If you are one who seeks fame, fortune and overnight
success, then Ultimate Braai Master is not for you. However if you seek
experience, wealth in knowledge (about food and life), Success within yourself,
conflict resolution skills and a taste for life then UBM (Ultimate Braai
Master) is for you. On the 7th of March, Johannesburg produced 33
teams eager to get into the next stage of the show. Finding itself at the
Indaba Hotel in Fourways, UBM wakes before the sun rises, getting ready to
register the tired, yet eager contestants for the day’s festivities. Having
been a part of the registration process for the past four seasons in
Johannesburg and Durban when it was held there, I am somewhat biased in certain
opinions of the show, however looking objectively at the processes and aims of
the show, I have a new found respect for the masterminds behind the show.
When someone says, okay now Braai, the first thing that
comes to mind is steak, chops, garlic bread, Wors and pork rashers( just to
name a few). One certainly does not think of a three course meal prepared
purely on a Braai. Well this is what contestants had to do if they had any
chance of impressing the highly renowned judges, to make it to the next round of
UBM. Looking at the creations the people produced, it is not an average meal
for the average Braai’er. Some of the words used to describe or name the food
the contestants were making was defiantly not what the average Joe would know.
Ultimate Braai Master started on the 8th of
April 2012.
“The
Ultimate Braai Master is SA’s first original reality-based television series,
hosted by Bush-Cook Guru, Justin Bonello, and professional chefs, Bertus Basson and Petrus
Madutlela.
Season 4 will see 13 teams travel off the beaten
track on the journey of a lifetime! 60 days. Thousands of kilometres. Bigger
prizes. Tougher challenges. Only ONE winner!
The Ultimate Braai Master Season 4 will premiere on
eTV IN 2015!
Nominated for 2013 Best
Reality TV show at the SAFTAs “
During the show I had the opportunity to interview some
of the contestants as well as host, director, producer and mc of the event to.
I interviewed three teams which included, Zambeze Breezers, Team Gee Gee and
Team Braai Code.
I asked the contestants the following questions and they
responded accordingly:
Question: What made you enter UBM this year?
Answer:
Zambeeze Breezers(ZB): This
father, daughter duo had seen it on TV and thought they should enter
Team Gee Gee: Full of
enthusiasm, this Granny team wanted the experience, they wanted to feel the
excitement of the everything, wanted to try something different, wanted to
experience the adventure of it all and most excitingly, it was on their “BUCKET
LIST.”
Team Braai Code: It was this
team’s third try at the cooking show, they are passionate about Braai’ing, they
want to go on the road trip to see the country, to have the experience of the
show, and they loved having a fun day out with people who loved Braai’ing as much
as they do.
What are you making?
Question: What are you making?
Answer:
ZB: Starters-Prawns and
avocado
Main- Fillet, Rotisserie
Chicken, Salad, Caramelised Carrots & Mushrooms
Team Gee Gee: Starters-Bacon,
Cheese Meat Roll With Spinach and Cheese.
Main- Braised Lamb, Tomato Rice, Mint with Peas Soaked In
Olive Oil, Carrots, Onions and French Leaves.
Dessert- Blueberry muffins with poached meringues.
Braai Code: Starters- Smoked
Tequila, Citrus Infused Hot Wings
.
Main- Grilled Rack Of Lamb (which had been marinated in
brine since 1 am that morning). Grilled Barley
and green veggies.
Dessert- Baked chocolate pudding with a Bar One centre,
Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey creamy Caramel Sauce. (Jack Daniels breaks the
sweetness of the caramel according to the experienced team.)
Question: What do you want
to achieve from this show?
Answer:
ZB: They said that they own
a safari lodge in Namibia and would like to gain more experience for the lodge
and for people to go to their lodge; they even offered for the winner of UBM
this year to stay at the lodge.
Team Gee Gee: They answered
that they would like to go further, to show people that
“JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE OLD,
DOESNT MEAN THAT YOU CANT GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING, GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY
LIFE!!”
Question- What would you say
to future contestants?
Answer:
Team Gee Gee: “Go for it, it’s
wonderful, it’s a
buzz”
Team Braai Code: “ Prep
well, think out of the box, you won’t get into the completion by just doing
normal chop and Wors, it’s important to show the judges on the day that you can
maters different techniques on Braai’ing, not just putting a piece of meat on
the fire, techniques including smoking and baking etc. Different disciplines to
get to the next level of the competition.”
Then moving on from the contestants, Justin Bonello,
Peter Gird, Andrew Faber and Charmaine.....
First up, Justin Bonello, Host and Creator of UBM....
Question:
What is UBM?
