Did you know that many people think that Australia and America are often similar in many ways due to the shared English heritage? Well, let me tell you, there are huge cultural differences between these two countries, especially in terms of food!
Eating different foods is one of the best ways to experience a country's culture, and during my time here, I have already tried a mix of some familiar and unusual foods, pushing me out of my comfort zone. From chicken schnitzel to Vegemite, Australia has been full of delicious surprises!
One of my favorite meals in Australia was the fantastic Japanese food at Torissong, an informal Japanese eatery serving yakitori, sashimi, karaage and rice bowls. I had salmon sashimi, which was just raw fish cut into thin, fresh, delicate slices, grilled crispy salmon with lemon, onsen tamago (soft egg), which was silky and smooth and braised (lightly fried) pork belly, which was sweet, rich and full of flavor. For dessert, I had Japanese pudding, a creamy sweet topped with caramel sauce, which was the perfect way to end my meal.
Another dish that I tried was chicken schnitzel with fries, or what Australians will call a Schnitty. This iconic Aussie food consisted of a crispy, golden-fried chicken cutlet with crunchy fries and coleslaw.
