My food tour group went to the Queen Victoria Markets where we explored the markets, in particular the deli area and variety of cuisines that were sold there.
The first thing that caught all of our eyes was the variety of cold meats and sausages that were sold there. I knew before hand that cold meats and sausages were a major part of German cuisine so I was not surprised to see that there were a number of German delis in the precinct.
What did surprise me though was seeing South African and Australian delis in the precinct. We were able to discover all sorts of sausages that we had never seen before which was definitely an enriching experience for us all.
After completing our work sheet, my food tour group headed to China Town on Little Bourke St where we were able to compare all the different Asian cuisines that were sold in the area. What surprised us the most was seeing different types of cuisines selling the same dish, only with small variations in the ingredients. For example, Chinese and Malaysian restaurants were often seen with similar menus.
This was probably what resonated with me the most. China town had pretty much morphed into the modern day "Asia town", now selling all types of Asian cuisine rather than just Chinese. The Chinese were the first large Asian population to settle in Australia which explains why the precinct is called Chinatown.
The reason for this concentration of multiple cuisines in one area is most likely due to the store holders wanting to open a store in an area that people recognise Chinese cuisine will be sold at. In twisting their menus to make them seem like a variant of Chinese meals, they are able to attract more customers.
