I find it difficult to understand the attraction of a braai, or barbecue, for non-South Africans. Traditionally, it is a male pastime involving a large fire, copious amounts of beer and standing in a circle watching meat cook. Women are allocated to kitchen duty, where they are required to produce a variety of salads, preferably involving potatoes and pasta, garlic bread, bowls of salty snacks to pass around while the men debate the heat of the coals, and some sort of sweet, sticky dessert for afters.
When the meat is finally pronounced cooked, to the braaier's standard of doneness, which can range from anything between still bleeding to dessicated, the lucky ladies get to dish up for the men as well as themselves. After a short interval of silence while everyone tucks in, it's back to the kitchen to clean up, while the men place fresh logs on the fire and reminisce.
Fortunately those traditions are dying out, as women reclaim their place in society. Now we are also able to place the firelighter in the braai and build our fire of split logs around it, light it, ensure that it keeps burning until coals have formed and then place the meat on the grid, where we ensure that it is constantly turned with a pair of tongs while sipping on some sauvignon blanc. The salads have, of course, already been made earlier in the day, so no hiccup there. Once again, the meal is served at the whim of the braaier and carried resplendently through to the banqueting hall, where the men sit transfixed before the TV, watching sport.
Oh, did I neglect to say that's why the tradition has died out?
Lovely piece Pamela but braai-ing will NEVER die out in South Africa. It is as ingrained in our culture as sunshine and biltong. Personally I think wood, rather than coal, is always the way to go!
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