Heritage Day

I know it's a couple of days late, but I was thinking a little on Heritage Day... a public holiday in South Africa and some of the local radio stations have been advertising it as a "braai" day. (For those that don't know the local phrase, it is a barbecue, or a barby(ie) if you happen to be an Aussie.) Basically the difference between our braai and an American barbecue is that we don't braai hamburger patties. We have steaks and chops and ribs and "wors" (spicy South African sausage).

This is one of my favorite meals. I love the social interaction while standing around the braai, the smell of the meat on the fire, dishing up salads, "pap" or whatever else has been prepared and then sitting and chatting some more while eating.

I think a part of the whole act of braai-ing that appeals to most is the fact that we can also have an excuse to use our hands to eat. I remember how, as a kid, I used to enjoy seeing how Obelix eats the Wild Boar and could imagine myself with a succulent cut of meat in my hands and eating it like him. (I'm virtually drooling at the thought of it right now!)

Then "common sense" kicks in and you are reminded that you are living in a civilized age and should present yourself as a civilized human being who knows how to use a knife and fork and has learnt to walk upright and doesn't do this type of thing anymore...

Then you remember that it is, after all, Heritage Day and you should be making your forefathers proud by displaying some of the traditions they gave you. So...you grab the chop with your fingers and enjoy trying to get that last piece of meat off the bone, because the saying does ring true...

"The closer to the bone...the sweeter the meat!"