Globe Trotting Foodventures — Second Edition
How the Lamingtons Came Into Being
If you have had the delight of biting into these cake squares that are coated in rich chocolate and dusted with some dessicated coconut, you probably know the Lamington as a tiny, innocuous delight. Don’t be fooled though, this hero has quite the history and backstory.
The Controversial Past
The veracity of the history of Lamingtons is overcast with rumors and convenient recollection. As Professor and Australian author, Maurice French would point out in his book, ‘The Lamington Enigma: A Survey of the Evidence’, there are many versions of how this dessert came into existence. “One is the French chef de cuisine Armand Galland, who was appointed to Brisbane’s Old Government House to serve Lord and Lady Lamington. Another is Fanny Young from Ipswich, who was the governor’s cook at the Lamingtons’ summer residence in Toowoomba, Harlaxton House. Another is Amy Schauer, the cookery instructor at Brisbane’s Technical College”, he states.
The most common myth linked with the genesis of the Lamington claims that a maid at the Lamingtons’ residence, accidentally dropped a sponge cake in a bowl of chocolate. To avoid the stickiness and mess, Lord Lamington suggested that she cover it with dessicated coconut. And thus, the Lamington was born! Or was it?
More research in his book excavated a different version of the truth. Apparently, in the early 1900s, a Queensland cooking teacher, Amy Shauer, invented the Lamington chunks and named it after the cooking school’s benefactor — Lady Lamington.
Another version explores the possibility of Lord Lamington’s French chef concocting the Lamington as a last minute feat. A great twist of fate, I say! Of course, this also makes a simple cake sound much more niche and desirable.
Return of the Prodigal Dessert
Boisterous claims from the Kiwis and the Scots to the legacy of Lamington added to the speculation of how this famed dessert possibly originated. However, all of these claims were thrown aside. The Lamington is as Australian as Kangaroos, Hugh Jackman, Steve Irwin, Great Barrier reefs and Fosters!
The Aussie origin assertion marked the humble return of the prodigal dessert, back to its native land!
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Lamingtons[/caption]
Even within the Australian continent, the home of the dessert is often a debatable topic. Toowoomba’s links to the Lamington are deep-rooted in its folklore. There are many who concur that it was in fact invented in Queensland. However, Toowoomba or Brisbane compete for the title of the land where the Lamington was first served.
I believe that the Lamington is still in its evolution stage. For instance, the original recipe was made up of an entire cake and the modern day variant serves this delicacy in a smaller form; cut into bite-sized pieces. Today, the Lamington is manifesting in various forms with different fillings.
Bite-sized lamingtons only made an appearance in cookbooks in the later half of the twentieth century. This certainly paved way for and gave momentum to the tale of Lady Lamington’s version over the Lord Lamington story.
A Slice of Australian Culture
Lamington is iconic of the Australian culture. There’s no doubt about the fact that this sweet treat has a significant place in the popular culture down under. So much so, that every year on July 21, the Aussies observe the National Lamington day.
Lamington is a long-time spectator of the development in Australia — one that is synonymous with the rich, dynamic culture. I think it is safe to conclude that the Lamington is a rich biteful of sweet flavours with an even richer story.
