your day.

Breakfast from £13

Central Market: A Food Lover’s Delight

Smaller than Melbourne’s market but more intense, Adelaide’s Central Market is a must-visit for any food lover. With its wide variety of fresh produce, bread, cheese, sausages, and more, this market offers a taste of the world right in Adelaide. Be sure to visit shops like Smelly Cheese Shop, Lucia’s, and Gourmet to Go for unique and delicious ingredients.

Restaurant Botanic: Fine Dining in the Adelaide Botanic Garden

For lunch, head to Restaurant Botanic in the Adelaide Botanic Garden. This restaurant, helmed by Justin James who previously worked at Noma, offers a truly unique dining experience. The tasting menu features dishes like crispy artichoke skins filled with pickled artichoke emulsion, marron tail stuffed with basil, abalone with sea urchin, and Australian wagyu beef. Finish your meal with a pudding made from cream infused with roasted deadfall from the garden for a truly unforgettable experience.

Tasting menu from £140

Soi 38: A Taste of Thailand in Adelaide

For dinner, visit Soi 38 in the city center for a taste of authentic Thai cuisine. Chef Terry Intarakhamhaeng serves up dishes collected from ethnic groups and hill tribes of Thailand’s six regions. Try the crab, ginger, lime, and coconut wrapped in betel from the south, the torched kingfish with chili and garlic oil from the central region, and the pork and fresh bamboo in a banana leaf from the northeast.

Mains from £16

Overall score 8/10

Conclusion: Adelaide Takes the Crown

In the battle for the queen of Australian cuisine, Adelaide has emerged victorious. With its unique dining experiences, vibrant food markets, and growing food scene, Adelaide is giving Melbourne a run for its money. Whether you’re craving Turkish eggs in Melbourne or authentic Thai cuisine in Adelaide, Australia has something to offer every food lover. So why not embark on a culinary adventure and explore the diverse flavors of this incredible country?

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