Ferrari Mailing List: Re: NFC Happy Australia Day

[Adam Green (flatcrank]

Happy Australia Day to the Ferrari List.

Well, it's over and done in the antipodes, but it's sort of still then now
... here (in the US.)

As a not-so ex-pat Aussie, I wish I could transport myself home at least
briefly for these holidays without the agony of commercial airlines (only
made worse since the farce of "homeland security" was foist upon us.)  I
guess being a little homesick doesn't do any harm.

I haven't contributed to the Ferrari List much at all, other than for my own
purposes of working an F430 6-spd order (which these days is looking like I
might be allowed into the Scuderia ranks, though that once exalted privilege
has apparently lost its resale value glitter.)  So I'll try to contribute
some Aussie thoughts.

Australia Day is a new holiday for Aussies (it didn't exist when I was a
kid) but the memories of holidays and long weekends all become one long, hot
summer at the beach, blazing sun and the constant move between baking on the
sand and hours surfing in warm water with no thought of wetsuits (or
sunscreen.)  And just like kids growing up in the lucky parts of the world,
eventually, your empty stomach motivates you to start bugging your dad until
he loads up barbie with pine cones on newspapers and soon enough there's the
delightful sound of a sizzling, fully laden barbie covered in chops and
snags.

Food in Australia tastes quite different to US food.  All the dairy foods
are different so a simple sandwich has distinctly different bread and butter
-- even tomatoes and apples have a different texture and entirely different
taste.  BBQ condiments are usually limited to tomato sauce, tomatoes and
lettuce -- some families will have a hot mustard and a mild mustard.  Even
lettuce is optional.  Relish did not (thankfully) exist.  Cheese is not
anywhere near as common (bordering on mandatory in the US.)  Onions for
some, especially sliced and well cooked, but not for me personally -- no one
food should overpower all others so thoroughly as an onion.

Thinking about posts in this thread, first off, I've never heard the
"Vegemite makes you sterile" nonsense before and the population of Australia
would only be smaller if it were true.  But it certainly is great for a
hangover and the staple of every school kid -- most of whom would have need
had a peanut butter and jelly ("jam") sandwich and would surely squeal at
the prospect of being forced to try one.

VB certainly is a good beer, but hardly the best Australia has to offer (at
least it's available in the US, that's something) but even the humble
Melbourne Bitter is a better beer.  Just stay away from XXXX.  Sadly,
Fosters from the tap in Australia tastes entirely unlike the stuff they
export that has to sit in shipping containers and get variously boiled or
frozen as it travels around the world.  If you want a taste of good Aussie
beer, try Coopers.  The same is true of exported Australian wines, but there
are good examples of the Barossa, Coonawarra and Margaret River available
from some of the more astute importers for the US.

And forget the meat pies, sausage rolls and pasties (at least the pastry) if
you want to be able to get in and out of an F40 without looking like a Hippo
trying to get into its Fantasia costume. : )

Lobster is the favorite (the "throw another shrimp on the barbie" marketing
was always a bit off beam ... and we call them prawns ...)  A good, thick
steak just medium but not bloody is the ticket for a "real" Aussie BBQ.
These days you have to be able to afford the surf and turf -- it used to be
no big deal.  Maybe some chicken breasts if you're a bit health conscious or
"snags" (sausages) and slices of bread thrown on the barbie to toast, then
doused in tomato sauce (a bit like ketchup, but just plain tomatoes, not so
salty.)  Bacon is cut thicker with far less fat, usually cooked medium,
rarely if ever crispy (intentionally anyway.)

Forget the paper plates and plastic knives and forks -- "real" Aussies
barbies have "picnic" plates (usually old plates of mismatched sizes and
patterns, odd colored cups and glasses -- stuff that's too old and worn for
the kitchen or dining table any more) and a selection of entirely unmatched
cutlery ranging from bone-handled butter knives to insanely large forks and
usually including at least one carving knife that's sure to inflict a fairly
deep slice into someones thumb as they try to open a beer with the back edge
of it.  And be sure to have some home made lammies (Lamingtons) mistakenly
left sitting in the boot (trunk) of the car so they're warm and melted
together when everyone wants "a nice cuppa before they're off" (cup of tea
before leaving politely before the evening meal time ... which tends to
disprove the Aussie reputation for drinking beer non top.)  Wish I was
there! : )

Here's to 2009.  Let's leave 2008 behind, but let's not forget it for fear
of repeating it.

Australia is rightly named The Lucky Country.  Australia has several days
through the year to remember hard times and wars  though not even one of its
own making.  Australia Day is an important reminder once a year at the start
of the year to acknowledge that generations before us endured tough times
and left the legacy of a great place to live.  Now it's our turn to carry on
the tradition. : )


Cheers,

For a little more authoritative taste of Australia Day:
http://www.australiaday.org.au/experience/
For everything else: http://www.google.com.au



-- 
Adam