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

So you think you know BBQ? Think again!

Steven Raichlen is the KING of BBQ and he takes his latest book well beyond being just a collection of recipes - I mean, yes, he does have 309 recipes from over 60 countries, but this book is so much more.

This book is an EDUCATION. He goes beyond simple recipes to give you an inside look at the cultures behind different types of BBQ styles, helping to explain why certain places do BBQ the way they do. It even borders on a history / geography lesson in some parts, which I appreciate. For example, I had no idea there were two BBQ-obsessed towns in Germany with a serious BBQ rivalry going on! Idar and Obersteiner are sister towns, and the folks in Idar believe what they take off the grill is far superior to what Obersteiner folks do on the BBQ (and vice versa). Thus it's only fitting that the people in Idar call their grilled rye bread slathered with garlic/parsley/onion butter "Obersteiner Filet Mignon" - OH SNAP!

So sure, Planet Barbecue has a ton of recipes all involving the use of a BBQ, from starters, salads, grilled breads, and every imaginable type of meat straight through to desserts, but it really takes those who *think* they know BBQ to another planet entirely. You wouldn't believe how many different cuts of meat there are, how many rubs/sauces/adornments you can pair with BBQ dishes, how many methods of grilling there are and how many different types of grills there are, and Raichlen helps walk you through all of them step-by-step because he's been to all these places and experienced these dishes first-hand. There's even some love for Canada in there, with the occasional recipe from his northern neighbour.

There were hundreds of times I gasped or smiled or laughed while I was reading this book, but I managed to capture a few of my random thoughts along the way on some of the weirdest and most wonderful recipes:

• Smoked Egg Paté - Egg salad has so much more potential than being just a sandwich filling! Israel does an interesting take on it: smoked egg paté that is served with grilled bread.
  
  
• Lomo al trapo - This sounds like HEAVEN to me - A Colombian beef tenderloin completely encrusted with about 3 inches of salt, wrapped in cloth, and cooked in the fireplaces of Colombian homes. You actually have to break through the burnt cloth and the thick crust of salt by whacking it with a cleaver so you can get to the meat!
  
  
• Grilled ice cream - Yes, that's right, GRILLED ICE CREAM! A tasty treat all the way from Azerbaijan.
  

I don't want to give all the gems away, and I feel I can't even do the book justice in a blog post - the style it's written in is so personal that you really feel like you are right by Raichlen's side experiencing each dish with him.

Go out and buy this book if you know a BBQ enthusiast and make sure they read it cover-to-cover; like I said, it's not just a recipe book, it's an education in the world's BBQ culture. It'll absolutely make their summer and yours (you might even want to pick it up before Canada Day and try throwing something aside from burgers and hot dogs on the grill). Enjoy!

Yours in food,
-Stacey