Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 1 2023 i Braai and Rugby 2023

Throughout my life so far, I have avoided any form of rugby – as the saying goes: Cobbler, keep to your last. In fact, I avoided team sports altogether, because it’s just not in my blood. But I could never understand it. I come from a family where rugby has even led to success – my cousin Gideon Lensing, also known as Kees, has played rugby for the Bulls, Japan and Namibia, among others. One could say his success is the closest any blood of mine has come to the Webb Ellis Cup. If you had to ask me about rugby, I’d be able to tell you who Mannetjies Roux is (thank you, Laurika); I know who Chester Williams was (thanks, You, that wedding was beautiful!); and I know who…

The fire lit at the crack of dawn for the rugby game would flavour your coffee, bacon and eggs with a smokiness that awakens the senses like nothing else. Burning your hand using peevish braai tongs in the early morning is almost as bad as beginning the day with a hangover. Exercise moderation, invest in sturdy braai tongs and avoid the scissors type that is more difficult to handle. While the opposition in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay are warming their cast-iron chapas for huevos rancheros, our braai nation uses a ploughshare to make breakfast for the entire neighbourhood. While South Africa is not the birthplace of rugby, no other country can claim that their ancestors lit the first cooking fires. The remains of the oldest prehistoric cooking fires were found…

MORE ABOUT FRANS Frans Malherbe was part of the 2019 Springbok team that won the Rugby World Cup in Japan with a glorious victory over England. If all goes well, he and his teammates may bring the trophy back to South Africa this year. Frans married Ingrid van Huyssteen in February 2023 and they’ve made Stellenbosch their home. AT 1,9 M, YOU’RE A BIG GUY – BUT INGRID CALLS YOU A TEDDY BEAR. ARE YOU GENTLE? Yes, I think so. Caring is important to me, especially when it comes to family and friends. And I love children. I am an uncle to five: three of them are boys, and the especially older two often come and watch me play. That’s always very special. We also enjoy spoiling them with gifts,…

SET A RUGBY TABLE Let green and gold shine at your potjie celebration. Use a large check blanket in green and gold as a tablecloth – yes, it’s okay to think out of the box. Use the halftime cooler box as part of your décor (pick one with a check pattern to match the tablecloth) and you’ll have ice at your fingertips too! Old trophies serve as vases – fill them with a variety of succulents. For the finishing touch, look for napkins with a floral or plant motif. The appeal of this look lies in the combination of prints. You can spoil each guest with a leather rugby ball – such a gift makes a striking impression on a shelf as a décor item. On the menu Moroccan lamb…

LIGHTEN UP Add a special touch to your table with these chunky handmade candles from Knus. Each of the three designs, Spiritual, Mythical and Magical, is available in black, white and grey. From R259 (17 cm) to R299 (40 cm), knus.co BENCHMARK This wooden bench from Native Décor is made locally from birch plywood. With a length of 120 cm, it’s perfect for seating two to three guests. R2 999, nativedecor.co.za WARM AND SNUG Use the Wilson blanket, made from recycled cotton, for extra warmth on your bed or couch – or follow our lead and throw it over your table for a cosy texture. R1 799 (in Natural or Snow), Country Road THE NEW BLACK If a traditional black three-legged potjie doesn’t stir you, consider a colourful alternative from…

The longest sausage ever was made from pork. This world record was set in Romania in 2014 with a pork sausage that was 62,75 km long. At last the myth that pork should always be well done has been proven wrong. To ensure that pork is as juicy as beef or lamb, you can safely leave it slightly pink on the inside. Aim for light pink and an internal temperature of 62 °C, and allow to rest for 3 minutes. Pigs were domesticated so long ago that the Chinese character for “house” () is the symbol for a pig with a roof. The first rugby balls were made from inflated pig bladders, firmly sewn up to keep the air inside, and covered with leather panels. The elliptical shape of a…

MORE ABOUT ODWA Odwa Ndungane’s father, Zingisa, exposed him and his twin brother, Akona, to rugby from a young age and taught them that anything is possible if you work hard. Both Odwa and Akona played professional rugby from the early to mid-2000s and represented the Springboks. Today these two Ndungane brothers can be seen on SuperSport as rugby commentators. They also run an agency that identifies and develops rugby talent at underprivileged schools. Odwa lives in Virginia, Durban, with his wife, Kgomotso, and their two children, Amahle (10) and Anathi (6). YOU WERE 14 WHEN THE 1995 SPRINGBOK TEAM HAD THEIR LEGENDARY WORLD CUP VICTORY. WHAT INFLUENCE HAS IT HAD ON YOU? My dad, who passed away in 2014, played for the rugby club Wallabies in Mthatha in the…

