What is a barbie in Australia?
A barbie is Australian slang for a barbecue, both the grill itself and the social gathering. Having a barbie is one of the most popular ways for Australians to eat outdoors with family and friends.
Barbecues are cooked on gas grills in backyards, on electric public barbecues in parks and beaches, or over campfires. Public barbecues are free in many council parks, a much-loved Australian tradition.
Typical barbie food includes sausages, steaks, lamb chops, chicken, prawns, burgers and vegetables, often served with bread, salads and sauces. Sausages in a slice of bread with onions and tomato sauce are a classic.
Throw another shrimp on the barbie
The phrase was made famous by actor Paul Hogan in 1980s tourism advertisements for the United States. Australians actually call shrimp prawns.
The Bunnings sausage sizzle, held outside hardware stores on weekends, is a famous fundraiser for schools, sports clubs and charities, where a sausage in bread costs only a few dollars.
Barbecues are a central part of Australia Day, Christmas lunch for some families and summer weekends. Many Australians have strong opinions about whether onions go under or on top of the sausage, and Bunnings changed its guidance in 2018 to put onions underneath for safety.
Did You Know?
Election day sausage sizzles, known as democracy sausages, are held at polling places across Australia.