What do Americans think about Australian cuisine? The answer will shock you…
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It's no secret that Americans love their food. From the all-American burger to the more exotic dishes of the south, there's something for everyone to enjoy. But what about Australian food?
As it turned out, yanks are not too fond of our food, with a number of them even describing our cuisine as "boring".
A news.com.au correspondent, Alex Carlton, has recently shared how he discovered what Americans think of our food when he travelled from Down Under to California and all around the southern states of America, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
A typical serving of a meal in Australian restaurants is far smaller compared to serving sizes in the USA. Credit: Getty Images.
He said that while he thinks that the food in the states is mesmerising, Americans don't particularly think of Aussie cuisine the same way.
Recalling how he binge-ate during his trip, Alex wrote: "This isn’t a criticism. Eating five figures worth of calories every day is part of the US holiday experience. I love American food. It’s mind-blowing – especially southern food."
"And even more especially Cajun southern food. The crab cakes. The beignets. The biscuits and syrup. The catfish and the redfish. The étoufée – a spicy shrimp stew. The cheesy grits, the crawfish in butter, the carrot cake, the bananas foster, the jambalaya."
"Not to mention all the burgers and nachos and tacos and molés. It will all send you to an early grave but it’s all delicious and you just have to do it once in your life."
Alex said that "time and time again" Americans, who have often never visited Australia, have talked badly about our food.
"Americans seem to think our food is far too dull and understated. Or that it’s basic, backwards and derivative. Or that we’re simply not a country that understands much about food at all," he quipped.
Some states in the USA serve chicken on top of waffles. Credit: Getty Images.
He noted that even a hotelier in California told him that "Australian food is pretty boring. It isn’t exactly a food country, is it?”
Alex said that he doesn't think that Aussie food is boring at all.
"It's just more restrained," he said.
The difference between Australian and American food can be summed up in one word: simplicity.
While both countries take their food influences from all over the world, Australian cuisine tends to focus on fewer, fresher ingredients. A typical Australian dish might have just a few components, each one perfectly balanced and complementing the others.
In contrast, American food often feels like it's trying to do too much. There's a tendency to pile on the toppings and add as many different flavours as possible. As a result, many American dishes can end up feeling overwhelming and even a little bit messy.
Alex said: "It wasn’t bad. It was amazing. But it was a lot. And their smash-you-in-the-face flavour assaults (which tend to be fairly one note) don’t make our comparatively low-key food – which focuses on technique, and a subtle distinction of flavour in any way inferior."
Surprisingly, Alex said that the residents of the southernmost state, Alabama, have a similar eating pattern with Australians.
Most Americans don’t consume raw oysters, instead, they serve them cooked. Credit: Getty Images.
The traditional way of eating oysters in the southern states of America is starting to change, with more people looking to the Australian way of consuming the seafood delicacy.
Oysters are native to North America, but until recently, the southern states had been wild harvesting them from the silt in the bay. This resulted in large oysters that were not ideal for eating raw.
However, various oyster farmers in the region have travelled to Australia to learn about the longline oyster farming method, which allows for better control of stock and smaller, more delicate oysters that are perfect for eating raw.
Don't get us wrong, we love a good burger or slice of pizza as much as the next person. But when it comes to everyday eating, we think Australian food is the way to go. It's healthier, simpler, and just more enjoyable to eat.
How about you? What are your thoughts on this? Do you think Aussie cuisine is better than American food? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!