Australia – Notes From a Messy Kitchen

Like its neighbor Nauru, prior to embarking on this culinary journey, I had no idea that Tuvalu existed. The small island nation – made up of nine islands formerly known as the Ellice Islands – is located in the South Pacific. There is some variation across the islands, but unsurprisingly,...

Johanna

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Samoa: Palusami

Cooking Time: 55 minutes

Australia

Samoa

Today we may be setting a record for the recipe with the fewest ingredients, as this dish is made with just three: leafy greens, coconut milk and corned beef. I’ve always equated corned beef with Ireland, but this recipe is from Samoa – a tiny island nation in the...

Johanna

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Fiji: Kokoda

Cooking Time: 30

Australia

Fiji

Kokoda is a variety of ceviche, but instead of lime juice, distilled white vinegar is used to “cook” the fish. I use quotations because no heat is used so it’s not technically cooked; rather, the acid denatures the protein in the fish the same way heat will, making the texture...

Johanna

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Nauru: Coconut Crusted Fish

Cooking Time: 30

Nauru

Confession: before last week, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that Nauru was a country. But it is! A tiny island nation in Micronesia, northeast of Australia. I was even more surprised to learn that Nauru is the smallest country in the world, but also the fattest nation on Earth! The...

Johanna

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Australia: Lamingtons

Cooking Time: 90 minutes

Australia

Welcome to the Outback! After giving New Zealand credit for the Pavlova, I figured I better smooth out diplomatic relations. Plus, after our little boy president had a tantrum and hung up on their Prime Minister, the least I can do is give a nod to a sweet treat that is...

Johanna

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New Zealand: Pavlova

Cooking Time: 1 hour 20 minutes, plus an hour or so to cool

Australia

New Zealand

On Friday, geologists announced the discovery of a viable contender for an 8th continent: Zealandia. The landmass is almost entirely submerged by water, except for its highest mountains: New Zealand. What a coincidence it was that that very evening I planned to travel to New Zealand, not to celebrate the...

Johanna

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