Something that many people have heard of but perhaps few outside Australia have tried is delicious kangaroo. Even Down Under many people have either not tried it or eat it very rarely. Health benefits aside and considering the meat has been cooked correctly, which is to say rare, your taste buds will be singing a pleasant tune.
I have tried several variations including steaks, fillets, prosciutto, and "Kanga Bangas" (which are kangaroo sausages.) The first thing that strikes you is how tender this red meat is compared to beef or lamb, for example. My first attempt to eat it in Sydney was in my own home after purchasing a couple steaks at the supermarket. I was advised to just seal the meat and leave the inside rare. The meat turned out to be very juicy and easy to chew, with a red meat flavour unlike any other I have tried. You could taste the game and also a slightly sweet aftertaste that was a very pleasant surprise. Pairing it with a bitter Cabernet made wonders at the dinner table. The below picture does a good job of showing a nicely seared steak with a medium rare inside.
While living in Sydney, it's easy to lose yourself in this beautiful city, however, finding a stereotypical Australian experience overseas travelers look for can be rare. Metropolitan, sophisticated, and extremely beautiful, one can be forgiven for forgetting where they are exactly. This changes when you walk into a modern pizzeria restaurant and order up a prosciutto pizza. I remember being on Crown Street and doing just that exactly. Smoked, thinly sliced kangaroo meat on my pizza? Well, I believe there are very few places where you can indulge in such a local and unique experience. If ever you find yourself in this fair city and have a craving for smoked meat, do not pass up on the opportunity of this incredible indulgence.
If you think you have adventurous taste buds, this is a perfect meat to try. It has all the hallmarks of what makes life good in the world of food. Taste, aroma, health benefits, sustainable practices, and, of course, a little bit of weirdness.
You can locate some 'roo in Toronto at Whitehouse Meats if you feel like your cooking chops are up to par, or you can get a Kanga Banga at WVRST.
Happy hangings with the "roo!
