One of these days I’m going to make a list of all the South African sporting and cultural heavyweights who have called on the Hong Kong shores, much to the delight of (most of) the South African expatriates.

This past weekend, to coincide with the 2010-edition of the Karp Group/PC Jewelry Hong Kong Cricket Sixes, it was the turn of one of our country’s cricketing legends: the fast bowler (hence the nickname) called Petrus Stephanus (Fanie) De Villiers.

One Saturday evening, the Southern African Association of Hong Kong hosted Fanie, together with members of this year’s South African team at a traditional South African braai (BBQ for the rest of you) at the Hong Kong Cricket Club.

The braai also served as a fund-raising event for Fanie’s charity dedicated to raising financial support for cochlear implants.

Many thanks has to go out to the auctioneer on the evening who did a sterling job of pushing up the bids with his wagging finger, as well as the SA team who helped to make the evening a memorable one.

Other highlights included Fanie’s eloquent and very entertaining speech, that of SA team skipper Shane Burger, the food as well as my very naughty neighbour trying to undress team wicketkeeper Adrian McLaren! (Have a look at the video clip below for all the action.)

The now-famous auctioneer and his wagging finger (below).

Here are some more images set to music from Steve Hofmeyer and Freshlyground:

“Vinnige” Fanie De Villiers’ visit to Hong Kong this weekend will coincide with the 2010-edition of the Karp Group/PC Jeweller Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.  South Africa is of course the defending champions after a nail-bite finish against hosts Hong Kong in the Final last year.

The Southern African Association of Hong Kong will be hosting Fanie at a South African Braai (BBQ) at the Sportsman’s Bar at the Hong Kong Cricket Club in 137 Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, this Saturday.

Fanie played in 256 tests from 1993 to 1998 and 23 ODI’s from 1992 to 1997. Since retiring from Test Cricket, the former fast bowler has become a television commentator and also works as a motivational speaker.

South African cricket legend, Fanie De Villiers will be in Hong Kong this weekend.

The South African Sixes Team (read more about the 2010 team here) has been invited to join the braai after the first day’s play.

HK$250 gets you a great South African meal (Menu below), 2 hours of beer, wine and sodas as well as the company of some of our country’s great sportsmen, retired and up-and-coming.

Bruce Fowler has written tosay that the menu for the evening will consist of:

Braai

Selection of Boerewors on the Braai

Chicken Peri Peri Skewers on the Braai

Prawn and Vegetable Malay Curry

Braai Marinated Rib Eye Steaks

Bobotie (Lamb and Apricot Jam)

Yellow Fried Rice with Raisins

Pan Roasted Sweet Potato

Pita Bread served with Humus

Salad

Green Bean Salad with Olives, Sweet Onions

Tomato Salad with Green Chillies and Red Wine Vinegar

Yellow Melon Muscadel (Melon Salad)

Dessert

Malva Pudding

The evening starts at 7:00pm for 7:30pm and, as this is at the Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC) dress is smart casual. However, since many guests may come straight from the Sixes, the Club will make an exception and does not expect you to be smart casual after a day watching the Sixes.

Children are welcomed so please bring your family and friends. Reservations can be made by e-mailing Bruce Fowler (bfowler@pacific.net.hk) and letting him know how many of you will be attending.  Please respond as soon as possible if you wish to attend as the number of seats is limited.

Here are some images from last year’s tournament to get you in the mood:

(braai is what we South Africans call barbeque)

September 24 is celebrated as National Heritage Day in South Africa.  The day is one of our newly created public holidays and its significance rests in recognising aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the land in which we live.

On September 5, 2007, Archbishop Desmond Tutu celebrated his appointment as patron of South Africa’s Barbecue (Braai) Day, affirming it to be a unifying force in a divided country (by donning an apron and tucking into a boerewors sausage). At the end of 2007 National Braai Day changed its name to Braai4Heritage and the initiative received the endorsement of South Africa’s National Heritage Council (NHC).

