About Bond University

Australia

Food & Drink

Aussies refer to their home as the "Lucky Country," which is apt when it comes to Australia's abundance and variety of food. They are blessed with many exotic fruits, a huge variety of fish, some of the best lamb and beef in the world, and, thanks to the immigration rules, almost every sort of cuisine from around the world.

Apart from Italian, Greek, and Lebanese food, which is now firmly established in Australia, Asian cuisine is having a major effect. Thai, Japanese and Chinese food is particularly popular.

Australia is also a serious coffee-drinking nation. The familiar Starbucks have stores in Australia, one of which is close to Bond University. However, the Australian coffee drinking tradition is quite different from the US and is more like Italy with most coffee being served in sidewalk cafés in china cups.

As for food served in bars, don't count on it. Many Australian pubs regard the consumption of food as an unnecessary distraction from solid beer drinking.

A short note about Australian beer: Reputed to have the highest per capita beer consumption in the world after the Germans, Australians drink an enormous range of beers, including lager, bitter, and stout. Each state has its own principal brewer. In NSW (New South Wales) it's Tooheys, in Victoria it's Carlton and United Breweries (brewer of Fosters), in Queensland, its' XXXX (pronounced 4X), and so on. A new generation of boutique brewers such as Red Back, Coopers, and Hahn have also sprung up.

Ordering beer at an Australian pub is complicated (but as a bright young college student, you are bound to learn to master it very quickly). Tap beer is served in glasses called schooners, ponies, pots, handles, midis, and even glasses. If in doubt, ask for a bottle of beer from the bar fridge. Most Australians drink straight from the bottle: you'll have to ask for a glass. Except in first-class hotels, never leave a tip.

Drink driving is considered a very serious offence by the Australian police and random breath testing is a common site on many Australian roads at night. Oh, and by the way, the legal drinking age in Australia is 18.