It’s been debated for decades, but what makes Australian food Australian?
We lack a coherent food culture such as the Italian and the French, and love mixing styles and putting an irreverent twist on the classics.
And bush foods are becoming so popular they are now available, even at everyday supermarkets.
But maybe that’s Australian style, all mixed in and shaken up, while taking its cues from the natural environment.
Here’s our guide to some unique Australian dining experiences.
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Penguin Parade
If money is no object, there is always the Penguin Parade with Microflite.
This charter helicopter service will deliver you to Phillip Island, where a luxury car will take you to one of the island’s best restaurants, followed by the full ‘penguin’ experience that includes viewing the penguin parade with a guide and a luxury return transfer.
This will set you back $3645 for one or $1245 each for a group of four.
Spirits of the Red Sand
Combining dining with learning about one of the world’s oldest cultures, Spirits of the Red Sand is a multi-award-winning experience at Beenleigh, Queensland, about halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Over two-and-a-half hours, visitors will be taken through a cultural storyline via a live theatre performance that covers song and dance, and a chance to meet the cast and crew as part of the immersive experience.
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Attica
This international award-winning restaurant tucked in a quiet suburban street has been described as one of the most remarkable dining experiences in the world.
Attica combines a simple yet elegant setting and serves a multi-course menu that elevates bushfood flavours to haute cuisine with such dishes as emu liver toast and native fish bouillabaisse.
Not cheap at $360 a head plus wines, but such an experience is a special occasion endeavour, not a weekly regular.
But don’t expect to get in at the last minute. Bookings are released at 9am each day for three calendar months ahead.
Road Kill Café
A less salubrious use of Australian food is the Road Kill Café at the Mindil Beach Market in Darwin.
To be clear, no actual road kill was used in the construction of the food, so take a deep breath and dig into the café’s delish gourmet burgers made from crocodile, kangaroo and buffalo, or beef and pork for the less adventurous.
Bennelong restaurant
It’s worth giving Bennelong Restaurant a run for the view alone, but the food is just as good.
Nestled in the base of the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong offers a mellow, timber interior overlooking the spectacular Sydney skyscape and harbour.
The menu is heavy on seafood and the opposite of cheap, but for an Australian experience you can’t get anywhere else, it may top the lot.
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Tali Wiru
Another one with a stunning view, Tali Wiru is the premier dining experience at Uluru, and priced accordingly from $385 per adult, including drinks.
Perched on a dune overlooking the rock – Tali Wiru means beautiful dune in the local Anangu language – the meal focuses on bush foods and premier wines, all enjoyed as you watch the sunset colours play on Uluru.
Also included in the experience is a storytelling session with an Indigenous guide who shares the culture, history and spirituality of the land and maybe even an explanation of the local astrological signs.
Available from April to October.
What’s been your most memorable Australian dining experience? We’d love to hear about it in the comments section below.
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