"tim tams" news and stories

Tomorrow marks Australia Day, the country's official national birthday, or basically the Aussie equivalent of the 4th of July. And just like in the U.S., most Aussies will spend the day at the beach or yes, having a barbecue. (Remember, Australia's seasons are the exact opposite of ours, so they're in mid-summer, not dreary winter.)

Heathe St.Clair, who is the genial owner of three Aussie restaurants in New York, including the Sunburnt Cow, thinks Australian cuisine is defined by its use of fresh and high-quality produce and letting the flavors speak for themselves.

"When people ask me to describe Australian cuisine, I always say we are the thieves of the culinary world," he explained. "We mix and match. On my menus, I've got Asian influences, Middle Eastern, Italian, Greek and Mediterranean. When I'm cooking I'm always taking from other culinary traditions and making them my own."

If you have ever been to Australia or known someone who has been/lived there, you probably know what a Tim Tam is. It is a biscuit ("cookie") made by Arnott's that is widely regarded as one of the best things you can get down under. Unfortunately, the only place you can find them is Australia and a few very select importers, ones who actually import from countries other than England. But this weekend, in what I'm hoping is the start of wider availability, I found Tim Tams for sale at Cost Plus World Market.

You'll notice that the packaging doesn't actually say "Tim Tam" on it, but the picture of the biscuit (not to mention the one inside!) is unmistakable: a chocolate covered sandwich of light, crisp wafers and a unique, chocolate cream filling. Of course, mere description can't capture the caramel, vanilla and butter notes of the trip-chocolate biscuit, but at least it's a start.

I hope that I'll be able to find Tim Tams with more regularity, rather than relying on my Aussie friends to ship them to me. In the meantime, I'll practice my Tim Tam slam (even though I prefer it with a coffee instead of tea, which Niki used).