Four Seasons' Third-Annual Australia Day Is a Lamb-a-Palooza

Perhaps you're asking yourself, What exactly constitutes Australian cuisine? (Because, no offense, Outback, we doubt you're keeping it 100 percent authentic over there.)

Well, if you ask native Australian Aaron Brooks, executive chef of Edge Steak & Bar at the Four Seasons Miami: "Awesomeness."

For the past three years, the Four Seasons Miami has hosted an annual food event featuring Aussie bites and beverages in honor of Australia Day, which marks the day in 1788 when a fleet of British ships arrived in New South Wales, raised the Union Jack, and essentially founded Australia. (There's a good chance the indigenous people of Australia might take issue with that characterization, but that's a topic for another day.)

For Chef Brooks, it's a chance to pay homage to his native land with Aussie-inspired dishes.

"Mini meat pies, lamingtons, iced vovos, kabana, just to name a few," Brooks says. "Oh, and lamb."

He was named Miami's “Lambassador” by Meat & Livestock Australia, so you can bet there will be plenty of meat on the barbie.
"Anything cooked off the grill in Australia constitutes barbie: steaks, chops, shrimp, lamb. You name it, we grill it," Brooks says.

January 23 through 29, enjoy dining à la down under for $23 for a three-course lunch-break menu Monday through Saturday. Available all week, the chef’s tasting menu will feature five surprise Australian-inspired courses for $55 per person.

Finally, January 29, wraps up the weeklong festivities with the "Bahía 'Barbie with Chef Aaron and His Mates." At Bahía, the poolside restaurant and lounge on the seventh floor, Brooks will be joined by Timon Balloo of Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill, Jimmy Lebron of 27 Restaurant & Bar, Bret Pelaggi of Threefold Cafe, and Nicole Votano of Dirt from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $75 per person.

Not only has Brooks concocted a special rum cocktail, called Kangaroo Punch, for the occasion, but he also collaborated with J. Wakefield Brewing to create a limited-edition beer. Plus, the Tank Brewing Co. will be on hand to pour suds.

Advance tickets are required for the Bahía 'Barbie. Visit edgeaustraliaday.eventbrite.com.