Worldly Cuisine in Syndey

Before studying abroad in Sydney, I thought of Australian food as “meat
pies” and “vegemite.” And while I did get to try these famous classic
“Aussie” foods, I learned that Australian cuisine encompasses much more,
and similar to the United States, Australia is a country with cuisine coming
from all around the world! My two favorite places to eat routinely was North
Indian Cuisine on George Street (which gave me the largest vegetable
samosas I have ever eaten!) and Miso Japanese in the World Square (I just
couldn’t help coming back for their chicken katsu bento!) For dessert I tried
something new - mango toast and ice cream from the Mango Coco Thai
Dessert cafe in Sydney; and I also dined on some gnocchi and Nutella
pizza at the amazing Macchiato, an Italian grill that serves some incredible
pasta and wood-fire pizza. My most daring food challenge was the
kangaroo skewers I ate at a barbeque in the Rocks Markets - after feeding
the adorable creatures a few days prior, it was difficult to stomach eating
one!
However, because of the practicality of budgeting most days I wasn’t out
eating kangaroo steak, but rather schnitzel sandwiches and falafel wraps
from the many cafes that are on every Sydney street corner. Sydney as a
city was very inclusive for dietary restrictions, and I was able to find
dairy-free smoothies and other drinks without too much of a hassle.
Although I did find myself eating out more than I did back home, I did try to
decrease my spending by buying at the local Sydney grocery stores - with
their abundance of fruit, bread, vegetables, and meats.
When I inevitably became homesick (as when traveling abroad, you will
become homesick at some point during your trip) my friends and I would
cook home favorites like tacos and spaghetti, and I would find myself at the
American-themed Brooklyn Bridge deli for a simple bagel with cream
cheese. Although it is important to try new foods and cuisines while
traveling abroad, it is also important to find the foods that remind you of
home and the family that is waiting upon your return. Overall I’m really glad
I had the opportunity to travel to Sydney, as it felt like I was not only
traveling to Australia, but the whole world, due to Sydney’s diverse
population and cuisine options. Living in Sydney has inspired me to try
different cuisines while in Pittsburgh, as there are many restaurants in the
Pittsburgh area I have not yet tried since prior to me studying abroad they
were not in my “comfort zone.” And although it might only have been a few
days since I returned from Australia, I already miss my Tim-Tams and
caramel koalas. Now that I’m back in the United States, I’ll have to settle on
Hershey kisses and M&Ms.