Hirsch’s Community Cook-Off heats up

Heritage Day could never be South African without a good old traditional braai.

As schools and offices shut their doors on Thursday, September 24, a crowd of about 100 people gathered at Sugar Rush Adventure Park to watch six teams battle it out on the braai – each hoping to be crowned the 2015 Hirsch’s Community Cook-Off champions.

The competition was fierce, with all six teams showing their flame-grilled finesse and a combined menu stretching from crayfish with garlic butter to stuffed and bacon-wrapped boerewors.

This was no standard braai. The teams went all out to cook something different, imaginative and delicious – with attention to all the details of the outdoor dining experience we all know and love.

The Georges, Braai Networking International, Dop ’n Braai, Heritage Heroes, Ubuntu Braai and Delishy Fishy each had just one hour to prepare a winning meal on their Weber gas braais.

With their ‘South Africa versus Japan’ theme and their integrated menu of springbok steak, rice noodles, prawns and vegetable tempura, the Georges made a dish almost as rich and diverse as South Africa itself.

For 60 long minutes, the air was filled with all kinds of aromas from mielies steaming in tin foil, to marinated steak sizzling on a hot grill, leaving everyone’s stomachs rumbling for a taste.

When the smoke finally cleared and the judging began, it did not take too long before the Georges were named the winners with their infusion of South African shisa nyama and Japanese sushi.

Tony and Jenny Jackson, along with Nozomi Kitazawa and Dave, Maureen and Warren Haslehurst, proudly wore the red and white of Japan alongside the green and gold of South Africa.

Team George member, Tony Jackson, said that they all had plenty of fun taking part and they are thrilled with the Weber Braai Bibles, charcoal and the new Weber gas braai they took home with them as prizes.

With so many savvy sautérs and gifted grillers in our town, it is clear that braaing is a huge part of our heritage as South Africans.