Hosting a top Mzanzi style braai
National Braai Day is coming up and that means you should invite all your friends over to your place to have a fantastic, sizzling steak braai.
Chop and dop will always be in the hearts of South Africans; it’s our best form of socialising and has brought people closer in more ways than one.
Hosting a braai is not a big deal, but as soon as you have company over who you’ve never met, the braai game is on! Braaing is not simply about putting the meat on the grill. No, braaing is about so much more.
Don’t forget the salads
There always has to be that one oke who says, “No salad for me, thank you. I’m not a goat.” To that person we say, bruh, are you even from this country? Potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, green salad, garlic bread, sweet corn and braaibroodjies are all side dishes which MUST accompany your braai on the plate. You must have at least three of these side dishes – it’s a matter of completing the ideal South African braai. A recent survey found that people generally like potato salad with their braai.
Good coals + tender meet = The Braai Master title
Don’t ever buy wet wood and expect it to dry out on the fire. You will be cause a smoke machine which no one finds appealing. Rooikrans wood is perfect for braaing. To bring in a variety of tastes, search for quick meat recipes if you want a variety of dishes to cook which don’t necessarily involve only braaiing.
The seating
Normally people stand around the fire with a drink in hand, but as soon as the meat is done they will want to sit down to enjoy their meal. Ensure you have plenty of seats, indoors and out. Wash down the patio furniture. Generally everyone enjoys being outside and want to eat where it’s clean. Make sure your braai and entertainment area is in tip top condition and ready to take on all your guests. If your garden still looks like winter, then sweep up the leaves, cut the grass and give everything a good glance over once you’re done.
But if the meat is good, the rest will follow suit. And as the Braai Master, you are allowed to tell the moaners and groaners that they will eat when the meat is done. Don’t let people guilt trip you into giving reasons why the meat isn’t ready yet. As braai extraordinaire Fanie Venter would say, “Voetsek, we eat when the chops sizzle.”