1. A braai is acceptable for any occasion
That’s right. Birthday braai, christmas braai, going away braai, welcome home braai, a wednesday night just to get a few friends together braai, a graduation braai, housewarming braai, these are all perfectly acceptable times to have a braai.
2. It’s a process
A braai revolves around the fire, and the food. The food is cooked on (as the name of the gathering would suggest) a braai, which is basically a grill. But you won’t find gas on this grill. In fact, better not mention the word gas or you will get looked at like you just passed some! A major difference between the two types of cooking is that South African’s use wood or briquettes (charcoal) when they braai.
3. The food and “dop”
Ah, the food. You will not find plain jane hot dogs here. No way. South African’s love flavor, and food served at a braai doesn’t disappoint. We are talking boerewors, a spicy sausage, full of a beef and pork mix, and sometimes lamb, spiced with cloves, coriander seed, pepper, nutmeg and allspice.
4. It brings people together
A braai is the perfect excuse to get friends and family, young and old together. You could even say it brings the country together. Heritage Day, September 24, is a public holiday that has been coined“Braai Day.” No matter the language spoken or skin color, love of meat cooked over a wood fire is something that all South Africans share. And it’s something that they are all proud to have in their heritage.
5. The atmosphere
In our Florida apartment, my husband almost got arrested for trying to braai on a weber grill on our second floor balcony. Apparently there is a fire code in Florida that states you can’t grill less then 10 feet from your house. Lame, right?
Most homes in South Africa have a braai installed in their backyard or on their veranda, often times they will be in a lapa, a traditional style South African hut that keeps anything beneath it remarkably cool (I have no doubt a grill in a lapa would be illegal in the states).
– See more at: https://www.expatsblog.com/contests/871/top-5-reasons-why-south-african-braai-trumps-american-barbecue#sthash.N79dbpAk.dpuf
