Ultimate Braai Master grannies ‘aan die brand’

The only thing they regret was being eliminated early in the competition.

Two Boksburg grannies, Tracy Graham (54) – “Braai Master” – and Christine Vermaak (62) – “Braai Buddy”- took part in the fourth season of the Ultimate Braai Master.

They were the oldest team to ever participate in the show.

Team Gee-Gee, short for Galloping Grannies, was very unfortunate to be eliminated in the third episode and their journey came to an end.

They participated in three challenges at different locations.

Graham and Vermaak arrived in Bloemfontein by plane and drove to Gariep Dam, where the first challenge was held.

The second challenge was at The Areena holiday resort in East London, while the third was to be an elimination round, for which they travelled to Coffee Bay, in the Transkei.

Their challenge was to spice a raw chicken and place hot rocks, which were heated in a fire, inside the cavity of the chicken, with two small rocks under the wings. They then wrapped it in newspaper and a plastic bag.

Teams then had to put the chicken into a back pack and hike over the hills along the Wild Coast, in the Transkei, for five hours, while the chicken cooked.

“We hiked the five hours over some very steep hills, but what awesome scenery,” said Graham.

At the end of their challenging five-hour hike Team Gee-Gee arrived at the Hole in the Wall.

It was the moment of truth, when the judges would open the wrapped chicken and reveal if it was cooked and who would be eliminated.

Unfortunately, Team Gee-Gee made the mistake of leaving out the rocks under the wings, and their chicken was not cooked.

Team Gee-Gee was eliminated.

“The tears flowed, because we had made such a stupid mistake,” said Graham.

They received a R10 000 Sho’t Left travel voucher, sponsored by South African tourism, and were very proud to be able to donate the voucher to a rural school in the area.

According to Graham, if she could turn back the hands of time, she would have paid more attention to the brief and put in the extra rocks.

“We never disgraced ourselves,” she said.

”We were eliminated not because we could not braai or cook, but because we did not listen and in this game one small mistake will cost you your place around the fire.”

Even though Team Gee-Gee was eliminated in the third challenge, Graham thinks this was their favourite challenge.

“To experience the stunning landscape of the Transkei was more than I ever expected,” she said.

“It was my first time in the Transkei. I would like to take my family back there to experience the beauty of the area and to hike the same route, but this time without a chicken on my back.”

She also stressed that all the challenges were very stressful.

“You never know what or when it will happen so you cannot prepare in advance,” said Graham.

“At our age I thought I had experienced all the butterflies in the tummy feelings, would not get flustered and could rely on life experiences to get me through, but this competition just puts you right back there and you are not sure of your abilities until you start to braai.

“Team Gee-Gee is just two grannies and we were competing against qualified chefs and other fantastic creative teams.”

She said that the first challenge was the most stressful, as they were entering into the unknown.

Teams had to prepare a meal which symbolised who they are and where they came from.

Team Gee-Gee prepared pork loin, stuffed with brandy infused dried fruit and wrapped in bacon, cooked over hot coals and served with garlic and thyme hassle-back potatoes and mixed vegetables in yogurt, wrapped in tin foil and cooked on open coals – a take on your normal Sunday lunch at Granny’s house.

“We also had to share fires and we had to fight for our coals and space,” said Graham.

“It was a tough first challenge, as the nerves clicked in and we had to keep the fire at the right heat.”

After an unexpected twist to the game the top three teams were made team leaders and needed to select their crew.

Team Gee-Gee was selected onto the red crew, with three other teams.

Team Gee-Gee enjoyed being part of the whole award winning Ultimate Braai Master Production.

There were over 70 production crew members that travel with the contestants.

“It’s the adventure that keeps you on your toes from one day to the next; you don’t know if you will be travelling or staying another night, in a challenge or on a rest day; the road trip and the people you meet on the road; the useful cooking tips you receive from the judges who are five star chefs; doing things that you never thought you would do, like zip-lining and meeting a giraffe that thinks it is a dog; places to which you travel that, in your normal day-to-day living, you would not go to,” said Graham.

“And the cherry on the top is all the items that are given to you by the sponsors of the show: a Cobb braai, a set of Global knives, a Suzuki jacket, Robertson spices and the 4×4 Suzuki you get to drive around the country, just to name a few.”

For Graham, after three weeks away from home, just to see her husband and family was awesome.

“The first few days I did not know what to do with myself. On the show you are told when dinner, lunch and breakfast will be served,” she said.

“You don’t have to think about anything; your day is planned for you and you have a ‘Go to Guy’ to sort out any problems, so it was an adjustment to get back to taking charge of your life again.

“We were on edge from morning until night, because at any time there could be a challenge; it could be at 4.30am with a knock at your tent and camera’s in your face.

“So just to relax and have a good night’s sleep with no thoughts of what we will be cooking, was something to get used to.

The first night home Graham and her family stopped at a restaurant and had a meal she did not have to cook or plan and she could not smell smoke.

“Our families were ever so proud of Team Gee-Gee and our achievements,” she said.

“To have had the opportunity to participate in such an awesome adventure and to share it with my friend, is a memory that will never fade.

“I have always said that my grandchildren must remember me, not as the granny who sat and just knitted or baked, but the granny who loved adventure and did not allow age to stop her having fun – age is but a number.”

Season five auditions will be starting in the New Year and Graham will be auditioning again, to take on any challenge with another team mate.

“If anyone who has sat and watched the Ultimate Braai Master on TV and thinks they can take on the challenge, go for it,” she said.

“Watch out for Team Geezer – we will be at the auditions.” – @IschkeBoksburg

Full steam ahead on granny power for the ultimate braai