So, you are an ardent fan of the Men in Blue and find yourself Down Under, trying to follow them from one stadium to another, cheering them on in the World Cup. What do you do when the game is over and the excitement has died down? Sight-see, explore, shop and, of course, eat your way through the delicacies the cities have to offer. When you start experimenting with the food, you will realise that every word of what Gary, George and Matt of MasterChef Australia fame tell us regarding the culinary aspects of Australia is true.
The freshness of vegetables is phenomenal. Even in the most unassuming little towns, one can expect to get a healthy and crunchy salad. The admiration with which they treat their meats and seafood is also exceptional. A chef will happily talk of a particular farm from which he sourced his beef or lamb. Or he will point to the ocean right in front of you and tell you that the day’s special seafood was caught right there that morning. The adventurous should definitely try getting their hands on kangaroo steak, crocodile sausage or some emu meat.
Melbourne is a melting pot of many cultures and cuisines. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Vietnamese restaurants vie for your attention on the busy streets. For a dim sum lunch of steaming dumplings, try the Crystal Jade restaurant or the Shark Fin Inn on Little Bourke Street. For cocktails and Vietnamese hawker-style food, head to Rice Paper Scissors on Liverpool street. And for popular Peruvian cuisine, head to Pastuso, down AC/DC lane. A Peruvian dinner of seafood ceviches, quinoa salad and pit-roasted meats will definitely hit the spot. The bustling Queen Victoria Market (QVM) is a great place to spend a morning browsing through the various produces. Outside food is allowed into the Melbourne Cricket Ground and one can stock up a fine picnic basket at QVM before heading to a cricket match. If you are feeling homesick and craving some Indian food, head to Chilli India in Melbourne Central for dosas and piping-hot Hyderabadi biriyani.
The vibrant restaurant and bar scene in Sydney is a testament to the claim that it is the food capital of Australia. A dim sum lunch at the Banquet dining hall of Marigold Restaurant by Haymarket or a Greek-inspired dinner by the chef’s table at The Apollo Restaurant in Potts Point won’t leave you disappointed. Dinner by the window at the Sydney Cafe is also a fitting way to take in the harbour views and the city lights around Opera House. Despite sounding touristy, a glass of champagne at the Opera Bar in Opera House is a great way to kick-start a fun evening with family or friends. A live band and a breathtaking view of the Harbour Bridge add to the experience.
For a taste of MasterChef Australia dishes, head to Adriano Zumbo’s store in Balmain, Sydney, and relish one of the 40 different macaroon flavours. Alternately, make a beeline to one of the six stores of celebrated gelato Chef Nick Palumbo’s Gelato Messina to taste his cool creations. Kylie Kwong’s restaurant, Billy Kwong at Potts Point, comes highly recommended for an evening out with drinks and dinner. And for a fine-dining experience, make a reservation at Sepia — Restaurant of the year 2015, run by the award-winning Chef Martin Benn, who set a pressure test in MasterChef Australia season 6.
Although an expensive affair, the dining scene in Australia is second to none. The presence of such diverse cuisines and the freshness of the produce are worth giving your taste buds a whirlwind treat while watching our Men in Blue demolish the opposition.
