Eish! South Africa Loses Out In “Battle of the BBQ/Braai/Cookout” Survey

Eish, it appears that the Brits have not been adequately introduced to the South African braai! In a recent survey in Great Britain, respondents voted Australia the best barbecuing nation… with South Africa only coming 6th!

The Glowing Embers ‘Battle of the BBQ’ poll asked Brits which nation BBQs the best, and by a BBQ they meant “a barbie. Or a braai. Or a cookout. Whatever you want to call it, you can’t beat a bit of chargrilled meat, washed down with a nice cold beer.”

Australia won overwhelmingly with over 30 percent of the votes, while SA came in at 6th with only 6.2 percent of the polled Brits saying they “love a South African braai”.

A braai is described in a press release by the poll organisers as being where “they usually serve all manner of exotic sounding game, such as springbok (a bit like venison) and chunky boerewors sausages…”

Britain came second in the poll (hmmm!!). And the USA came third, with its Texas barbecue and sticky beef ribs being particularly popular.

Jamaica’s spicy jerk barbecue chicken helped it into 4th position. Brazil’s tender churrasco-style meat and vegetables came in at 5th… and Argentina’s “asado” came 7th (“where meat is grilled over charcoal on a fire in an open pit”).

Over 1,000 people were polled.

We reckon at least 93.8 percent of those people have perhaps never tasted a real South African braai… or they would know, like Orlando Bloom, that it’s the BEST! When the well-travelled English star was asked where in the world he had enjoyed his most memorable meal he didn’t hesitate to say the steaks in South Africa are like nowhere else.

“Eating there is such a social event, especially in summer when family and friends all come together for a braai,” said the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star.

For those unacquainted with the SA braai – they should perhaps read Mark Wijsman’s guide – South African braai as explained by a foreigner.

Clearly we need more South Africans abroad to invite locals over for their braais…

For those unacquainted with the SA braai – check out Mark Wijsman’s guide – South African braai as explained by a foreigner.