How to zhoosh up your braai spot
Furnishings
Some attention to furnishing can turn your open space outdoors or bare patio into a perfect place to enjoy a braai with family or friends. From swings and hammocks, to proper outdoor furniture complete with benches and tables, alfresco dining can be as casual or formal an affair as you choose to make it.
Hanging swing benches made from reclaimed timber can be covered with fitted mattresses and throw cushions to transform them into cosy outdoor day beds, to either perch or lounge on, depending on the occasion. They make fantastic lounges for people to sit near to each other encouraging intimate conversations while you cook the meat on the braai.
Benches and a table make a great addition to any braai area allowing people to enjoy the outdoors while they eat and keep the braai master company.
Roll up!
If your patio or backyard doesn’t have the benefit of a built in braai area, consider using a braai trolley. Easy to use, these are a great option if you don’t have space to have a built-in braai area.
The perfect accompaniment to the mobile braai or even larger kettle braais, the trolley is ideal in that it gives you all the benefits of having a braai area, complete with storage space for braai accessories like tongs, lifters, lighters and bottle openers, self-contained in a trolley with rolling wheels so you can position it wherever you want to braai, be it the pool side, or on your patio.
If the area where you are having your braai becomes unsuitable due to weather conditions, you can just roll it to a better spot under the cover of an awning or out of the wind. Some braai trolleys incorporate a rolling bar counter or cocktail serving space, where bottles and glassware can be stored.
There are even a variety of DIY options for those who want to show off skills as a handyman. Check out the web for tutorials on either Pinterest or speak to the woodworking expert at your local hardware store for tips on how to make your own.
Manage your mess
One of the main reasons people may be reluctant to entertain at home is because of the mess left behind after guests have left.
The reality is that mess tends to accumulate simply because people don’t have anywhere to throw their rubbish, a problem easily remedied by ensuring there is a black-bin-lined receptacle for rubbish.
Or, if you are into composting and recycling, then a set of properly marked bins for paper, plastic, glass, tin and organic matter as well as another general rubbish bin for mixed waste should be made available.
Lighting
Outdoor lighting during the day isn’t as important as it is at night, but even in the afternoon shade, braaiing can be tricky if you can’t see the meat properly and can result in overcooked or underdone meat, both of which will dampen the mood of your guests considerably.
Look out for solar powered or battery powered lights that don’t need to be plugged in or consider hanging some jars with candles from rafters or placed on the furniture.
The jars will prevent breezes from blowing out the candles. If you want to add a romantic mood, hang a string of fairy lights.
Eco-friendly options
Charcoal briquettes as convenient as they are can have a negative impact on the environment due to the high levels of carbon monoxide and ground level ozone they produce.
Of course, for a purist, nothing beats a real wood fire but a variety of eco-friendly products – including “logs” made from compressed (read biodegradable) paper pulp are available.
Otherwise, consider using gas rather than a wood burning fire. According to statistics, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) emits 100 times less carbon dioxide than the average charcoal briquette impregnated with a petroleum solvent.
