Our Eighth Month in Australia: Spicy Meals, Sweet Treats, and Scenic Trails

Oct 30, 20242 min read

As we entered our eighth month in Australia, the Spring flowers had started to bloom bigger and brighter. Spring brought more frequent rain with it, too. The mild temperatures were perfect for outdoor walks and warm, spicy food. So that's what we did! Read on to find out what we were up to in October.

Spicy Sri Lankan Meals and Greek Donuts

As the rainy weather called for spicy meals, our craving for familiar food back home spiked. So, we whipped up some Kottu Roti, a Sri Lankan street food delicacy, for dinner one rainy day. Another time, we got some authentic Sri Lankan rice and curry for lunch, along with spicy Sri Lankan-style curry rolls. These rolls are a mix of pan-fried veggies and meat wrapped in pastry dough, then coated in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. Munching on these foods reminded us so much of home and brought back nostalgic memories. We forgot that we were in a foreign country for a while there.

We're both suckers for donuts, especially ones dipped in a sweet sauce. There's this little Greek donut place on the Brighton shopping strip called "Lukumades," and they sell delicious loukoumades dipped in all kinds of chocolate and pistachio sauces. They're the perfect dessert to pair with the spicy kottu. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

Hiking in the George Bass Coastal Trail

With the weather warming up as we entered mid-spring, we came across a beautiful hiking trail in San Remo called the George Bass Coastal Trail. It's an 8km long, low-intensity hiking trail along the east coast, and quite frankly one of the most beautiful hiking trails I've ever been on. On one side, you've got the ocean, and on the other side, there are sprawling farmlands and grasslands teeming with rabbits, kangaroos, and birds.

Deli Style Hot Dogs and Cozy Rainy Evenings

I recently discovered the amazing flavour combo of caramelised onions, roasted beef, and plain old yellow mustard while making beef burgers. So this month, I decided to try it on hot dogs. I've always wanted to make my own American deli-style hot dogs, and a rainy evening was the perfect time to try it out. Golden caramelised onions and browned beef sausages paired perfectly on a lightly toasted brioche bun. Topped with chopped pickles, chopped jalapeños, and mustard, it was an explosion of flavours combined to bring out the perfect smoky, spicy, tangy combination. It was the perfect addition to cozy up a rainy evening.