From the Editor, Leigh O’Connor.
As the dust settles from the announcement of the 2025 AGFG Chef Hat Awards, let’s take time to digest the excellence achieved by dining destinations around the country in the last 12 months and get excited about what is ahead this year.
Let’s also excite our taste buds with this week’s focus on native ingredients…do you know how to cook with them? Forage for them? Or even which ingredients are a great swap for conventional herbs and flavourings?
The use of native ingredients in our cooking has grown exponentially in recent years with proteins such as kangaroo now readily available at supermarkets and butchers and herbs such as lemon myrtle appearing in all manner of dishes at restaurants and on our family tables.
If you are unsure of which flavourful additions to include in your cooking, check out our guide to five native ingredients we think you need to know how to use.
Incorporating native Australian ingredients into everyday meals is a fantastic way to connect with the land while enhancing your dishes with unique flavours. Whether you’re looking to add a subtle twist or make a bold statement, native ingredients can work their way seamlessly into your everyday cooking.
The best part is that many native ingredients can be used as easy swaps for the more common ones in your pantry or fridge. So, instead of reaching for your usual go-to herbs and spices, why not try something a little more local and sustainable? Discover easy swaps in Marie-Antoinette Issa’s article like Warrigal greens for spinach and wattleseed for coffee or cocoa.
Marie-Antoinette also delivers a beginner’s guide for foraging for native ingredients:
Foraging has gained immense popularity among food enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. It involves gathering wild food from natural landscapes, often leading to discoveries of unique flavours and a deeper connection with the environment.
In Australia, the abundance of native plants, fruit, seeds and herbs offers a treasure trove for aspiring foragers, but it’s essential to tread carefully and responsibly.
Lunar New Year is just around the corner and if you want to celebrate the Year of the Snake in style in either Melbourne or Brisbane, don’t miss reading what’s on offer from Luke Nguyen’s one-of-a-kind menu to lion dancing and an interactive Snakes & Ladders experience.
Planning a holiday this year? Pencilling in the next getaway is the secret for almost 3 in 5 Aussies (56%) when it comes to having something to look forward to in the New Year. Despite the well-being boost travel brings, high costs and the need for detailed planning have seen travelling make the list of stressful big life decisions for Aussies.
Travel planning doesn’t need to be stressful. Skyscanner Travel Expert Jarrod Kris says there are tools and hacks for Aussies to use to reduce stress and get the best bang for their buck. Skyscanner wants to encourage Aussies to use January to get their travel planning underway and book a holiday now.
For Aussies looking for a stress-free year ahead, Skyscanner has partnered with Neurologist Dr Faye Begeti on tips and advice for stress-free travel. Dr Faye shares her five brain hacks from combating decision fatigue to prioritising key decisions early, these are great hacks to have up your travel sleeve.
Read on and let’s get native…