On the menu My paella Stone bread Trout with curry mayonnaise Traditional snoek with sweet potato Green calamari curry Flatbread Mussels in green sauce Prawn bisque SET YOUR RUGBY TABLE For our fish braai table, we chose softer, more feminine elements balanced with a strong print. A muted pink linen tablecloth (H&M, R795) forms the basis of our table. Affordable coffee flasks (Checkers, R130 each) with a red check pattern serve as vases: fill them with water and add pink anthuriums. Mix and match antique plates with different floral motives and add a hint of gravitas with a black napkin for each guest – pink and black was Coco Chanel’s iconic colour combination, after all. For a less formal atmosphere, alternate chairs with hay bales for seating. Small pebbles are…

WAFFLES ON THE FIRE This Kitchen Craft waffle iron bakes two waffles at a time – and they're square, like the Belgians make them. Use it on an open fire or on the stovetop. R770, breademporium.co.za BRIGHT BLUE Who says a cast iron pot for the braai can’t be pretty? Look out for LK’s range of cast-iron cookware with a blue enamel layer. This pot has a volume of 5 litres. About R1 600, at Brights hardware stores or brights.co.za HANGIN’ ROUND If you’d like to cook food by hanging it around the fire, consider an investment in this heirloom. The durable Eva Solo FireCylinder Fire Pit is made of metal, which is an excellent conductor of heat – perfect for our hanging chicken on p 106. R7 599, yuppiechef.com…

On the menu Breakfast corn waffles with poached eggs Pap with sugar Potjie boerewors with beans in smoor Shakshuka, my way English breakfast jaffles Kidneys in a creamy sauce with toast Frittata French toast in a pot SET A RUGBY TABLE Keep your breakfast table décor light and fresh for this occasion, as you take your guests on a world tour. A light blue linen tablecloth (R795, H&M) creates the perfect backdrop. Browse vintage shops or markets for globes in various sizes and colours to place at random on the table. Add large glass vases with fynbos branches such as rose geraniums. Mix and match your cutlery, and place a chunky napkin at the seat of each guest. Let the breakfast feast begin! This was one of my mother’s favourite…

WHERE ON EARTH? Make your rugby table even more interesting with this 30 cm globe from RGS. It is made of cardboard and therefore light as a feather. R439, takealot.com NOSTALGIC Few things compare to the humble jaffle, especially at breakfast time. A cast-iron pan with wooden handles, like this one from LK’s, is essential. About R399 at outdoor stores such as Outdoor Warehouse HOT SEAT This chic yet comfortable grey chair from Umbra is perfect for fireside relaxation. R6 599 for a set of four, yuppiechef.com LEKKER PAP Enjoy only the best from your pot with Pride Milling’s 100% natural GMO-free maize meal. It tastes just as mieliepap should! About R49,99 (2,5 kg), Checkers stores countrywide EASY ELEGANCE This Le Creuset kettle works on gas and over the coals.…

The word steak comes from steik, an old Saxon word that refers to meat on a stick. You’ll have to cough up if you want to buy steak of A5-grade Kobe beef. It’s the most expensive in the world, costing up to $400 per pound. Filet Mignon is the most expensive steak cut. It is a myth that steak should be turned only once. Experts say you get better results and a crispier crust if you turn it every 15-30 seconds. When you should season your steak is a matter of lively debate around most braai fires. Some believe steak should be seasoned only after it has been cooked. Not true – if you season it ahead, salt flavours the meat and contributes to a crispy crust. Feel free to…

MORE ABOUT HENNIE Hennie le Roux was part of the legendary 1995 Springbok team that made history on 24 June 1995 by beating the All Blacks 15-12 in the World Cup final at Ellis Park. Not only was he a key player as fly half and centre during his professional rugy career, but in 1997 he also started the original rugby players' union Sarpa, of which he was president. Today he is a businessman and entrepreneur and lives in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape with his wife, Anneke, and their daughter, Logan (13), and son, Cayden (11). • Join Hennie and his friends to watch the Rugby World Cup matches at his game farm Crown River Safari, just outside Grahamstown. Organisations and members of the public are welcome. Find…

SET A RUGBY TABLE A table set in black and white is always striking. Cover your table with a black floral tablecloth – we positioned ours (Kaapschehollandsche.com, R2 999) diagonally so that the table is partly covered. Small pumpkins, spray-painted black, serve as décor. You can also use old black-and-white rugby team photographs as focal elements. Bring the picture to life with some fresh fennel fronds (we associate fennel with the colour black because it tastes like liquorice!). Fold your napkins into neat rectangles and place one on each plate. This strong colour choice requires simplicity. On the menu Pork in the kettle braai Caramel pork kebabs Brandy-and-Coke pork ribs Pork green curry Pork chops with coffee Pulled pork in your potjie Pork tamales Cider pork belly The guard of…

