Perceptions and images of "typical" Australian dishes : an exploratory study

The research investigates the perceived images that "typical" Australian dishes evoke in the minds of consumers, including words they associate with descriptions of typical Australian dishes. A questionnaire designed and distributed among undergraduate students at various universities yielded 561 usable responses. Three predominant responses were associated with typical Australian dishes: grilled/barbequed meats, steaks, and meat pies. In addition, Australian dishes evoked four different images among respondents: positive (related to specific images e.g., barbequed foods), neutral, negative, and food related. Overall, the findings underline a limited knowledge. Consumer education could help broaden understanding and enhance images of the country's culinary attributes.