Comments on: Australian Hamburgers, Lamingtons, Meat Pies, and Other Foods

By: Nora

Nora — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 19:02:06 +0000

In reply to Sean Robinson. Fair enough, Sean! I must admit, while burgers with the lot are pretty tasty, they are near impossible to eat. How do you get your mouth around something as big as your head? (short answer: you don't) ;-)

By: Sean Robinson

Sean Robinson — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 18:27:03 +0000

Doing too much to these burgers. Australia has the best meat in the world. Brioche Bun, Meat, and cheese are all you need. Salt and pepper on the patty after you smash. Literally the best burger you’ll ever eat. These places are OTT AF.

By: Nora Dunn

Nora Dunn — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 14:40:47 +0000

In reply to Leigh. Sweet - Thanks for the intel, Leigh!

By: Leigh

Leigh — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 04:57:07 +0000

In reply to Samantha. You can satisfy the urge for Tim Tams at Cost Plus, they also have Golden Syrup (English brand), also aussieproducts.com in San Jose, CA. has a bunch of stuff from home.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:37:48 +0000

@Rockodile – Thanks for your two cents!
And yes, the truth is many people dream of seeing the world, but ultimately when push comes to shove it’s not enough of a priority for them to make it happen. One of the most common responses I hear from people after explaining my full-time travel lifestyle is “Wow! I wish I could do that! But I know I never could,” the reasons often being surmountable.
That’s okay – it’s always a personal choice. You can help those Americans who want to visit Oz live vicariously though your tales of the homeland! 🙂

By: RockodileDundee

RockodileDundee — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:44:37 +0000

Yes everyone says they love my accent and say it will open doors for me, yet I had any doors open yet. Also Americans always say “I’ve always wanted to go to Australia” which drives me nuts! I always say “well why don’t you go then?” The truth is that its is all words! Just something to say most times. Yes street foods are a good thing to try everywhere in the world. Thanks for your answering me back.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 16:40:05 +0000

@Rockodile – Wow – thanks for the thoughtful comment – and commentary! I love associating foods with different places in the world; for example I’ll never forget the street food in Vietnam, and will forever crave it.
The one thing I’ve always heard from Aussies who have travelled through or lived in America, is that everybody loves your accent…and can sometimes open doors. Have you found this to be true?

By: RockodileDundee

RockodileDundee — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 07:27:10 +0000

Hi I just looked up Aussie Burgers and found this site. As an Aussie trapped in Phoenix, AZ (heck I need a beach with crashing waves) since July 2006 I am thrilled to see this thread speaking about all things Aussie (well in a gastronomic sense.) Firstly I want to say that you mentioned ingredients for the ‘with the lot.’ I hail from Adelaide, South Australia and we have wonderful fish and chip shops there which make the best burgers with the lot. The one ingredient I see mentioned I’ve never seen in a burger is pineapple. It was news to me! But you did omit one of the most important ingredients ……. fried onion in every burger! The best burgers in the world by far! Also at the fish and chip shops are the greatest banana fritters, pineapple fritters and potato fritters all cooked with batter and deep fried. Not to mention the deep fried potato chips (which yankee-doodle-dandys here always call fries) which unlike the American variety are never cooked with the skins on. I prefer the Aussie version much more. And all burgers by the way come in a genuine un-sweetened roll, unlike the American addiction of bread and rolls made with sugar, sugar, sugar! Yuk! Aaaah how I miss going across the road to my local fish and chip shop! Now speaking of meat pies … there are so many varieties … meat with gravy, potato cottage pies, curry pie, goulash pies and so many more … all can be bought at any service station (yikes I almost said gas station) and are at every sporting event as well, and of course in every shop that sells food throughout Australia. I shouldn’t forget pasties… how I miss them. Full of vegetables and oh so tasty and oh so good. I actually have found them being made in some northern states where Cornish miners came like they did to South Australia and introduced pasties. Would you believe that I discovered a pastie place here in Phoenix! A restaurant completely devoted to a pastie theme! It’s down in the south-east of Phoenix in Tempe. Forgotten the name of it. Do a google search for ‘pasties Tempe AZ’ and you’ll find it. They have another one in the next suburb in Mesa too. I went there to check it out. It was ‘good’ but as usual with the Americans it was ‘way over the top’ and very Americanized with a plate full of American food accompanying it. I just wanted a pastie with sauce … but no … they have to give you an over-sized plate of food and charge a lot more than for just pastie. I’d still go there again though …. just cos I wanna smell pastie and eat it …. I’m desperate here for some Aussie tucker! Let’s also not forget another Adelaide institution .. pie floaters. I always used to go to the pie cart in Victoria Square and have a floater, and there would be tourists from all around the world eating there.I remember one Canadian devouring all the peas around his pie (or you can have a pastie floater if you like) … and he all of a sudden stopped eating and said … “Oh I forgot I’m going on the plane in 2 hours!” Yep … he was sure with all those peas he was going to have a gas problem to inconvenience other passengers! LOL And lets not forget other glorious food delicacies of South Australia at least … the frog cake, the lamington as others have mentioned, the cream bun with real cream, the meringue, the vanilla slice, the Kitchener bun, the yeast finger bun, the yeast honey logs, custard tarts actually should have been at the top of my list, and oh so much more! All available at the service station when I was working there … and every food outlet that sold take-away food (or as Americans say ‘take-out.’

