The secret is in the smoke

We all know there’s no dictating to a braai master about the how–or the who, what, when, where and why–of his braai fire or technique.

Even those folks who complain every year because so many South Africans call 24 September National Braai Day instead of Heritage Day have to concede: long before rugby, soccer or cricket was first played here, braaiing was our national sport. And while the finer techniques do differ, every cultural group in this melting pot at the southern tip of Africa enjoys cooking meat and other goodies over the fire. But every man to his taste, and woe betide the know-it-all who wants to argue about the best braai wood, when the meat should be salted, braai drum versus kettle braai versus