South Africa is one of the world’s most diverse countries. There are eleven official languages (a few unofficial ones too), there are many ethnic groups, many religious groups and many different gastronomic influences. It could be said that South Africa is a cultural melting pot where international and domestic influences come together to create a country where one can experience local food and culture on one day and get a taste of one’s own country on another. You can enjoy a traditional ‘braai’ (barbecue) in the sun today and then enjoy the finest Italian pizza tomorrow.

South Africans are large consumers of meat and the braai (rhymes with ‘cry’) is as much a part of our culture as burgers are to Americans. The braai is perhaps more a social occasion than it is a means of cooking meat, and is traditionally held on a weekend when the weather is good.

Friends are invited over and are generally asked to bring their own meat and a salad, as well as their drinks – this is known locally as the ‘bring-and-braai’.

The fire preparation and the cooking of the meat is more often than not the preserve of the men, and it will generally be the host who will be in charge of the fire. It is rare to find a lady sweating it out in front of the hot fire.

They will normally be found sitting to one side catching up on the details of each others lives, once they have completed the salad preparations, which is their domain. Once the fire is lit and while the wood burns down to coals that are at the correct temperature for cooking the meat, garlic bread, or even vegetables, good friends and/or family sit around and discuss everything from politics (always a favourite) to the latest rugby or soccer match (two of our national sports) to the latest exchange rate of the Rand against the Dollar or the Pound (is it up, or is it down?).

The South African passion for the braai has even lead to entire rooms in houses being dedicated to the braai. A braai room is a selling feature for properties, and houses that have them can command higher selling prices than those that don’t. They are most beneficial in areas that experience winter rainfall, because even if it is raining the braai can go on.

A braai (the social aspect, anyway) can last as long as a whole afternoon and into the evening; they are normally arranged for lunch time or for supper time, and if there is a big rugby or soccer match on television then they will be scheduled around that. There is even a National Braai Day in recognition of this pastime that is enjoyed by so many. It shares a day with Heritage Day which is celebrated on 24 September each year.