It’s braai day!

Heritage Day celebrates South African cultures

Get those tongs ready people, Heritage Day is on the 24th September and that means firing up the braai. Get together with your friends and family to celebrate South Africa’s different cultures.

Braaing is so versatile; it doesn’t have to be just chops and boerewors. Celebrate Cape Malay heritage with a delicious snoek braai or use ostrich and game instead of the usual beef and chicken. Ever had potjiekos? It’s delicious a ‘stew’ slow-cooked over hot coals in a traditional cast iron potjie-pot. Get creative; flavours can range from vegetables to ostrich neck and even curries. There are many people that would like to lay claim to the title of Braai King but few can say that they braai for a living. Jan Braai does just that and so we turned to him for some tips on the art of braaing and his favourite places to buy meat.

Here’s a round-up of braais happening this Heritage Day:

1. The launch of Backsberg braais
Head out to Paarl on Saturday to Backsberg Wine Estate where you can choose meat, chicken or fish and they will braai it for you. Get there early to plant a tree for Arbor Month.

2. Heritage Day Potjiekos Challenge
Noordhoek Village plays host to the Heritage Day Potjiekos Challenge, where the local restaurants will compete against the public. And, you’ll get to taste whichever potjie catches your eye. There will be activities for kids as well as live music to keep the grownups entertained.

3. Heritage Day at Neethlingshof
This holiday is not just about celebrating our culture and heritage but also about giving back to the communities around us. Neethlingshof Estate in Stellenbosch has joined forces with the Stellenbosch branch of the volunteer organisation Serve the City. The proceeds from the braai will go towards providing basic necessities for the people living in Enkanini, the township on the outskirts of the town.

4. Heritage Day at Laborie’s Lazy Days Market
Another event in Stellenbosch (who are also donating some of the proceeds to charity), this weekly market will be braaing up a storm with their ‘buy ‘n braai’. Well known chef, Duncan Doherty will be commander-in-chief of steak rolls whilst the rest of the team will ‘klap’ boerie rolls, hamburgers, seafood and sosaties.

5. Bosman Family Vineyards release weekend
Celebrate the estate’s new wines with a gourmet braai. Plus, enjoy a leisurely day of wine-tasting, gourmet food pairings and blues music played by Gerald Clark outside a 250-year-old wine cellar on the stunning Lelienfontein farm just 45 minutes from Cape Town.

Here’s our pick of Cape Town’s braai spots , get there early to secure your territory.

Don’t like to smell of smoke? The Simon’s Town Spring Festival has a wide range of activities going on all weekend from music and dancing to arts and craft stalls and a regatta. There will also be guided fynbos walks and you can catch the Atlantic Rail steam train from Cape Town. Heritage Day in District Six will celebrate Cape Town’s music legends. If you’re all about the open seas then take part in the Cadiz Heritage Day Swim to raise funds for the Neighbourhood Old Age Home.

If you’re keen to expose your kids to our country’s cultural heritage then head out to Greyton.. The Genadendal Mission Museum Heritage Day Celebration will be celebrating the memories of childhood and have arranged fun activities that centre on this.

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