South Africans love their braais (barbeques) and will braai lamb chops, steak, and "boerewors" (which is a spicy sausage that is a must!) as well as fishes, the most famous of which is the "snoek" braai which is barbequed with garlic butter and apricot "jam" (preserve). A braai is sometimes enjoyed whether with braai toasted white bread slices layered with tomato and onion slices, which is a Cape tradition, or "mielie pap" (a stiff corn meal mix) which is a Northern South African tradition.
Another favourite traditional cooking method is the making of "potjiekos" (pot food) where a delicious meat and vegetable stew is slowly cooked over an open fire using a cast iron pot.
A South African favourite food is "biltong" (jerky) made from beef, ostrich (low cholesterol) or game such as Kudu, Gemsbok. The West Coast is also famous for their dried fish called "boggoms".
Traditional foods include a Cape Malay dish called "bobotie" (egg and mince meat), "waterblommetjie" (water flower) stew, tomato stew and any curried stews.
For those with a sweet tooth, the South African specialities include "koeksisters" (very sweet doughy treats in syrup) and "melktert" (milk tart) which are all very delicious.
Although there are many South African traditional foods, you will also find Chinese restaurants, Japanese Sushi restaurants, Korean restaurants, Thai restaurants, Indian restaurants, fish and chip shops and many other eateries for every culinary taste. So don't be concerned if crocodile and game are not to your taste, South Africa is a cosmopolitan cooking pot of international cuisines and everyone is catered for!
Most popular drinks:
Cape Town is probably best known for the many superb South African wines produced in the Cape Winelands, with uniquely South African Pinotage and Hanepoort being made from specially cultivated grapes in the Cape Winelands.
Beer is also drunk widely in South Africa especially with a braai or when there is rugby or cricket. South Africa's own beer brand is Castle Lager, but Amstel, Black Label and many others, including imported beers, are also freely available.
Legal drinking age: 18
Tipping: Some restaurants include a service charge in the bill. Tipping is discretionary and usually involves rounding up the charge to a maximum of around 10% as a guideline for good service.
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