Top cooks braai up a storm at local club
The first annual Great Karoo lamb braai, hosted by Slow Food Karoo, kicked off in the beautiful grounds of Graaff Reinet’s Klub Libertas in Bourke Street on Saturday, 27 October.
An enthusiastic crowd of Karoo lamb and mutton enthusiasts braved the unseasonal 40+ degree October heat to sample the tasty dishes prepared over coals by some of the Karoo’s best cooks, all members of the Slow Food International Chefs’ Alliance.
The lively husband and wife team of Stu and Labarré du Preez from the popular Muller House restaurant dished up saucy Skaapstert and liver in netvet, Cradock’s Tony and Di Jackman served slow braised shoulder with minty yogurt sauce on fresh roosterbrood expertly braaied by the Karoo artisanal bakery’s, Deseray Cane and Sam Bulembu.
Well-known author and chef Gordon Wright presented his monster Bucci mutton burger concept to the delight of the attending crowds. Suffice to say, no hungry tummies were to be seen by the end of the day.
Sponsors Buccara Wildlife Reserve, Graaffreinet Tyremart and Karoo Catch were also represented and a number of sheep farmers from the region (whom the event was set up to celebrate) were in attendance.
A slip-and-slide offered cool respite and fun for the kids and a mini market and wine tasting at the De Krans winery stand kept the visitors happy.
The hot conditions did not deter the intrepid braaiers and the Libertas bar staff were kept on their toes by the steady stream of those in need of a soothing glass of coolness to help keep the Karoo heat at bay.
It proved to be a great way to build up some spirit before the Currie Cup final later in the afternoon.
Event organiser Rose Wright was delighted with the support from the local community as well as those that travelled from Port Elizabeth, East London and Johannesburg to attend this inaugural event.
“We wanted to celebrate our fabulous Karoo farmers and the magnificent lamb and mutton they produce,” said Rose.
“The great turnout and fabulous homage the chefs paid to our humble producers was truly awesome. Our farmers have been having a hard time lately, with the devastating drought, bad press and land expropriation looming large on the horizon; we at Slow Food felt it was time and very necessary to say a great big thank you to our farmers, who are the backbone of our Karoo economy”.
She added “We roped in our team from the Karoo Chefs’ Alliance and decided the best way to thank our farmers and kick off international 'Thank a farmer month' was to celebrate their produce and in the Karoo the most famous of all food products is our delectable Karoo lamb and mutton, every chef’s delight. From that, the Great Karoo Lamb Braai was born.”
Rose was delighted to report that with the help of the sponsors and Klub Libertas, a fun-filled community event was created. They plan for this to be added to the Graaffreinet social calendar and be back next year, bigger and better.
Coming from the brains and inspiration behind the annual Stoep Tasting wine festival, this is good news indeed for the Graaff-reinet economy.