Faux Australian

An Aussie journalist in New York points out that Outback Steakhouse is about as authentically Australian as, well as Mongolian barbecues are really Mongolian. Think about it -- the Outback calls clam chowder an "Outback classic." Not many clams in the Australian outback, last I heard. Plenty of salt, but not much water. Similarly, Mongolian barbecues feature dishes like shrimp and chicken, when in fact both shrimp and chickens are notoriously difficult for people leading a nomadic lifestyle to herd to new pastures...

Outback Steakhouse was founded by Americans looking for a fun theme for their planned restaurant -- and what's funner than the land of Crocodile Dundee (or at least, the stereotype of Australia that Paul Hogan's character, and later Steve Irwin, represent). And much the same, "Mongolian barbecue" was coined by some savvy Chinese in the US looking for an exotic name to put on his Sino-American cooking -- and what's more exotic than Mongolia, even though their food is completely dissimilar (and alas, far inferior) to Chinese cuisine.

But they do serve good steaks all the same.