Oceania Cuisine
Oceania is a rather isolated and enigmatic continent. It is made up of a multitude of islands. Each island has its own culinary traditions, with exotic and original recipes. Some dishes, such as Australian dishes, are popular all over the world. Other cuisines from Oceania, such as Maori and Polynesian, are less well known, yet just as attractive as international cuisine.
Australian cuisine
Australia is the largest island in Oceania and Australian cuisine is popular all over the world. It is a combination of British, Asian and Mediterranean cuisine. The country is rich in resources and natural foods that make its cuisine so varied. Indeed, there is a wide variety of meats such as kangooroo which is eaten throughout the country. There are also many species of fish in Australia, and Australian fish and seafood restaurants are renowned throughout the world.
Popular Australian dishes are of British origin, such as pies, grilled meat and fish and chips.
In recent years, Australian cuisine has evolved, taking inspiration from Asian and Mediterranean dishes imported by immigrants. This modernisation of Australian cuisine is known as 'Modern Australian'.
The Pavlova
Pavlova is probably one of the most poetic desserts in the world. Its popularity has crossed borders and it is now eaten all over the world.
This cake made with meringue, whipped cream and fresh fruit is of Australian origin.
In fact, it was developed and named to honour the ballerina Anna Pavlova who won hearts during her classical dance tours of Australia.
Like Anna's light and sweet dance, pavlova is a sweet dessert that is crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside.
Maori cuisine
Maori cuisine is the traditional cuisine of New Zealand. The most common ingredients used in this cuisine are kūmara, but also taro, fern, fish and several kinds of birds. The cooking of food in the ancestral Maori kitchen was done by steaming or in earthen ovens called hāngi.
After the arrival of the settlers, Maori cuisine was influenced by European cuisine and New Zealanders adopted foods such as pork and potatoes. Today, Maori cuisine is a mixture of English and Maori traditions.
Polynesian cuisine (Tahitian cuisine)
Tahitian cuisine represents French Polynesian cuisine as a whole. The traditional gastronomic dishes are of maohiBut over time, Polynesia has experienced several Western influences: French, Asian and especially Chinese.
Tahitian cooks use several starches in their cooking, such as sweet potatoes, taro and ufi. They also use local fruits such as coconuts and uru. Tahitian cuisine is popular for its shellfish and raw fish dishes.
