My arrival in Australia from South Africa at the end of August 1989 was definitely a culture shock. The wide range of Western culture blended together with Asia and India in a multicultural hot pot of flavour and yummy cuisine blew my taste buds away.
Shades of Africa
Unfamiliar with such a wide range of fast food outlets and restaurant's to die for I wanted to taste everything. Consequently the kilo's collected rapidly forcing me to be more selective. What did I really like? Difficult decisions as I liked everything.
Italian pizza and pasta restaurant's presented that Old Italian world atmosphere with vigour and gusto and yet the French wooed me with charm, love and gentle passion for food, flavour and fine wine.
Aussie Rib & Rump steak houses are favourites with the Australians, lathered in smoky BBQ, garlic and pepper sources topped with mushrooms. Traditionally this was a farm way of cooking by the sheep shearers and the beef farmers in Australia. This was also popular in South Africa the home of the Braai (BBQ) and weekend backyard favourite. The Dutch and Boer farmers influence in cooking also created a distinct identity.
Chinese and Thai eventually got my vote as top favourites with a little Japanese thrown in for flavour. These dishes with their fine spices and mixed herbs were better for my waistline and delicate in taste. Sea food now also topping my list Asia had this in the catch and their crab pots.
Indian curries from all over India are very good; however I had been extremely spoilt with Indian curries having being born in Durban South Africa. The South African curry flavours had been developed over many, many, years of cooking; developing a flavour no other curry in the world can compete with. Of course this is my opinion but Durban is the home of South African Indian curry which is now recognised and loved in Australia due to all the South African migrants. The South African Cape Malay curry is also difficult to beat for flavour and excitement of spices mixed and presented with the colours of the Malay.
The verdict was out with Asia taking the honours for Australia and South Africa for curry.
What about the other cultures? Their love of life, the music, and the laughter? My experiences in Africa along with many others had made us guarded, not relaxed when out dinning or simply enjoying the outdoors with your family. There were too many variables to consider as South Africans turned to home entertainment and dinning. Home, a place where you could relax and be safe. This was a problem for all races and cultures in South Africa who now extended their homes to accommodate guests for the day, the night or the weekend. Family with friends and loved ones gathered together in their homes to enjoy the music, dancing and laughter.
This too was a culture shock for me arriving in Australia. The freedom to do, and go, wherever you wanted and with no bars on the windows. If it was hot I could leave the window open and enjoy the sounds of the streets the music and laughter of everyday people of mixed races outside enjoying life while feeling safe, together.
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