| Country or region | Christmas Island |
|---|---|
| See also | Australian Chinese cuisine,Malay cuisine |
Thecuisine of Christmas Island can best be described as an eclectic combination of traditionalAustralian cuisine andAsian cuisine, particularly meals fromMalaysia andIndonesia.[1]
As of 2009[update], the island had just 1,200 residents: 65% Chinese Malaysians, 20% Malaysian Malays, and 15% of European descent. There are also small Malaysian Indian and Eurasian communities on the island.[2]
Previously an additional 2,000+ people lived at theChristmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre. Their meals were flown in by theAustralian Government via operatorSerco.[2] The centre was closed in October 2018 but re-opened in 2019, and as of early 2020 hosted only one family of Tamil asylum seekers.
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Almost no fresh food is grown on the island due tonematodes in the soil.[2] However, there are three local gardens on the island that cultivate small amounts of Asian greens. These include a community garden at Drumsite, another small community vegetable patch in Poon Saan, and a temple garden, also located in Poon Saan. Notably, these community gardens feature garden beds built up out of the soil to prevent worms from reaching the surface and risking dehydration, thereby preserving the roots of the vegetables. Some of the Asian greens and vegetables grown in these gardens include bok choy, choy sum, kangkong, Chinese mustard, eggplant, and okra, among others.
Locals rely on government-contracted deliveries of fresh food from mainland Australia. As of November 2013[update], an additional air-freight of vegetables arrives from Malaysia via Indonesia every Friday night for purchase on Saturday morning. This air-freight mainly caters to the tastes of the local community, offering fresh noodles, Asian greens, fish, pork belly, bones and fillets, as well as other packaged foods like fish balls and tofu.
In recent years, the supply of fresh food has been affected by a number of major incidents. In January 2012, theMV Tycoon crashed into the island's main dock atFlying Fish Cove, preventing subsequent fresh-food deliveries from reaching the island.[3] When food supplies by ship are not available, air-freighted deliveries have been known to sell out within hours.[2]
Due to the tropical nature ofChristmas Island's weather, a wide variety of food grows wild on the island. Fruit trees are found dotted around the island and on private properties. Some of the things that can be found by foraging on Christmas Island include:
Many other well known tropical fruits such as rambutan, lychee and durian do not grow on Christmas Island as there is inadequate soil depth and not enough steady rainfall throughout the year.
As a result of supply issues, whole freshproduce can be difficult to acquire and so meals that make use ofprocessed foods andcanned foods are popular.
Traditionally,chickens were kept on the island and locals produced their ownpickled eggs and Chinesecentury eggs. Dishes that made use of the chickens themselves were popular along with dishes that included localcoconut crabs.[4] However, coconut crabs are now a protected species.
The island has a number ofnoodle bars offering Chinese and Malaysian dishes in accordance with the traditional cuisines of the island's residents.[1]
