Joanna James
Melbourne is one of Australia's most cultural cities, filled with excitement, adventure, and plenty of different cuisines all as exotic as the other. The diversity that bore fruit to its population is also responsible for the food diversity, as each culture was more and more willing to share a bit of themselves with the world.
An adoption of traditional Cantonese cuisine, this dish is coated and deep-fried over a batter of salt and pepper, served with a salad and spicy sauce for dipping. All of these tastes combined result in a flavouring that is unique and delicious. The crispy battered texture that collides with the soft, yet juicy calamari makes for a texture profile that works incredibly well with the conflicting sweet and seasoning flavours and is almost a staple of the city.
Although taking its roots in Italy, the parma has dropped roots into the Australian culture as well, frequently found in restaurants and pubs. The difference between traditional parma and the Australian variant is that Australia also includes ripe eggplant and various meats in addition to the cheese and tomato that's normally found. Along with this are a few more twists not found elsewhere, the food itself is considered a pub staple.
Normally served as a hors d'oeuvre during parties, events, and cocktail dinners, the Pig in a Blanket is a frankfurter wrapped in bacon, the thickness of which varies from place to place. Some also serve the dish with puff pastry to balance out some elements of the dish, along with custom dipping sauces, such as Aioli or mustard sauce. There are also other variations such as stuffing the dish with cheeses!
Inspired by the Italian dish, the Australian version of this dish is made using Australian veal or beef, which is made usually in a more tender way than the traditional Italian minced beef, including celery, onion, and carrot - compared to the additions of mushroom, truffles, and herbs for a unique twist unlike the Italian preparations - the dish of which is usually included in most of the top restaurants in Melbourne.
Coloured with the perceptions of a long-standing British tradition, the Pie Floater is a currently typical Australian dish of a pea soup coupled with meat into a single meat pie. The simplicity of the dish allows for a lot of custom ways to make the dishes, garnished with seasonings of the preparer's choice. Many places, like the Pan Pacific Melbourne, have their own twist on the dish, with some places adding various kinds of meat - beef, deer, rabbit, and sometimes even kangaroo to provide a variety of texture and flavour. The ingredients can also vary depending on the lean-meat rq.
Some of these dishes have their own Melbourne twist, and others represent a wholly Australian-Melbourne feel. Peek into this world of food, and hope you don't get too hungry to find out where you want to go!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
