The ancient art of braaing and smoking meat is a discipline that traditionally appeals to men, but the tide is slowly turning as women are drawn to the techniques, tips and tricks of how to successfully pull it off by none other than Suzette Wandrag.
The Helderberg local and influencer is the face behind the social media pages “Women Fire Food” that has raked up thousands of followers in mere months, after a slow start when it initially launched three years ago.
On Saturday (18 May), Wandrag hosted a braai day for 70 women at the Tug-of -War club at the Charles Morkel Stadium, the second such event in as many months following the demands from her followers for a meet-and-greet. On the day, live demonstrations were on display along with other fun activities such as line dancing and an epic meal.
“I initially started the page at the request of friends, and it was purely to teach women to be better braaiers and smokers,” she said. “As time went on, the page grew and even men started taking an interest. I also started doing requests and, through sponsorships, I was able to demonstrate various types of braai and smoke equipment, which has attracted tons of followers.”
Wandrag is also the founder of Chilli Club South Africa and comes from a corporate, paralegal background, but it is her experience in the hospitality industry that has helped her successfully navigate her new venture.
“I love cooking and the idea of helping small businesses along the way has really appealed to me. I make tutorials and when others see it’s a woman teaching them the skills, they feel more comfortable and really open up and show support,” Wandrag. related.
“At the events many women have showed interest in braaing or smoking meats themselves, rather than leaving it to a man, which has helped their self-confidence and independence. It’s so great to see what learning a new skill can do for a woman. Others have made new friends at the events and it has, so far, received positive responses. I want to see it grow and become more than just a social media page, but something that really adds value to women’s lives.”
Also known as “the braai lady” Wandrag explained that she is working on expanding her brand and planning to visit other parts of Cape Town to meet all her fans and followers.
“I’m open to collaborationm, so please get in touch and let’s braai!”
- “Women Food Fire” can be found on Facebook and Tiktok.
