Getting to know the Braaibroodjie Master

KNYSNA | BITOU NEWS - After Herman Hardick was crowned the inaugural winner of Knysna-Plett Herald's Braaibroodjie Master competition, we took some time to get to know the man behind the braai grid.

In case you missed the news last week, on Saturday 10 September a battle of the braaibroodjies played out at the Oakhill Sports Campus (OSC), with four champions of the art of the braaibroodjie taking to the arena to battle it out.

Herman Hardick, Lizé Groenewald, Merwe Vrey and Marlene Oelf descended on the OSC for the official tasting day of the competition, which was held in conjunction with Oakhill School's Family Day celebrations.

While many a great and tasty braaibroodjie was prepared, there could only be one winner.

The judges, KPH editor Chris du Plessis, Oakhill head of school Graham Howarth, Knysna Mayor Aubrey Tsengwa and Knysna Deputy Mayor Alberto Marbi, elected Herman to be that winner.

He won himself a lovely bottle of Jakkalsvlei wine, and was also the recipient of a voucher worth R2 500 for a whale-watching/eco marine tour for two with Ocean Odyssey.

We asked Herman to tell us a bit more about himself.

The Braaibroodjie Master

"I grew up in Kuils River in Cape Town, but have also lived in London and Johannesburg. I moved to Knysna in 2008 and have been teaching at Oakhill since," he said.

Herman not only teaches math and science to Oakhill's Grade 5 students, but is also the school's Grade 4 to 7 academic director.

Herman has always had a passion for cooking. "When I grew up I was responsible for making burgers on a Saturday.

"I can make a lovely sweet mustard from a family recipe. I once had a craving for fudge and my mom said I must get the recipe from Tannie Johanna across the street and do it myself. It came out perfectly," he quipped.

"My friend and I took part in a potjiekos competition at church and we are still convinced we should have won, but the judge did not like the fact that we had pumpkin in our potjie. I can make a good oxtail as well."

He is also a major braai-man. "I have basically braaied everything and anything. I love making a fire and braai at least once a week. My ex-wife complained once that she was cooking every night. I said I don't mind helping but she replied, 'but then we'll braai every night'."

Herman presents his braaibroodjie to the judges. Photos: Blake Linder

The origin of the winning recipe

While Herman made the braai-broodjie, it was his son that invented the recipe. "I invited my ex-wife (see, we still get on) to my house and we and the boys had to put together two different braaibroodjies.

"We then judged each other and my son Johan's braaibroodjie came out tops by a third of a point. I decided to use his recipe. He also loves cooking and has an appetite for various flavours and tastes."

And what about the prize? Who will embark on the Ocean Odyssey trip with Herman? "We have already decided that Johan and I will go on the boat trip. He deserves it, after all, since it was his recipe that won it. He loves the ocean as well and is a curious boy, so I think he will really enjoy the boat trip. I am looking forward to this."

Herman prepares the onions for his braaibroodjie.