AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE
Grab the tongs, mix the spices and let’s get marinading as season 6 of The Ultimate Braai master sizzles on the coals.
SEASON PREMIERE! Season 3 M-Net (*101) 18:00 Episode 1
Katie is back at work as a party planner, but will her advanced mom techniques work on her clients’ grown-up tantrums, sulks and foot dragging? Not likely… NB!
The Ultimate Braai Master Season 6 Sundays (from 3 February) e.tv (*194) 16:00
Braaiing a chop isn’t going to cut it on the sixth season of The Ultimate Braai Master (2012- current), says executive producer Peter Gird. “Have you tried to make a layered cheesecake over your coals? That is a real challenge – and it’s one that our 13 teams-of-two will face.” Twenty-six fresh new braai experts were dropped into the deepend towards the end of 2018 as they filmed around SA, testing their skills with meat, bread and anything else you could drop on a braai grid. “We pushed their limits to see how creative they can be,” says Peter, adding that each season has tested the crew too.
KINGS OF BRAAI
Chef, presenter and executive producer Justin Bonello is joined by his season 5 judges Benny Masekwameng and Pete Goffe-Wood and this continuity is significant for the show. “We love them,” says the executive producer. “As chefs, they bring food magic to The Ultimate Braai Master and our contestants leave having learnt hands-on with professionals.” The three kings will be joined by a Braai Queen, although the team is keeping that a surprise – don’t miss episode 8 (24 March) to see who she is.
LOCATION, LOCATION
Season 6 was filmed everywhere from Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape down to Soetwater in Cape Town and each location influenced the challenge and ingredients, explains Peter. “Creating a pantry is a challenge. We plan it out well beforehand because logistics-wise, the show is enormous.” Besides having to source ingredients that were fresh and easily accessible, the show has to manage 50-odd crew, 26 contestants working 14-to-18 hours a day, six days a week for eight weeks.
BRAAI WEATHER
If you think that the contestants had time off whenever the weather turned ugly, think again. The show plans for situations like this, reveals the exec producer. “Our motto is: Rain or wind or sunshine, we braai!” Mother Nature got a little testy this season, putting out a couple of fires with rain or wind but the contestants soldiered on. “At least it wasn’t like season 5’s finale in April 2017. That day was different. A tropical storm pushed across the Wild Coast and we had to stop filming and pack up. This time round it was braai business as usual,” adds Peter.