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Food and Drink

Grim reality for businesses left to pick up the pieces after bird flu outbreak

Despite poultry farmers being required to kill tens of thousands of their chickens to stop the spread of bird flu, the industry says it gets minimal financial support from government
Updated
Chickens in cages in a barn.

Still hungry after porridge? Nutritionists share their tricks to make it more filling

A warm bowl of porridge is many people's go-to winter breakfast but it can leave us hungry. Here are tips from nutritionists to make porridge more filling.
A bowl of porridge topped with banana and brown sugar sitting on a wooden table

Cut down your time in the kitchen with these four dinners that feed many

Whether you batch-cook on weekends, want leftovers for work lunches or love the idea of making one or two meals to last the week, here are four recipes to consider.
A speckled white bowl of lentil bolognese ragu topped with vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Parents 'panicked out of their mind' by cost of living turn to doomsday prepper for help

Trevor Andrei is a self-described doomsday prepper and survival guide. But it's not just people fearing the end of days that are coming to him for help, as the cost-of-living crisis bites hard. 
Trevor Andrei stands in a short with his name on the front at his property in regional Victoria on a summer day

Shakshuka is a comforting, satisfying meal for any time of the day

Shakshuka is a delicious dish made by poaching eggs in a spicy tomato sauce. Served with fresh herbs, crumbled feta and warm pita or crusty bread, it's an easy meal for any time of day.
Easy shakshuka with crumbled feta (poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce) in a pan served on white table with bread.

They may be ugly and wonky but this is what natural carrots look like

Theresa Scholl says many visitors to her farm have no idea that "normal" supermarket carrots are the result of centuries of selective breeding, farming techniques and careful curation.
A woman holds up a knobbly bunch of carrots

At a Tasmanian restaurant, diners can barter home veggies for restaurant meals in regenerative tourism model

An armful of salad greens in exchange for a restaurant dinner is what's on offer for local backyard growers at a northern Tasmanian hub where 'ultra seasonal' is the fare.
Updated
A young man holds large white crates of fresh green produce in each hand.

'Pig day' is popular among young Italian-Australians, and social media is spreading the tradition

Sausage-making is an unshakable tradition for many Italian families but the ritual is about so much more than a full belly, with young Australians like Angela Caiazza sharing nonni-inspired recipes on social media.
Updated
A woman hangs up stringed up sausages to dry

Australia and New Zealand can never agree on who invented the pav. Let's settle the debate

Australians and New Zealanders have been fighting over which nation invented the pavlova for years. Let's settle this debate once and for all. 
a graphic with one half showing a pav with kiwifruit and the other half with strawberries.

Dolce vita on the Murray River

When they left the old country Sunraysia's Italian migrant community brought with them a way of life and food that probably no longer exists in their former homeland.
ABC News Current
Duration: 2 minutes 23 seconds

Keeping 'old way' Italian traditions alive, the Timpanos are living la dolce vita on the Murray River

In the semi-arid riverside town of Irymple in Victoria, 70-year-old Pat and 68-year-old Gina Timpano are keeping the traditional spirit of the Mediterranean coastline alive.
Woman and man individually flouring a board and holding a ball of dough each -- action shot.

This loaded dal soup with sticky chicken is ready in 30 minutes

Enjoy this creamy red lentil dal with a twist. It's a quick and easy soup topped with tender, sticky chicken and a chopped salad.
A bowl of creamy red lentil soup on a table, topped with sticky chicken, chopped tomatoes , cucumber and herbs.

After its only cafe closed, the regional town that once hosted Eric Bana and The Dry is desperate for food options

Can you imagine having nowhere to buy lunch? Almost a year after opening its doors, the local cafe in the Mallee town of Beulah has closed its doors, and farmers and tourists have to look elsewhere for a bite to eat. 
Updated
A sign pointing to a closed down cafe

UNHCR marks World Refugee Day with cookbook sharing stories and recipes of Refugees

UNHCR Australia has launched a new cookbook, 'Flavours of Hope' showcasing treasured recipes by current and former refugees to mark World Refugee Day.
ABC News Current
Duration: 5 minutes 39 seconds

Major supermarkets price difference for basic groceries at 75 cents, new data reveals

Consumer advocacy group Choice says there is a difference of just 75 cents for the same basic grocery items at Coles and Woolworths.
ABC News Current
Duration: 2 minutes 59 seconds

Prison escapee behind famous meme 'a succulent Chinese meal' shares lunch with arresting officer 32 years later

More than three decades after Jack Karlson's infamous arrest at a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane captured the nation, a film crew is setting out to document his life.
Updated
Screengrab of a grey-haired man being wrestled into a car by a few policeman

The 'succulent Chinese meal' that sparked a pop culture phenomenon

In 1991, Jack Karlson was dragged from a restaurant by police — including Stoll Watt — while enjoying a 'succulent Chinese meal' with his friend.
A graphic shows Jack Karlson's arrest next to the words "a succulent Chinese meal".
Duration: 4 minutes 28 seconds

More than 1 million birds to be killed in Victoria to stop the spread of deadly disease

Poultry farmers continue to fight Australia's largest outbreak of avian influenza as the disease is detected at a seventh Victorian farm.
Caged hen at Werribee in Victoria

Colourful varieties of kitchen staple win praise for packing healthy punch

A nutritionist says purple sweet potatoes have higher antioxidants than the more popular gold variety and are a cost-effective food for families. 
A close up on a fair-skinned woman's hands in fabric work gloves holding a snapped purple sweet potato above red dirt.

Turning saltwater into sourdough on a remote tropical island

The smell of fresh artisan sourdough greets visitors after they fly in to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The bread is the brainchild of Tony Lacy, who is making the most of the remote island's limited produce.
Freshly baked bread cools on a kitchen bench at Salty's cafe and bakery on the Cocos Islands.

From Nigeria to the heart of Western Australia, Chef Omo has travelled a long road

Olashinde "Chef Omo" Omotosho's journey has taken him 12,000km from Lagos to Gascoyne Junction, where he's head chef for the small cattle town's only pub.
A middle aged man leans over pots and plates in a kitchen.

Kick off slow-cooker season with melt-in-your-mouth lamb shanks

With only 20 minutes of prep required, this delicious slow-cooker meal can be adjusted to suit your schedule.
Slow-cooked lamb shanks with pomegranate sauce in a pot, and also in a bowl served atop a heaping of mashed potato.

The best way to store eggs and how to know if they've gone bad

Following the news some supermarkets are limiting how many eggs you can buy, you might be wondering how you can make the ones you have last.
Close-up of seven eggs sitting in a cardboard carton.

Chilli-eating champion on what it takes to beat the heat

Tom Conroy entered the Darwin Chilli Eating Championship after a night on the sauce until 3am. He shares his recipe for success.
Chilli Man, Darwin Champion: A man in a black singlet drinks a schooner of beer.
Duration: 2 minutes 46 seconds

A library in Melbourne is trading books for food to address cost pressures and social isolation

A free cooking program is teaching low-cost recipes as the City of Melbourne says 1 in 3 residents experience food insecurity. 
Updated
Two women smiling at each other in a kitchen