There is something so special about a leisurely weekend braai with friends and family. Delicious meat cooking on the open fire, the biltong, snacks and dips out and ready, the red wine, beer and conversation flowing. With the weather heating up, and the fact that it is National Braai Day around the corner, now is the time to invite guests over and get grilling under the South African sun.

National Braai Day is an initiative that aims to position National Heritage Day – 24 September – as South Africa's annual day of celebration, urging us to unite around fires, share our heritage and wave our flag. A fantastic way to bring people together to enjoy good food and good company, this initiative is the perfect way to celebrate being South African.

As braaing is a relatively easy, fuss-free way to cook, it makes it easy to be a sociable host when you have friends over, as you can mingle and enjoy time with your guests while the food is cooking. Also, there are usually a few volunteer braai-masters who are more than ready to take over the tongs and help with the cooking. 

The classic boerewors, chops, steaks and chicken kebabs will often be the main stars of the braai, so be sure to get great quality meat. From burgers and chicken pieces, to beautiful steak cuts and lamb ribs and chops, N1 Restaurant Suppliers has a range of superb-quality cuts.

Once you have chosen your meat, add your own creativity to the menu by whipping up your own marinades or meat rubs, and seasoning the meat well before cooking it to perfection.

To compliment the meat and to create a filling side dish, create a parcel of mixed vegetables per guest and wrap these up in tin foil to put on the grill. Some of my favourite veggie parcels include onion, cloves of garlic (unpeeled), thick slices of aubergine, a sprig of rosemary and cubes of butternut and sweet potato. Drizzle on a good glug of olive oil, wrap up the foil (avoiding any gaps) and you will be good to go.

Also, don’t be afraid to grill fruit like pears, peaches and pineapple; the sweetness of the fruit complements the smoky flavours of grilled meats beautifully. A slice of slightly-charred pineapple on top of a homemade beef burger patty, sprinkled with a good helping of strong cheddar is delicious.

We hope that you celebrate National Braai Day and our South African heritage by creating a fabulous braai for your guests. To purchase your top quality meat, get in touch with a N1 Restaurant Suppliers' sales representative.