A Smokin Xmas Potjie! To kick off with I thought that as we are nearing the festive season, I would share a funny potjie tale from years gone by! A well know sign-writer hippie friend of mine asked me to prepare a potjie for him and his esteemed clients at his home in Herolds Bay, his way of saying thanks to them for the support during the year. The potjie was to feed about 60 people and to be ready mid afternoon, the contents there of was up to me! Knowing the Southern Cape people for their penchant for a good party and always bringing hangers-on, I bought ingredients for 80, just to be on the safe side! I arrived bright and early and set up everything on the large deck overlooking the quaint bay! Deck chairs and umbrellas painted a colourful scene and there were even a few waiters present from the local hotel to serve the honourable guests. Among these were many prominent figures of the towns society who had had their names emblazoned on their businesses by the host! I had decided that for so many people a mild tandoori chicken type potjie would satisfy the needs of most (recipe will follow sometime). Added to this were 2 savoury pot breads and the usual condiments and by kosies. Fires blazing in the December sunshine and me sweating like the proverbial, the crowd started to trickle in and there were already signs that the guys, and some dolls, had been in the pub from early on this Saturday, as was the norm especially during the holidays. By 2.30 the party was in full swing, booze flowing freely, large platters of canapés being scoffed, the latest hits blaring from the stereo and a lot of joke telling and back slapping emanating from the swelling thong of party goers. The potjie was nearing completion when the unusually very sober host sidled up to the braai area with a large porcelain container and proceeded to toss a half dozen handfuls of oregano into the steaming pot. Very annoyed at having my potjie interfered with, I enquired why he thought it necessary to enhance the flavour with such an abundance of herbs. He relayed to me to shut up and stir the pot and to cook it for a further hour. When I saw the greenish tinge my gourmet pot had now taken and got a whiff of the oregano, I began to fear the worst. I would have to leave town and my reputation would forever be tarnished in these neck of the woods as the cook who got everyone high. The shout of pots ready went up and the hordes descended upon the feast, plates were piled high and in minutes all one could hear was lip smacking and munching coming from the hungry visitors, bums firmly planted in easy chairs, plates balanced on laps with heads facing out to sea! I decided to retreat and savour some of my own herb to calm my jangling nerves. Upon returning, the scene that greeted me was one of amazement, people lolling in their chairs with glazed eyes and dazed stares and all I heard was, Wow, the waves man!, from some semi comatose imbiber and some hysterical giggling coming from a flock of ladies on bean-bags in the corner! Rumours slipped through to me on Monday morning that that the local café in Herolds Bay had been cleaned out of ice-cream, chocolates and other sugary treats by a multitude of dishevelled people believed to be from a retreat in the nearby Wilderness mountains! So, beware of which Xmas parties you attend this festive season! Keep on potjie-ing!
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 18:34:05 +0000