When traveling through South Africa, there are many choices when it comes to restaurants that type of cuisine. In the larger cities you may find some very great Chinese places as well as Indian and Italian. Anything from sushi to a MacDonald’s hamburger and french fries. But to go to these restaurants often, is a shame, because many of the flavors and the dishes exotic to the Western palate are just to incredible to not experience.
It is my suggestion to find a traditional restaurant, either in the local market, in someones private homes, or in one of the best hotels. South Africa chefs do often open up their living rooms to tourists and prepare home cooked meals that are full of flavor and spice. This may not be suitable for everyone, unless you do bring along your sense of culinary adventure. Some dishes–which will even make some South Africans turn away, include fried grubs and caterpillars, crocodile meat steaks and the heads of goats and sheep. This is however part of the traditional food in some areas and things like this are eaten throughout the week.
Some of these “strange” food ingredients are used only for certain occasions and celebrations. But be certain that there are many more less adventurous ways of eating in the country. One of the staples in the country, for road trips, back pack excursions and rugby matches is something similar to beef jerky. This is salted and dried meat called biltong. Babotie is much like Shepherd’s pie, and the traditional South African Barbecue is called Braai. This is made using a meat sausage made by hand called Boerewors. Many tourists find this BBQ quite suitable to their palette, their mindset, and often times come back for second helpings.
Through history, the food and the recipes were influenced by what could be hunted, or farmed each day. But with the travelers who have been coming through the country in the early trade routes, such as the Dutch East India Company and the spices brought from Java, to current times and immigration and tourism, there are have been many factors that have shaped the food of the country. It would do one’s soul good, to stay away from the MacDonald’s, and go with the local food of South Africa.