Food: About A Good Roast

Roast About A Good

What is it about a nice grill on a warm afternoon with family and friends? Just catching up; nothing serious. Celebration and introductions with the smell of marinade in the not so far distance and cold drinks being served by that one uncle who promises every graduate a job? What is it that is so unifying about a solid braai that seems to bond human beings who barely meet over long periods of time?

In my days in college, we had a group of shantis near our campus which had somehow been spared by the surrounding development of what had by that time become a concrete jungle. In my national language we call them kibanda. Vibanda for plural.

Every weekday, as lunch approached, like clockwork, there would be a signal. A call to action. Smoke. The sweet signaling sensation of smoke from kibanda barbecues was probably the most unifying call throughout the neighborhood. Professionals, casuals, students and anyone who just happened to be in the neighborhood congregated at their nearest cluster of vibanda. Like a huge extended family, we would all ask for ‘the usual’. The menus were usually very small, consisting of mainly barbecue beef, chicken, in rare occasions goat meat, one or two vegetables and a starch which would usually be corn based (ugali) or wheat based (chapati). The food was ALWAYS fresh, because the day’s stock would barely make it past lunch hour, on the count of the massive appetites of myself and my comrades from different walks of life. Lunch was heavenly. Nothing fancy. No sous-chef, no violin, no special seats. Just laughter, communion and smoke. An every-man’s paradise. I could swear I constantly heard the African version of Garth Brooks’ ‘Low Places’ playing in the background.

Since those days are long gone, we all have new memories to make. Our lives may be different now, but this is only temporary. When we are able to, again, we must make new memories. New episodes in this winding drama of our lives around the grill, the smoke and the laughs. Send a signal, invite your comrades, laugh a little. Here is to memories made in the smoke and smell of a good roast; a bonding and togetherness that remain inexpensive yet priceless. To the power of the braai ... Here-here.