Aussie Delights
Remember when we mentioned the love that we were feeling from Down Under thanks to a kind reader who informed us (surprise!) that our dining room was in Australia’s Better Homes & Garden’s magazine last month? She even sent over this scan of it for us to share (thanks again Jacqueline!).
Well, we’re learning that Aussies are a generous bunch. Shortly thereafter another Australian reader offered to send us her copy (thanks Megan!). And while she was at it she slipped a little Australian delicacy into the package. Check out the contents description:
Yes, that does say “Magazine” and “Vegemite” (I wonder what the postal workers were thinking). Apparently after the little Vegemite-related taste debate that ensued in our last post’s comments, she wanted us to try it for ourselves. And we were so game.
Having heard it was an acquired taste, Sherry and I approached the Vegemite with caution. It sure did look like a jar of chocolate, but certainly didn’t smell like one.
I decided the smell was a mix of chocolate, plums and damp wood (a delicious combination, no?). I believe Sherry’s conclusion was that it just smelled “yeasty,” which makes sense considering it says “concentrated yeast extract” right under the name on the label. But Megan didn’t send the Vegemite almost 10,000 miles for us to just smell it.
So, as a bunch of bona fide Australians suggested in the comments, we toasted a piece of bread until it was nice and crisp (it was the last one in the house, so we had to share) and spread on a thick coat of butter first. Then came the time to apply a thin layer of our new Australia treat (we heard more than once that thin was the operative word)…
Did we do it right, Aussies? Is that thin enough or was that layer a bit too wimpy of us?
With the Vegemite finally spread, we cut the slice in half and rock-paper-scissored for the chance to try it first. I won (or lost, you decide). Here’s the show Sherry got to watch as my taste buds went on an outback adventure:
My verdict: I like the initial taste and the aftertaste, but there’s a moment right in the middle of each bite where the Vegemite packs quite a punch and was too strong for my preference (it’s very salty). But I downed the entire slice and then snatched the camera from Sherry so I could capture her Vege experience.
Sherry was skeptical at first (having watched me), but was quick to fall in love with it, actually. She gobbled up her piece almost before I could get any non-blurry pictures. Then later in the evening she even wished aloud (more than once) that we hadn’t run out of bread so she could have more.
So there you have it - the Petersiks’ run in with Vegemite. While I’m usually the adventurous palate in the family, the rest of this jar has Sherry’s name all over it. But what we can agree on is that the Australian issue of BHG is awesome, making us even more flattered to be included. Thanks again for sending both of them our way, Megan!
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Comments
Vegemite is the best (as are tim tams)! What I’ll never understand is peanut butter and jelly. I guess it depends where you grow up.
Oh. MY. God. What have i started. Glad you liked it and that it arrived in one piece. I had nightmares that the vegemite jar would break and smear all over the magazine as i forgot to put it in a plastic bag before i sent it. Tim tams and Pavlovas’ are equally australian. Tim tams are yummy choc cookies(we call them biscuits but i know in the USA biscuits are bread things that you have with roast chicken)and pavlova is sweet baked whipped egg whites shaped like a cake and eaten with cream and fresh fruit on top (or choc). Thankfully it’s dinner time over here as this is making me hungry.
Dudes– Congratulations on getting through your first taste of a yeast extract product! I’m an American living now in London, and have developed a freakish fondness for Marmite, which none of my American family members share. I can thoroughly endorse toast, Marmite and a cup of tea as a guaranteed hangover cure. Do try it next time!
Pavlova is a wonderful dessert with a crisp meringue base, topped with whipped cream, and sliced fresh fruit (down unda it’s made with kiwis). The US-published Silver Palate Cookbook has an excellent no-fail pavlova recipe, although it’s with strawberries only.
Tim Tams are a little bit of heaven in the cookie aisle: chocolate cream sandwiched between two crisp chocolate cookies (delicate though; not at all Oreo-like), and dipped in chocolate. The way I was told to eat them in Sydney is to nibble off opposite corners, dip in your coffee (so the chocolate filling melts), and then slurp out the liquified goo before it all comes apart in your hands. Awesome.
