There is nothing that makes you feel quite as South African as having a nice afternoon braai. Soaking up the sunlight, enjoying the delightful braai vleis that our country has to offer, and getting smoke in your eyes as the fumes follow you around from all directions. You just can’t beat it for traditional South African cooking. It’s something that many other countries will fail to understand as they replace the beauty of wood or coal cooking with gas grilling instead. Heathens.
The Americans may be onto something with the new Weber gas model that combines the spirit of the traditional American “barbeque”, with some of the more modern delights of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a digital display so you don’t miss a minute of the game while sacrificing your spot to ensure that the meat is cooked perfectly.
The new Weber connect is more than just about adding entertainment to your favourite past time though, and it includes a range of features that allow you to change temperatures or monitor how your meat is doing, all from an app that’ll make even the laziest of braai-masters happy.
It’s a great and innovative idea that certainly brings a technological edge to a popular pastime, though if Weber wants to win South Africans over with something like this they may have to forego the gas cooking experience for some more traditional South African approaches. And maybe lower the price, because the smallest Spirit SX-315 model costs $850 (R12,400) and the bigger Genesis range can end up costing you $1349 (R20,500). The high-end models do include gadgets such as a warming rack and LED lighting, because apparently holding a torch while you’re braaing is not manly enough.
Weber is launching their new range of Connect Smart Grills later this year in the US. It’s unlikely they will make it this way any time soon, but they can’t say they have truly created the best grills until they’ve given it to the world’s best to try out. Who will then trade it in for a proper natural fire because we are hardcore like that
Last Updated: February 11, 2021
Insomnia is fun
February 11, 2021 at 08:54
sorry, gas braai is not braaing.
Original Heretic
February 11, 2021 at 09:19
But you just called it a gas “braai”.
Dude…
Jokes aside, yup, gotta agree. Fire make man happy!!
Insomnia is fun
February 12, 2021 at 00:33
Hah, they call it a gas braai. I call it a gas chamber…………. wait.
Mandalorian Jim
February 12, 2021 at 01:06
Although, and I know this is a controversial statement, but a gas grill can do wonders to chicken and fish… but yes.. putting the words gas and braai together… disgusting.
https://media4.giphy.com/media/3o6ZtnuTnpSjlTdumc/giphy.gif
geel slang
February 12, 2021 at 04:23
People in SA love to rip on gas, but it has its uses. It sucks when braaing with friends, lacks the wow factor of flames. Id still rather do a quick braai in the week on my gas braai rather than on a stove for example.
Wood is king but I actually prefer gas to charcoal.
Mandalorian Jim
February 12, 2021 at 06:14
I know a friend, who can do wonders with gas, but I can’t help but tease him. He knows how to smoke the chicken or fish, and he always grills everything to perfection. He once did pork, and it was absolutely divine.
Chris Summers
February 11, 2021 at 11:04
The only question when it comes to Braaing is, Wood or Charcoal. Gas doesn’t even come into it.
Insomnia is fun
February 12, 2021 at 00:32
Good man!
Mandalorian Jim
February 12, 2021 at 01:05
Gas “braaing” is for posers, and americans….