The Paarl Wine Route just wrapped up its first-ever Braaibroodjie Challenge at the scenic Nederburg Wine Estate, and oh boy, did it grill up a storm of fun, flavour and fierce competition. Picture this: local wineries and their merry bands of colleagues and supporters, all fired up in a delicious showdown of South Africa’s beloved braaibroodjie.
The air was thick with the tantalising aroma of toasting bread and melting cheese as participants threw down the gauntlet, each aiming to create the ultimate braaibroodjie masterpiece. Judges were on the hunt for that perfect bite, scoring entries on taste, originality, and eye-appeal. The vibe? Pure joy and jollity, with everyone bringing their A-game to the grill.
Annelize Stroebel, the Paarl Wine Route’s marketing maestro, couldn’t contain her excitement: “We’re absolutely thrilled by the sizzling energy and creativity you all brought to the Braaibroodjie Challenge. Your zest for culinary competition turned this day into a feast to remember. A huge thank you to every single one of you for making our first bash a blast!”
Hats-off to the generous sponsors and donors who fuelled this fiery fiesta. A big shout-out to Nederburg for their picturesque venue and seamless logistics, Chef Linda and her crew for dishing out gourmet meats and salads, and Boer and Butcher for supplying the succulent cuts that had everyone drooling.
And a round of applause for the judges, who had the very tough job of nibbling their way through top-tier entries. Their discerning palates and expert opinions were the cherry on top of this culinary carnival.
The judges were unanimous; it was a very difficult task choosing the winner with such great braaibroodjies served up. But after long and hard deliberation, Ridgeback came up trumps as the braaibroodjie champs, with Rhebokskloof in close second place, Brookdale in third place and the jovial team of KWV walking away with the accolades as team with the best spirit (and spirts).
A heartfelt salute to the Paarl Wine Board of Directors for dreaming this fantastic event up, bringing as it did the wine community closer, weaving stronger bonds over bread and braai. And guess what? This is only the beginning; the Braaibroodjie Challenge is set to become an annual tradition that’ll keep the flames of friendship and fun burning bright.
Big ups to Paarl FM for cranking up the tunes and chatter, adding an extra layer of sparkle and spirit to the festivities. Your lively broadcasts and engaging coverage were the perfect soundtrack to our braai bonanza.
The Paarl Wine Route is already buzzing with ideas for the next round of revelry. We can’t wait to keep this tradition alive, celebrating our vibrant community with even more events that bring us together, one braaibroodjie at a time. Here’s to many more years of cheers, cheers, and perfectly grilled cheese!
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Ridgebacks winning braaibroodjie consisted of a combination of creamy mozzarella and cremenzola cheeses, harmonised by the sweetness of onion marmelade and the tanginess of roma tomatoes, and with a zing of pickled jalapenos. And, of course, the big secret is braaing the sandwiches over very mild coals to melt the cheese and cook the tomatoes.
