AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

SWEET TREAT: PAVLOVA

There’s one thing Aussies and Kiwis can agree on: this meringue-based creation, so named after Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured the region in the 1920s. But who actually invented the dessert? Both countries claim it as their own, and there’s no convincing each other otherwise. Best to just top it with whipped cream and your favourite combination of fresh fruit and call it a draw.

CLASSIC DRINK: ANYTHING ICE- COLD

Given the heat in Australia and New Zealand at this time of year, summer-appropriate beverages are the standard choice. Whether it’s a Christmas- morning mimosa made with orange juice and a local sparkling wine, or a crisp lager to accompany a holiday barbecue on the beach or in the backyard, ‘refreshing’ is the operative word. “Anything cold and liquid!” says Zoë Meunier, managing editor of RD’s Asia-Pacific editions.