Learn to Braai on a Stellenbosch Farm: Visit a Local Home for a Cooking Lesson and Meal

Jaatje and her husband, Willem, are easy-going hosts who love sharing stories from their culture as well as South African staples from their kitchen. Jaatje (pronounced Yaatya) grew up on a farm in the Kalahari desert and moved to the Winelands where she has lived for several years now. Jaatje is a color consultant by day who changes spaces such as offices and homes with color to improve people's well-being. She and her husband love hosting guests in their Stellenbosch home and often cook with their co-host, Hanneke. Hanneke is an assistant winemaker at a local winery and has a unique perspective on pairing food and wine. 

Learn to cook Jaatje's creative salads as well as how to barbecue meats and breads on the fire. You can expect to learn to make 2-3 dishes during your 1-2 hour cooking lesson. Once the cooking is complete you'll sit down and enjoy the meal along with local wines. Your hosts will prepare additional dishes in advance. 

Your meal will include dishes such as grilled springbok meat from Jaatje's family farm in the Kalahari, lamb chops, boerewors (sausage), steak and seasonal grilled vegetables, such as charred, baked and seeded eggplant mixed with cumin and yoghurt. In addition, Jaatje loves serving raw vegetable salads with a blend of herbs and spices such as a carrot or beet salad dressed with her friend's homemade botanical vinegar that is made on the farm.

Please note: this is not a professional cooking class, rather an experience to visit an authentic, local home and meet a local person and share the culture and cuisine together. There are two large but very friendly dogs on the farm property that roam outdoors. If you prefer that the dogs stay outdoors, let Jaatje know so the dogs can be kept out of the house.