Just off Melbourne’s über-cool Brunswick Street, hipsters are queuing outside cult café Smith & Deli. But while the menu might be based on New York-style cuisine – pastrami sandwiches and home-cooked lasagne – here, things are a little different. Everything sold at Smith & Deli is 100% vegan.

Australia is the home of the tanned, the active and the healthy. But is this stereotype true? Unsurprisingly, no. With long working hours and a steadfast commitment to a busy social life, Aussies are packing on the pounds. In the second of a two-part series, we look at what’s making Australia fat.

Food is an intrinsic part of culture Down Under, and both domestic and international chefs are now embracing Australia’s indigenous ingredients. Helping them obtain hard-to-source produce is Playing With Fire, an online grocer that sells and delivers a range of native fruits, nuts and spices.

Australia is a nation without any iconic national fare. Instead, it’s developed an eclectic flavour profile that references the waves of immigration to its shores. In the first of a two-part series we look at Australia’s multi-cultural dinner table and how Aussies like to enjoy their mealtimes.