| One concern people often have before they set | | | | porridge) or vetkoek (deep fried dough balls). It |
| off on a luxury holiday in South Africa is that the | | | | makes for a very satisfying meal! |
| food won't be to their tastes. The truth is that | | | | Away from the braai, Bobotie is a must - a sort |
| South African food is a melting pot of the best | | | | of spicy cottage pie. It generally consists of |
| bits from its varied history. There are aspects of | | | | spiced minced meat (and sometimes fruit) baked |
| European, local and Indian dishes throughout the | | | | with an egg based toping. |
| country's cuisine, but here are some of the best | | | | For the brave... |
| picks, depending on how daring you're feeling on | | | | If you really want to blend in with the locals' |
| your South Africa holiday... | | | | traditional cuisine on your South Africa holiday, |
| For those who want to stick to what they know... | | | | there are some (apparently!) very tasty recipes |
| So you want to head out on a luxury holiday to | | | | that may seem a little on the "exotic side" for |
| South Africa, but are terrified that you won't be | | | | Western palettes. Two dishes spring to mind - |
| able to find anything your taste buds will approve | | | | firstly Skop. Skop is the whole head of a sheep, |
| of? Not to worry - assuming you're staying in one | | | | cow or goat, skin, nose, ears and other bits |
| of the big cities, you'll find a huge range of foods | | | | removed and then boiled. Certainly not to |
| representing the best of international cuisine. | | | | everyone's tastes, but maybe slightly more than |
| Johannesburg alone boasts everything from | | | | Mashonzha, which is Mopani caterpillar cooked with |
| French and Italian to Brazilian and Korean eateries | | | | chilli, and usually eaten with peanuts. Don't worry - |
| - and a hamburger is never far away if you need. | | | | most luxury hotels in South Africa will have |
| In addition the majority of luxury hotels in South | | | | something more conventional if you're feeling |
| Africa offer a generous international menu to | | | | squeamish! |
| ensure that their clients are satisfied, so playing it | | | | And to wash it down... |
| safe and sticking to what you know shouldn't be | | | | The country's Winelands are a popular attraction |
| difficult, whatever you're craving. | | | | to South Africa's holiday makers, so why not |
| For those who want a taste of South Africa... | | | | enjoy some of their fine produce with your meal? |
| Perhaps the most famous South African export is | | | | The grapes from the Cape area make rather nice |
| biltong - a cured dry meat, similar to jerky (only | | | | pinotage and hanepoort which accompany most |
| thicker). If you haven't sampled this flavourful | | | | meats rather pleasantly. If wine isn't your thing, |
| snack, then getting it from a South African | | | | then there are a number of international |
| butcher is a great place to start - and will give | | | | beverages available quite widely. Beer is also very |
| you the choice between 'wet', 'medium' or 'dry'. | | | | popular, and if you want to enter the spirit, then |
| Outside of the biltong, the best way to sample | | | | Castle, Amstel and Black Label are all popular local |
| some traditional cookery is on the braai - the | | | | brands. |
| South African barbeque. All kinds of meat, fish, | | | | If this sounds a bit too intimidating for you, don't |
| potato and onions are cooked over hot coals | | | | forget that a luxury South Africa holiday will |
| outdoors, and you'll find that every suburban | | | | usually take in its fair share of familiar looking |
| house (and many of South Africa's luxury hotels) | | | | restaurants, so no matter what you're craving, |
| has a braai area (some even have indoor ones, | | | | you'll find it in the bigger cities. It's worth trying |
| too!). The pick of the grill are the sosaties | | | | some of the local food to get the full experience |
| (kebabs), boerewars (coarsely cut spicy | | | | and who knows, you may be missing the smoke |
| sausages), steaks and ribs. You may find these | | | | of the braai on your return to England! |
| meats are accompanied by pap (a traditional | | | | |