The Braai

Just as we like our burgers and dogs on the barbeque in the USA and the mates throw a shrimp on the barbie down under, everyone cooks boeries on the braai in South Africa. It is the national pastime along with football and cricket. Boeries  are boerewors (farmer’s sausage),  a beef sausage typically  flavoured with nutmeg & coriander although you also can get them with many other herbs such as thyme and even ginger.

Other South African staples to go along with your braai are Biltong (beef jerky), Koeksisters (awesome sugared and braided deep-fried dough cookies which are like a glazed donut on crack), Pap (maize porridge) and Vetkoek (fat cake), more of  a doughy deep-fried cookie which can be filled with jam or savories.  

I have yet to see what we experienced in Australia though. We were on holiday one summer skiing in the Snowy Mountains and we went out to dinner at a recommended restaurant. When we got there we found out that the routine was to pick the piece of meat or seafood you want to eat from a display case and join one of the communal barbeque grills the size of pool tables. There, mostly men tend the cooking just like at home. Not a bad idea when you think about it.

It may just be ski resort areas in Australia because I never saw it again down under, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a communal braai somewhere in South Africa. Something to look for when we go skiing this summer in Tiffindell!