Ever since the time of Aristotle, philosophers have been arguing about what came first: the chicken or the egg. According to scientists, the egg wins! Skarrelkiep (literally “scurry fowl”) is the descriptive Dutch word for free-range chicken. Spatchcock refers to a chicken with the backbone removed, opened up and flattened. According to linguists, this term comes from the cooking instruction “dispatch the cock”. Our peri-peri chicken, a hot mixture of Mozambican and Portuguese influences, is one of the most famous barbeque chicken flavours worldwide. Its secret lies in the fresh, sour taste (vinegar or lemon) that balances the smoky flavours, chilli and sweet stickiness. A large farm chicken may be perfect for Ouma’s Sunday roast, but smaller chickens (1,3 kg to 1,8 kg) are more manageable over the coals and easier…

MORE ABOUT DANIE “Oupa” Danie Gerber is a long way from retiring, and boasts that he still keeps up with the young rugby players he coaches. From 1980 to 1992, Danie played for the Eastern Province, Western Province and Free State, among others, and was a Springbok, of course. Today he and his wife, Elsabé, live in Cape Town. They are the proud grandparents of Elliott (18 months), who lives in France with their son, Danré, and his wife, Julie. Danie and Elsabé also have a daughter, Elanie. YOU TURNED 65 IN APRIL. HAVE YOU RETIRED? I’ll never be able to retire. The only retirement I’ll ever have is one day when my ashes are scattered in the bush or in the sea (laughs). Currently I’m involved in the development…

About fire, wood and potjies… Who is Martelize Brink when she leaves the RSG studio? My life revolves around work, food and my darling, Marius. Enjoying the good things in life is a daily practice, and of course I fuss over the simplest weekday dinner: how I could make it healthy, but also delicious and interesting. When I’m not working on a big project, I enjoy a simple routine. Other than that, we pray hard for our beautiful country and for world peace. What slows down your heartbeat and broadens your smile? Blissful Saturdays and Sundays when I don’t have to work, and we can plan what we’ll prepare on the fire. Those leisurely winter days when a potjie simmers for 3-4 hours, or a pork belly is smoked slowly…

FRIDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 21:15 > France v New Zealand Pool A Stade De France, Saint-Denis SATURDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 13:00 > Italy v Namibia Pool A Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne 15:30 > Ireland v Romania Pool B Stade De Bordeaux, Bordeaux 18:00 > Australia v Georgia Pool C Stade De France, Saint-Denis 21:00 > England v Argentina Pool D Stade De Marseille, Marseille SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 13:00 > Japan v Chile Pool D Stadium De Toulouse, Toulouse 17:45 > South Africa v Scotland  Pool B Stade De Marseille, Marseille 21:00 > Wales v Fiji Pool C Stade De Bordeaux, Bordeaux THURSDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 21:00 > France v Uruguay Pool A Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 21:00 > New Zealand v Namibia Pool A Stadium De Toulouse, Toulouse SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 15:00 >…

You’re a professional mischief maker often associated with comic movies. Hie’ Kommie Bokke! was your fourth album. How did it impact your career? It’s not only the song I’m most famous for, but also the highlight of my entire career, including all my movies. That was very surprising to me. I never thought the song would become so popular. The success was overwhelming. I couldn’t go anywhere without a crowd descending on me. Driving around in my car, a pretty girl would pull up next to me, wind down her window and the song would be pumping in her car. I felt like Michael Jackson. Did you realise you had a hit before the Rugby World Cup? During the Easter weekend of 1995, about 10 days after the album was released, I…

MORE ABOUT BAKKIES Bakkies Botha is well known for his powerful physical performances as lock during his time as a top rugby player. He was part of the Springbok side that won the Rugby World Cup in France in 2007. Today he farms with Beefmaster cattle and game in the Kalahari. He also serves on the executive board of the livestock auctioneers André Kock & Seun in Limpopo. He is married to Carien and they have three children: Carie (18), JP (16) and Carlein (14). DO YOU MISS THE CITY? No. I enjoy farming and my wife is originally from the Bushveld. For a long time, we farmed with cattle near Vaalwater in the Waterberg Mountains, Limpopo, and a few years ago we bought this farm in the Kalahari. It…

