Ferrari Mailing List: Re: NFC Happy Australia Day

[David Thursby (david]

Adam,

I couldn't agree more, although I must correct you on two points - VB is 
only available in the US if you happen to be in the armed forces or know 
someone who is. The Fosters sold in the US is actually a fully imported 
beer - from Canada. I think that pretty much explains everything :) I 
suspect a fair amount of VB ends up for sale to the general public, but 
CUB have officially designated Fosters as the export beer so don't 
export the better ones. Makes sense...

The 'taste' differences you mention are so stark it's hard to describe, 
but the best way of explaining it is that Aussie food HAS taste. The 
farming methods are less intensive which I think explains a lot. Anyone 
who has traveled to Ireland and noticed the intense yellow color of the 
butter and the wonderful rich taste understands. I should also mention 
that lamb actually tastes wonderful. I have yet to determine what is 
sold here in the US that is marked as lamb. It's not even mutton. 
Kangaroo is also very tasty IF prepared properly. It's so lean that if 
not tenderized and marinated, it ends up tough and dry. Emu is actually 
nicer IMHO. (Australia - where we eat the animals on our national coat 
of arms)

For those not fully aware, Australia Day is the equivalent of the 4th of 
July. The big difference is that the US fought a long and hard battle 
against the English to become an independent country. In Australia we 
became an independent country (which my wife still disagrees with as we 
have the Queen of England on our coins) primarily because the British 
were sick of trying to manage a bunch of unruly ex-cons and had lost 
interest by the end of the 19th century. We became a country on Jan 26, 
1901.

Since I am now so hungry, I'd like to share a few words with those who 
understand.

King Island Dairy Double Brie.

DT

Adam Green wrote:
> 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
>
>
>
>