Toronto to get its own South African "National Braai Day!"

People always hear that Toronto is a multicultural CITY, and that's definitely true, but I also think of TORONTONIANS THEMSELVES as being multicultural by nature. People who live in Toronto like to learn more about other cultures and have a natural curiosity to seek out more info. And we're fortunate to live in the perfect playground where we have so many different cultural influences to explore right in our own backyard. Diversity our strength!

I've had a couple South African co-workers in the past but we didn't ever get to talking about food or celebrations in South Africa. So I was intrigued when I heard about National Braai Day, which is like South Africa’s annual day of celebration that happens Sept. 24; South Africans gather around fires, prepare a feast, and come together to take time out and celebrate. From reading the official website, it sounds sort of like Thanksgiving meets St. Patrick's Day. Heck, it even has its own patron saint: Nobel Peace Prize winner, Emeritus Archbishop Doctor Desmond Tutu! ("Braai" basically means "barbecue" in Afrikaans, by the way.)

Two Oceans, Nederburg and Flat Roof Manor reached out to let us know they are bringing the Braai party to Canada on Sept. 21 at Distillery District and they sent us some South African wines to try. We've cracked open the Flat Roof Manor Pinot Grigio and plan to get to the others later this month. It's a super easy-drinking wine. I like sipping away and using my imagination to place myself in South Africa in the middle of a Braai, smelling mouth-watering barbecue - but I won't have to imagine much longer because Torontonians get to have our own inaugural Braai day soon!

Yours in food,
-Stacey