On the menu Ribeye with tomato pesto and herb salad Cream cheese spinach Steak with béarnaise sauce BBQ steak kebabs with coleslaw Tomahawk with bacon butter Potato salad with a twist Onion rings over the coals T-bone with mushroom sauce SET YOUR RUGBY TABLE For a table that says “rugby”, begin with a pretty tablecloth in a terracotta colour. We chose one made of linen (H&M, R795). Arrange terracotta pots on the table and position vintage rugby balls upright in the pots. Fill empty beer bottles with dried wildflowers to place inbetween pots. Terracotta-coloured plates (Pep Home, from R29) provide the finishing touch. We used large tea towels instead of napkins and arranged them roughly on each guest’s plate. A whole picanha roast is a favourite of mine, particularly if…

If you want only the best for your braai, you don’t have to look far. Checkers has trained five highly skilled butchery specialists as part of its internationally endorsed Master Meat Artisan Programme – the only certified Master Butchers in South Africa. These specialists know their meat, from farm to fork. Here they share their favourite products that will elevate your steak braai game VERSATILE VINEGAR The flavour of balsamic vinegar complements red meat, so it’s always a good idea to have a bottle of Checkers Forage and Feast Balsamic Vinegar in your cupboard. Mix one part vinegar with two parts olive oil for a quick marinade or salad dressing. R59,99 (250 ml) RUB IT IN Give your steak a boost with Simple Truth Steakhouse Rub. It contains no preservatives or…

Potjie is one of a handful of traditional dishes named after the vessels they are made in, like tagine from North Africa and paella from Spain. Who makes the best potjie? The South Africans or the Irish? The first-ranked rugby nation also makes its famous Irish stew in a three-legged pot – their version is known as a bastible. France, the host country, makes a traditional potjie too. It is known aspot-au-feu, which literally means “pot over the fire”. The three-legged pot with its round belly made its debut in the 19th century. Before that, flat-bottomed pots were hung from chains above the kitchen fire or rested on iron triangles. A champion tip for preventing watery results when adding cabbage to your potjie: First pour boiling water over the cabbage, then…

MORE ABOUT JOHN John Smit played hooker and prop for the Springboks from 2000 to 2011. In 2007, he led the team who won the World Cup final against England in France. Nowadays he is a rugby commentator on SuperSport and executive director of SSG Holdings, a company that specialises in private security, cleaning services and the maintenance of buildings. He is also the head of SA Rugby Legends, a non-government organisation that focuses on rugby development with the help of former players. John is married to Roxane, and they have three children: Emma (17), Tyron (15) and Taylor (10). The family lives in Pretoria. YOU’RE THE PLAYER WHO PLAYED THE MOST SPRINGBOK TESTS AS CAPTAIN. WHAT DO THINK YOU MAKES A GOOD LEADER? Both my parents were excellent examples,…

WARM IN A FLASH These briquettes from Bush Baby, Checkers’ outdoor range, burn red-hot in an instant and will cook your chicken in no time. R59,99 (4 kg) at your nearest Checkers store A GRID WITH GRIT Braaiing is just not the same without a reliable folding grid. This steel stalwart from LK’s remains a winner. About R289, agrimark.co.za GLOW UP Local candle brand Okra is known for its modern approach. These blue candles with their twisted design will brighten up your braai table. R80 each, okracandle.co.za ALL DAY, EVERY DAY Cooking over an open fire is the latest global trend. This Cowboy Fire Pit Grill from Barebones is designed to let you braai on a grid at different heights, place a pot over the coals, or even just make…

If your fresh fish has a strong fishy or ammonia smell, the last thing you should do is rinse it with water. Use lemon juice or vinegar instead. To prevent fish skin from sticking to the grid, first refrigerate the fish uncovered, on a rack on a a tray, for 2 hours before you braai it. The practice of braaiing fish in wet newspaper originates from the age-old Cape tradition of covering fish in wet seaweed and baking it under hot sand. The world record for the longest braai ever was set in 2014 at the Lamangsi “Fish-tival” in the Philippines as part of the celebration of the city Bayambang’s 400th year of existence. The organisers connected 8 000 grids to achieve this record. Three billion people – 40% of…

1 Be heat-savvy If there is one thing braai enthusiasts can debate for hours, it is how hot the coals should be to yield the best braai results. One of the most common ways of roughly estimating the temperature is to use the palm of your hand. Hold it about 12 cm above the coals and count how long it takes before you feel you are burning: 2-3 seconds is very hot (230-340°C) 4-5 seconds is medium tot high (190-230°C) 6-7 seconds is medium (160-190°C) 8-10 seconds is medium to low (120-160°C) 11-15 seconds is low (107-120°C) 2 Best practice for braaiing steak Remove the steak from the fridge before lighting your fire. That way, the meat is at room temperature by the time your coals are ready – it should take…