Oh this has been so cruel to write about these things for Aussies in America. Are you suffering like I’m suffering right now? Then I wont mention Pavlova (cake size ones) with cream (yes real cream , not that pretend American cream) with strawberries, and pineapple and kiwi fruit on it … always served at every wedding I’ve been to in Oz. Oh and as the bread in America is so sweet (almost unbearable) also the meat here tastes so gamey it is unbelievable! But … I’ve traveled a lot by road in many states and let me tell you … unlike Australia you hardly see a sheep or cow. It’s because they are so often found in muddy yards all in lines being fed bales of hay, all scrunched up together in metal pens. I dont know why they do that? Free range works really well for all animals in Australia. I just wonder if that has anything to do with the way the meat tastes? Maybe they add more chemicals or other additives to their feed that way? Oh and one final thing … the only fast food they seem to have here out the front of Hardware stores or at sporting events is …… Hot Dogs! Yes tell and American you wa nt a hot snack and they’ll say …. “Waaalllll, whaa don’t yer get a Haart daaawg?” Oh how blessed we Aussies have been with every sporting ground serving not only hot dogs but Pasties, Pies and oh I forgot something didn’t I? Sausage Rolls! How did I forget them? No such thing here in the worlds greatest, most powerful, the world always looks to us as its leader … nation America! We Aussies are so blessed.

Now …. yes I know you probably think differently by now but I really do like America. I just dont like its preoccupation with with hot dogs, Mexican food which always tastes the same and is served so often as just slop. It’s a good country with fantastic restaurants and fantastic people and I am privileged and happy to be living here permanently. For those Aussies here who dont know it, you can always by online Aussie food from lots of places run by Aussies … like Paul from Adelaide, who runs a business from Isom Rd, San Antonio TX ‘aboutaustralia.com’ I met him when I went there. Also there are other Aussie food and product places in Georgia, California and elsewhere. Google them and find them. Also if you want a good time and some good memories you can go to Kentucky Down Under in Horse Cave, Kentucky … http://www.kdu.com and I believe there is also a kangaroo place in Dawsonville, Georgia.

Loved this thread and am now feeling just a little craving for some Aussie food … well at least I have some Vegemite and Promite in the cupboard. Thanks for reading. Oi !!!!!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:11:56 +0000

@BennO – Glad you found the Asian grocer! And yup – always best to grow your own. I love having little herb gardens if I get the chance; it makes home cooking so much more rewarding – and tasty! 🙂

By: BennO

BennO — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 23:06:29 +0000

Oh and by the way hobo, I did find the part of town with asian groceries. It’s was amazingly like being at home again…all the same stuff! I got all I needed except for coriander root. The bunches of coriander (or cilantro) are sold with the roots chopped off. Weird. All the shop keepers agreed it was weird but no one could tell me where to get it. Gotta grow my own I guess.