BRAAI season is officially open and with the annual Capegate Braai Challenge only days away, it’s a good time to announce who the top 10 braai contestants are, who will compete for glory, and prizes worth more than R30 000.
Taking place on Saturday, September 14, the fires will be started at 10am with the winning braai dish expected to be selected at 4pm. All are welcome to come and watch, and perhaps even be selected as a wild-card taster.
On the Grilling Starting Grid are the following finalists (in no specific order):
- Albert van Dyk
- Andre Theron
- Bradley Broadway
- Deon Thys
- Kathryn Line
- Lindley Hendricks
- Natascha Jones
- Ronald Barnard
- Ronelle De Jager
- Shaun van Biljon
As always, they will begin their bid by preparing the best boerie roll, with the top five going on to the next round, which tests their steak braaing skills.
Only the top three will then get to cook their entry dish, with the winner being crowned the 2024 Capegate Braai Challenge champion.
Capegate’s marketing manager, Zoë Ganz,csaid: “We’ve had more entries than ever this year and the creativity of some of the recipes really reflects how innovative and diverse we are as a braai nation.
“After a long and very cold winter, it’s going to be good to get around the fires on Saturday for what we anticipate will be a hot competition, and I know I speak for everyone at the centre, we can’t wait.”
Some of the recipes that caught the judges’ eyes include smoked chicken thighs, Greek pork neck steak, snoek, apricot harissa marinated Karoo lamb leg chops, a full-on “plankie”, and a grilled steak roulade burger filled with basil mozzarella wrapped with streaky bacon topped with Mac & cheese and peri mayo sauce topped with capsicum garnish.
All with delicious sounding accompaniments that sound like they could get star billing, too.
The tough job of selection falls this year to Woolworths Taste magazine and chef presenter on the Expresso Show, Clement Pedro, who will be supported by an able team that includes Independent Media’s Regional News Editor Quinton Mtyala and Wesley Wagner, the 2023 Capegate Braai Challenge runner-up.
Where to see the Capegate Braai Challenge:
- Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
- Time: 10am - 4pm
- Place: Capegate Shopping Centre, Entrance 2 (outdoor parking)
- Cost: free
Prizes include a weekend away for two (including a spa voucher), R5 000 Capegate Gift card and fantastic prizes from Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Rocomamas, Outdoor & Velocity, Montagu Fruit & Nuts, and more.
Weekend Argus