Howard Neill
09-24-2007, 05:26 PM
This was in the Cape Argus:-
Tavern of the seas
September 21, 2007
David Biggs
Spring has sprung and it's time to find the braai tongs and scrape last summer's grease from the braai grid.
For the benefit of foreigners who may not be educated in the ways of the South African male, let me explain that the braai (known in some countries as the "barbecue") is one of the last bastions of male dominance.
Many South African men would not like to be seen in a kitchen, but set them in front of a braai grid and they are instant experts.
Every red-blooded South African male has his theories about the best way to braai. They will tell you the best wood to use, where to buy the best boerewors and how to make the best braai sauce. They also know exactly how many times the meat should be turned and exactly when it is ready to eat.
Women play a very minor part in this ritual.
It goes like this.
The woman goes out and buys the meat, sauce and potatoes, plus the salad ingredients and bread rolls.
She then prepares the salad and butters the rolls, prepares the meat for cooking and places it neatly in a tray, along with the cooking utensils and sauces.
The man piles the wood on the braai, lights it and opens a beer. His male friends join him round the fire, absorbing smoke and discussing the Boks' chances in the World Cup.
Presently they call for another beer and the woman brings out a six-pack.
After a while the woman suggests the fire might be ready to use. The men examine it and nod wisely.
Now comes the vital part. The man places the meat on the braai grid.
The woman now organises the plates, wine and cutlery and brings them outside, where the man asks her to bring another beer, which she does.
As she hands over the beer she remarks that the meat seems to be burning. The man says he is dealing with it and splashes some beer over it to dowse the flames.
The man now hands the meat to the woman who takes it inside, cuts off the burnt bits and brings it out for the guests, together with the potato salad, green salad, paper serviettes and rolls.
Everybody eats and remarks on the great culinary skill of the man, who smiles shyly and says: "Ag it depends on knowing exactly what wood to use."
Afterwards the woman clears the table, takes the dishes inside and washes them while the man opens another beer with the last remaining male guest and decides the Boks' chances are pretty good this year.
The next day all the males call each other on the cellphones to say what a great chef old Frik is and how well he organises a braai.
See? It's something only a male can manage properly.
Usually, before going to bed the man asks the woman whether she enjoyed "her night off" and wonders why she is less than enthusiastic. He falls asleep thinking there's just no pleasing some women.
.
Tavern of the seas
September 21, 2007
David Biggs
Spring has sprung and it's time to find the braai tongs and scrape last summer's grease from the braai grid.
For the benefit of foreigners who may not be educated in the ways of the South African male, let me explain that the braai (known in some countries as the "barbecue") is one of the last bastions of male dominance.
Many South African men would not like to be seen in a kitchen, but set them in front of a braai grid and they are instant experts.
Every red-blooded South African male has his theories about the best way to braai. They will tell you the best wood to use, where to buy the best boerewors and how to make the best braai sauce. They also know exactly how many times the meat should be turned and exactly when it is ready to eat.
Women play a very minor part in this ritual.
It goes like this.
The woman goes out and buys the meat, sauce and potatoes, plus the salad ingredients and bread rolls.
She then prepares the salad and butters the rolls, prepares the meat for cooking and places it neatly in a tray, along with the cooking utensils and sauces.
The man piles the wood on the braai, lights it and opens a beer. His male friends join him round the fire, absorbing smoke and discussing the Boks' chances in the World Cup.
Presently they call for another beer and the woman brings out a six-pack.
After a while the woman suggests the fire might be ready to use. The men examine it and nod wisely.
Now comes the vital part. The man places the meat on the braai grid.
The woman now organises the plates, wine and cutlery and brings them outside, where the man asks her to bring another beer, which she does.
As she hands over the beer she remarks that the meat seems to be burning. The man says he is dealing with it and splashes some beer over it to dowse the flames.
The man now hands the meat to the woman who takes it inside, cuts off the burnt bits and brings it out for the guests, together with the potato salad, green salad, paper serviettes and rolls.
Everybody eats and remarks on the great culinary skill of the man, who smiles shyly and says: "Ag it depends on knowing exactly what wood to use."
Afterwards the woman clears the table, takes the dishes inside and washes them while the man opens another beer with the last remaining male guest and decides the Boks' chances are pretty good this year.
The next day all the males call each other on the cellphones to say what a great chef old Frik is and how well he organises a braai.
See? It's something only a male can manage properly.
Usually, before going to bed the man asks the woman whether she enjoyed "her night off" and wonders why she is less than enthusiastic. He falls asleep thinking there's just no pleasing some women.
.