As a grand finale to our 2021 Heritage Day campaign, we turned up the heat to see who would be crowned king of the coals. Since Braai Day is all about getting together, celebrating our beautiful country, and braaing with family and friends, we wanted to make sure we included as many Megamaster fans as possible. So we paired up with Groot FM to host a tandem braai battle. Here’s how it went down...

Heritage Day braai

BATTLE OF THE BRAAI

During our #24DaysOfHeritage competition, we shared daily braai recipes on our website and social channels. Each day, Groot FM presenters chatted about the dish of the day, asking listeners to SMS or call in to share their personal braai twist to the dish.

Four participants were selected to join our mega braai off. Each selected listener also received a Megamaster accessory hamper worth R2 000.

The braai off took place on 23 September, just before Heritage Day, when we gathered together delicious gourmet food, a range of Megamaster braais and accessories, a handful of fiery folks, and feel-good vibes.

Four braai teams (comprised of two radio presenters and one selected listener) competed for the braai title.

The Teams

GROOTBREKFIS

  • Jennifer Myburgh (presenter)
  • Johanni Burger (presenter)
  • Jaco Kruger (listener)

KOM ONS PRAAT DAAROOR

  • Jacques Erasmus (presenter)
  • Pieter Cloete (presenter)
  • Rudi Groesbreek (listener)

LUNCH PUNCH

  • Francois van Rensburg (presenter)
  • Anelma Meiring (presenter)
  • Lucette Labuschagne (listener)

GROOTTREK

  • Doepie (Jacques) du Preez (presenter)
  • Sonet Stofberg (presenter)
  • Mart-Mari Rykaard (listener)

The selected listeners – Jaco Kruger, Rudi Groesbreek, Lucette Labuschagne and Mart-Mari Rykaard – shared their top braai tips with us during the event. Here are a few of our favourites:

Mart-Mari: “You can make the best food, but it means so much more if you share it with the people you love.”

Jaco: “Control the coals and the temperature during the braai. Also, marinate your meat and use your own secret spice recipe.”

Lucette: “Be creative. Don’t be scared to make a few changes to the recipe. Give a bit of yourself and your preferences to the recipe. Make sure to use a Megamaster braai! The Master makes everything so much easier!”

On hand to help out were chef students and lecturers from Capital Hotel School.

Students Christine Ntsie and Liezl Marais said: “The participants were great people to work with and we all enjoyed the day, the braai and chats. We’d work with them again, any day.”

Meanwhile, lecturers Marlise Whelan and Ilse Krause enthused: “What an awesome experience. The teams were very competitive, which brought a great vibe to the day. Braaing is a very sociable event. There was excitement everywhere. Capital Hotel School assisted where help was needed, whether it was to keep time, stir a pot, check on bread or cleaning up. The students also enjoyed it very much! It was such an awesome experience to work alongside Megamaster and Groot FM.”

The Recipes

Each team had to prepare the same three-course meal in three hours, with one meal presented to the judges every hour, on the hour:

  • Starter: Basil, sundried tomato and feta braai pie
  • Main Course: Pork belly and corn bread (original recipe by Capital Hotel School’s student chefs Jean Paul van der Meulen and Emile Nel)
  • Dessert: Malva pudding and milk tart trifle (original recipe by Caro Alberts)
Heritage Day recipes

The Judges

The panel of judges consisted of Megamaster head of operations Callie Visagie, Megamaster head of sales Jacques de Villiers, singer and actress (and Friend of Megamaster) Stephanie Baartman, and Groot FM content manager and guest presenter Francois Botha.

Here’s what they had to say about the experience:

“There are a few things that make a good braai or even an excellent braai. But two things are core: the product that creates the experience and setting for the participants, and the chef’s hard work that is the bridge between the product, food and setting. And that is exactly what happened at the Groot FM Heritage Day braai competition,” said Callie.

Jacques commented: “We had so much fun judging the contestants’ food. A special thanks to Stephanie and Francois for making this a memorable event. Just for the record, although there was one winner, the scores were very close.”

Stephanie said: “I can’t wait to taste the mielie brood and pork belly, because it transports one back home, doesn’t it? Also, what I’ve seen so far looks amazing, I can’t wait to taste everyone’s creativity and see the different twists they’ll be putting on these familiar dishes.”

While Francois added: “The four teams on the go here really surprised me, as I didn’t know what would come out of this. I must say, there are chefs here from Capital Hotel School giving each team some guidance and direction, and I think that is helping a lot. The pesto, the dried tomato, the feta cheese, the presentations, everything looks lovely, so all we have to do now is start tasting!”

Megamaster’s brand, social and design specialist Marijke Benade – who also joined in the festivities – said: “Some sharing was encouraged to get the energy going and the creative juices flowing. We placed Megamaster cookbooks with all the recipes for the event on the braai tables. Some of the dishes had to be made on a charcoal fire. Others had to be made on gas. The excitement was something else.”

The Winner

Congrats to the best braaier, Lucette Labuschagne, who walked away with a Megamaster Apex Series 6 Burner Patio Gas Braai and accessories to the value of R16 000. “Thank you to everyone who played a role – even without the main prize, this event was food for the soul!”

Heritage Day competition winner

WHAT HERITAGE DAY MEANS FOR MEGAMASTER

Not many brands are lucky enough to have a public holiday named (if only casually) after the industry they serve. So Braai Day, of course, is a very important date on our calendar.

It boils down to relationships. Not only fostering connections around the braai, but also building lasting relationships with Megamaster customers by developing products that can add real value your everyday lives.

There is so much positivity around a braai. It’s something all South Africans love and perhaps something we didn’t get to share with family and friends during the Covid-19 lockdown. But despite the restrictions in place, many of us certainly perfected the art of braaing while staying at home.

Isn’t this all the proof we need that braaing will forever be part of our heritage?

Heritage Day competition participants

Wondering where to braai outdoors during summer? We’ve rounded up the top outdoor braai areas in South Africa.