As we all know locally, a braai loosely entails grilling food over coals. And even though they seem like one and the same thing to a novice, they are not synonymous with barbeques. Braais are different because they involve fire and it stays lit during the cooking process. We, as South Africans, love to gather around the fire, swop stories and even once the meal is eaten will continue to hang around the fire for the rest of the day or evening.

We really don’t need an excuse or specific celebration to get the braai on – come rain or shine, we will be there and we can literally braai anything anywhere.

It’s a tradition that cuts through all cultural lines, regardless of language and race, and is a true South African tradition.

Apart from doing the average braai, many of us take it to the next level by showing off our braai master skills. One of the elements is definitely a secret homemade marinade to add flavour to the meals especially with chicken, beef, pork and different cuts thereof.

The culinary artists at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa have some super awesome tips for you to remember when making your marinade:

• Marinades are amazing to help prepare meat for the “braai” by mixing up a bunch of special ingredients. This is then poured over the meat and must rest for a minimum of an hour before going on the grill.
• Once you have added marinade to the meat, don’t leave it out on the kitchen counter, especially in summer – make sure you store it in the fridge.
• When using marinades, remember meat will burn easily due to the sugar content, so when cooking make sure you grill longer over a lower heat. Try to remove the excess marinade before grilling and just before removing from cooking add it again…
• Once the marinade has been used, it’s best to discard it.
• Tip: Ziplock bags are excellent for marinating meat. This way you can easily massage marinade into the meat and keep turning it over in the fridge so both sides are well-marinated.

Granny Mouse Country House & Spa have some real winning marinades that you can use on the next braai which are sure to make you the hit of the family and friend gathering.

CHICKEN MARINADE (1KG)

Ingredients:

15g         Onion powder

15g         Garlic powder

15G        Fresh thyme

15g         Whole grain mustard

10g         Fresh ginger

10g         Fresh garlic

Zest of one lemon

Juice of one lemon

Salt & pepper to taste.

Method:

Mix all ingredients well.

Toss chicken in the mixture and allow to marinade for about 2 hours.

Thereafter, it is ready to be cooked on the grill, braai or roasted in the oven.

 

BEEF MARINADE

 

Ingredients:

5g           Rosemary (finely chopped)

2              Cloves of garlic (finely chopped)

15g         Thyme (finely chopped)

15g         Paprika

10g         Onion powder

5g           Ground cloves

2             Tots whisky of choice (optional)

 

Method:

Pat fillet dry, season with salt and pepper and set aside.

In the meanwhile, mix all other ingredients in a bowl.

Coat the fillet generously with marinade.

Seal meat in a hot skillet if intended on roasting in the oven.

Can be cooked directly on heat if grilling or braaiing.

Once cooked to desired temperature, let the meat rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

 

The last few years have been exceptionally disruptive to the work environment. And now that the world is returning to a “new normal”, planning a conference for your team at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa may be just the ticket to get everyone back on the same page. With its stunning scenery and tranquil atmosphere, this venue offers a unique and inspiring setting to focus on your goals and revitalize your team.

Research has shown that face-to-face time ensures the facilitation of successful communication by offering non-verbal clues, and the capacity to pose questions to participants. This reduces the chances of misinterpretation of messages, emails, and other communication, and leads to greater overall clarity. Spending time together as a team, which has not been the case in recent years, also facilitates a greater comradery between team members.

According to General Manager, Sean Granger, “we have seen an uptick in conference bookings from large groups to smaller Executive Teams as they break away from the distractions of the city and focus on goals of the business. Our location also conveniently lends itself to those businesses with staff in different locations.”

During breaks, the hotel’s restaurants offer up delicious cuisine, and your team can relax in the hotel’s luxurious spa or take a stroll through the beautiful gardens. There are also a number of team building activities that can be arranged. These include wine tastings, food and wine pairings, and their “Mouster” Chef cooking challenges, which not only promote productivity and creativity, but also help to foster strong relationships and a positive team dynamic.

With its combination of stunning scenery, modern facilities, and excellent service, Granny Mouse Country House & Spa is the perfect conference venue to get your team working together towards a common goal.