PS thanks for a great site, and I’m loving all your money-saving solutions! BTW, do you have any pull with Target? Will you please help me in my campaign to bring Target to England? Thanks to your features I’m seriously thinking of moving back to Chicago so I can shop there…
Whaaat? You don’t know about Tim Tams, Violet Crumbles or pavlovas?? Best food ever, along with lamingtons and kangaroo steaks.
Tim Tams are chocolate biscuits and pavlova is a sort of meringue dessert, usually topped with passionfruit and strawberries, or any fruit you like. Try googling them!
ps just kidding bout the kangaroo steaks – you can eat them but I don’t. Koalas are much tastier lol.
LOL the taste test. In my opinion you still put a little too much vegemite on – mind you i prefer NZ Marmite – a little sweeter and less harsh. Also try it with sliced cheese on bread as well – yummo.
Tim Tams are chocolate covered biscuits – and even though as a choclate obsessed gal, i cannot understand why us aussies go on about it so much, they are nice, but not THAT nice.
Pavlova is a dessert made out of meringue filled with cream and fresh fruit – yum indeed! you will often hear australians and nZers debating who invented it….but who knows.
Yay! I’m SO proud of you for giving it a shot. Like someone else said it’s also really good on crackers with a bit of cheese on top…mmmmm but remember just a little scrape!
And all this talk of tim tams, violet crumbles & good ol’ pav (that’s pavlova – you know us Aussies, have to abbreviate everything) has me wishing I was back in my beautiful Australia and not in drizzly Ireland!
Love this post!
Hey Sarah,
Sorry to say that we have no pull with Target… yet. But we’ll definitely join you in encouraging them to expand overseas (along with West Elm- you’ll love that too!).
xo,
s
I’ve been eating vegemite my whole life and even I wouldn’t put that much on my toast! You guys did admirably well, though, for first timers :P
:)
Hi Youngsters!! Good job on your first Vegemite bites :)
I think many Australians spread some butters on toast before the Vegemite. Some says to make it more spreadable some says it taste better. I think it’s taste a lot more better! Should give it another try with the butter.
Oh no! You have to have it with butter or margarine! My 3 year old daughter has a vegemite sandwich for lunch each and every day :)
I heard of someone this week who marinades prawns in the stuff. That is a little too eww for me. Vegemite is my comfort food!
I love your site; found it recently to get some decorating ideas from cyberspace. I’m an American expat living in Sydney, Australia and looooove vegemite (though it took me a while to get used to). You have to spread some butter on your toast first, then a thin layer of vegemite. I have an ad-flyer showing 12 different ways of eating vegemite if you want me to send you a scan. Just send me your email address. Cheers!
Oh this is the funniest post! Thanks for a great morning chuckle! I’ve never tried vegemite before, but seeing your reactions was hilarious! Keep up the great blogging!
Hey Everyone,
Sorry for the confusion! We had gobs of butter on that slice of bread, but since it was hot from the toaster it melted into the bread so you can’t see it. But it was there, and it definitely helped me love Vegemite. Can’t wait to polish off the whole jar!
xo,
s
Congrats on the feature. I love the white shelves with all your treasures on them!
So brave for trying vegemite! haha.
My brother in law once said (in an Australian-Fosters-Ad-Accent), “Vegemite, Australian for Ass”. Haven’t been able to try it since! Haha!
Vegemite is the best, it’s a stable food in Australia but looking at your slices of toast I would put only a quarter of what you put on it. I put it on very sparingly. It’s great on hot crumpets with butter.
Not experiencing Tim Tams is like not seeing the sun! Slight exaggeration but here’s a link for you with some quick facts – http://www.about-australia-shop.com/timtams.htm Hope you can get your hands on them somehow, I’d post them but I don’t know how the chocolate would go on the trip, oh and Pavlova is a big sloppy cake with cream and fruit with meringue holding it all together. Tim Tams are better!