While South Africans all over the world are taking to their gardens, balconies, backyards and parks to braai, “Lady GaGa’s brother” was spotted somewhere around Cape Town doing his bit to promote the day:

Cape Town comedian and radio personality Paul Snodgrass donning 10kg of boeries to mark Braai Day

To end, here’s the Braai Day remix of Poker Face…

The famous boerie or boerewors (farmers sausage)

A South African braai (Pic: travelPod)

Jan Scannell, also known as Jan Braai has brought home a Guinness World Record that ultimately belongs in South Africa: that of the longest uninterupted braai (or barbecue for the non-South Africans).

The previous record-holder was a German (nogal) who braai-ed for 28 hours and 26 minutes.  With the support of the Cape Town media and dedicated listeners, Scannell easily bettered that mark to 28 hours and 30 minutes.

The “tong-master” was quite philosophical about his feat saying: ”(this) victory is not about breaking the record but is rather “a call to action for all South Africans to celebrate our common heritage by having a braai next week“.

“Heritage Day has the spirit of the World Cup without costing the tax payers a cent, and plus you can’t lose at braaing,” Jan said as he turned another braai grill over on the fire.

“Once a year we can celebrate as a nation; whether you are rich or poor, black or white, Xhosa or Zulu or from Durban, the Transkei, the Kalahari or Karoo everybody likes to make a fire and braai,” he said.

You can read more about Jan’s feat on the Braai4Heritage website. 

The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town during Jan Braai’s record attempt (Pic: David Brooke/Sport24)

Mission accomplished. Jan Scannell is now the official record holder

Here’s GoodHopeFM’s take on the event:

With Heritage Day/National Braai Day coming up next month (24 September 2010) some of us on this side of the noodle-curtain may long for a boerie (boerewors) or a lekker tjoppie (chop) on the day thousands of our countrymen back home head to their backyards for a good old South African braai.

If you’re not privvy to your own sausage-maker… fear not, you can still get your boerie-fix.  Even if it’s just the taste of it, set on a bun and cooked on your Hong Kong balcony.

I found this video of (Englishman nogal) Heston Blumenthal cooking a Boerewors Burger (or “brrr-wos” as the famous chef calls it).

It’s quick and easy and better yet, the spices required are to be found anywhere in Hong Kong.  All you need are coriander seeds (toasted), nutmeg, ground gloves, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs and of course, a mixture of pork and beef.  As a shameless promotional aside, Heston uses Waitrose products which can be found in Hong Kong as well.

My own twist includes some fresh coriander (or danya as it is called in the Cape Town Malay community).

Enjoy your Boerie fix.

Cheers Heston!

Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu on Friday called on South Africans to throw some meat – or vegetables – on the coals to celebrate the country’s heritage and “braai“.

“We experienced an incredible spirit in the month of the World Cup when all that mattered was that we were members of this extraordinary Rainbow Nation,” Tutu told journalists.  “So I call on all of us to braai for Heritage Day, September 24. Let’s get together and enjoy ourselves, friends, families and even those who are not friends.”

Tutu is the patron of the “Braai for Heritage” campaign which is celebrated on September 24, an official public holiday to mark the nation’s multi-cultural heritage after the fall of apartheid in 1994.

The archbishop emeritus said the fireplace was a traditional gathering place in Africa and that anything from meat to vegetables could be put on a braai, a pastime enjoyed by South Africans of all races.

“We want to continue that tradition of all of us gathering on September 24, braaing for our heritage,” he said.  “The important thing is all of us on that one day again getting together and just enjoying the fact of being South Africans.”

The 78-year-old, affectionately known as “the Arch” will retire from public life on his birthday next month after years of speaking out against apartheid’s white minority rule and injustices around the world.  He will remain the patron of the braai campaign, which he joined in 2007.

“You can resign from an office job but you can never resign from being a braaier,” the campaign’s Jan Scannell told him in front of a banner featuring a large t-bone steak in the shape of Africa.

The Springboks are playing the British & Irish Lions in the first Test today (Saturday June 20, 2009) and no other TV ad encapsulates the feeling of thousands of rugby-loving Saffa expats all over the world as this Castle Beer TV advert.  Images of my own time in Taiwan, watching the Springboks play from a braai on a rooftop way over in Taoyuan City, Taiwan with a smattering of Yanks, Canadians and even a Pommie or two come vividly to mind!

Hope that this is how you feel!

Bokke Bo!