Australian kitchens have produced some famously divisive spreads, beloved party treats and cookies with a cult following. This Aussie food quiz serves up the stories behind Vegemite, pavlova, lamingtons, Tim Tams, meat pies and a few bush foods, explained for American taste buds. Some answers are sweet, some are salty and a couple are wonderfully surprising, so grab a snack and see how well you know the menu Down Under.
Australian food grew from a mix of influences. British settlers brought baked goods, roasts and a love of tea, and later waves of immigrants from Italy, Greece, Lebanon, Vietnam and many other places shaped city menus and café culture. Underneath it all are the native ingredients Aboriginal people have gathered and hunted for tens of thousands of years, which are getting fresh attention from modern chefs.
The result is a food scene that feels familiar to Americans with plenty of twists. Cookies are called biscuits, a sausage is often a snag, and a backyard barbecue is practically a national pastime. Many of the country's most famous treats are simple, cheap and built for sharing, which is why they show up at school fairs, sports games and birthday parties. Brand loyalty runs deep, and Australians living overseas often pack their favorite snacks in their luggage.
Some dishes have friendly rivalries attached, especially with New Zealand, where both countries claim a few classics as their own. A good memory trick is to link each food to an occasion, like a party, a road trip or a cold afternoon at the footy. Food stories also stick better than ingredient lists, so remember the people and history behind each bite.