Tastebuds to Tummy
When I think about culture and what makes individual groups of people unique, I think, amongst other axioms, food. Food culture is like language and art. Without language and art, an identity as a people struggles to or often ceases to exist. Food culture works in a similar way. Like language, it can evolve and grow over time, but those roots always remain. Consequently, I am absolutely passionate about people practicing, maintaining and protecting those things that are critical to their individual identity. I don't have a 'language'. I grew up speaking English because I was born on land that was an English colony, Australia. My ancestors were a mix of Irish 'post potato famine' immigrants and English settlers. My maternal Great Grandfather spoke Irish. Sadly that is long lost to my generation but fortunately not the cultural roots. But I am also equally passionate about the land on which I was born and I cherish every aspect of the land's culture and that culture is ultimately rooted in something so ancient archeologists are still finding wonderful gifts for humanity that remind me of what a truly special land I come from.
I grew up in a home full of love, laughter and hugs. My Mum's kitchen was the heart of the home and was often crowded with Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, cousins and friends. Coming from the land, we collectively all had veggie patches, orchards with various fruit, cows, pigs, chooks, ducks etc. What we didn't grow and produce ourselves, we battered and exchanged for, or purchased at the local stores. But as a kid, nearly all the food on our table was made with love by Mum, my Dad, or other family members. Very little came in a packet! In fact, it was a real treat to eat 'bought' food. I loved being in that kitchen or my Aunts' kitchens and I loved being part of the culture and language of those kitchens. The stories told, the world problems solved, the tea leaves read are all an important part of my history and the fabric of the place I grew up in.
From the Darling Downs, I moved to the Whitsunday Islands where fresh seafood became a staple. From there, life took me to the magnificent Kakadu National Park where my colleagues and friends introduced me to the fabulous world of traditional foods and bush cuisine. I have truly fond memories of buffalo ground ovens at South Alligator, barbecued Barramundi and crocodile at East Alligator, file snake, honey ants, Kakadu Plums, and water yams. From there I went onto Western Australia where I became heavily involved with the wine industry of the State. All this while also travelling the world and exploring the diverse and wonderful flavours that exist on this blue planet. I will admit some food phobias....I don't do kidney, liver, brains, heart etc and I won't come at sea cucumbers - have you smelt those things?
Because of that world and those experiences, albeit I never really thought about it, when I travel, it is fair to say that food and every aspect of a place's food culture fascinates me. So I am going to include the odd blog post either about cooking on a boat or about the foods I encounter on this journey. Hope you find it interesting and perhaps even educational 😘😬