Answer:
“Ultimate Braai Master is a home grown reality TV show, that is made by South Africans
and that stars South Africans, and strutting our stuff around the Braai. It’s
probably one of the hardest reality based competition on in air in the country.
We are very proud, because we take good
cooks and turn them into very good cooks.
There are thirteen teams who embark on the trip of a
lifetime, travelling across South Africa to beautiful places. We want to show
what South Africa and South Africans have to offer, putting the teams through
hardcore challenges, resulting in one team walking away with half a million
rand, a brand new car and most importantly the title of Ultimate Braai Master
season 4. We Love the show.
Question: What is your favorite part of the show?
Answer:
“Introducing South Africans to their own country. People from all walks of life
become friends for life. There are very few things that can do that, the way
the Braai does. (bring people together)
Question:
What is the best part of the turn out this year?
Answer: “It’s
a bitter sweet situation. The sweet side is the callabre of chefs and cooks has
been higher than ever. The bitter side is that South Africans are scared of the
show, it’s very hardcore, the challenges are difficult in trying circumstances
and the contestants are away from home for up to two months. The sad part is
that part is that parts of South Africa think it’s too hard for them.”
Question:
What would you say to future contestants?
Answer: “The
best advice I could give is that we are looking for outgoing people who can
cook, get onto the road show and to learn enough to take the title. We want to
encourage South Africans to be a part of something that is truly and proudly
just who we are.”
Peter Gird: the Producer
Question: Tell us about
Ultimate Braai Master
Answer:” UBM is an outdoor,
lifestyle cooking show that is meant to talk to all South Africans, and who is
now talking to a hundred million people around the world. It is more than a
Boerewors and Chops show, it is what is achievable on a Braai. It is also a
travel show where we take people to amazing places and show them an amazing
time. It’s not just a cooking show. “
Question: What is your
favourite part about being a part of UBM?
Answer: “What I am so proud
of is that we have created a show in South Africa for South Africans, filmed in
South Africa and it has travelled globally, and I think that really is an
achievement. We are selling ultimate Braai Master to Canada, Australia and
Sweden if those negations are happening. And it’s something we’ve created and it’s
something all South Africans love to do.
“It’s a truly home-grown show.”
And I think that’s what South Africans need right now.”
Question: What would you say
is your favourite part of this year’s show?
Answer:” Well this year’s
show, the one we are about to shoot, is going to be different for people who
have watched the show before. I think that we have learnt a lot of lessons from
other reality shows, where there is a lot more strategy, and a lot more
animosity and we are going to create that this year, so there is going to be a
lot more needle, there is not going to just be this loving group of South
Africans cooking like we have had in the past.
And hopefully we will have some bigger prizes. I think that the exciting
part for me is that the winner of this year’s show will, not only be winning
the money and the car but will also represent South Africa at the World
Barbeque Championships, In Las Vegas, and they will get their Springbok
Colours.”
Question: What would you say
to future contestants?
Answer: “Well I think what I
want to say for future contestants, is that is it for ordinary people, yes we
have put chefs and trained people in, but we try and level the playing field.
But I want the show to be for everyone and so I think you have got to be able
to cook, as I say everyone loves to Braai a chop and do chakalaka and all that
sort of stuff, but it’s not about that, it is about if you can achieve amazing
things in your kitchen, you can take that skill onto an open fire, and that’s
what we try and do. So it’s for anyone who loves cooking.”
Andrew Faber- Director of UBM
Question:
What has been the most challenging thing about being the director so far?
Answer: “Working
with Justin Bonello (chuckles, only joking).
The whole show is challenging, it’s a lot
of logistics, a lot of pre thinking, pre-planning, though and production.
There is a lot of effort that goes into planning a trip
so that they ensure everyone is safe and that they are successful in making a
show. It is a big task travelling around the country with 80+ people. “
Question:
As the director, what do you look for in a contestant?
Answer: “What
I look for in a contestant is, first of all, it’s a cooking show; they have got
to be able to cook. Second, I like
people who are fighting for the money, and willing to cause conflict with
fellow competitors. I found that last year the harder we pushed them and the
harder we made the show, the more they became like a family as a posed to
wanting to fight with each other. A lot of people who watch reality shows like
that sort of drama where they fight with each other, for me personally I like
people who are nice people and people who get along with other people that have
respect for the fellow competitors, but it doesn't make the best TV, that’s the
only problem. “
Question:
What is your favourite part of this year?
Answer:”
Definitely going on the road for two months, it’s absolutely awesome, and being
on the road, it’s tough and hard and you don’t want to be there, but when
everything is all finished and done and you look back and think what an awesome
experience. And it’s the same for the contestants, they battle it out, they cry
the scream the laugh they shout, they want to leave and feel home sick but
after a week of being home they want to go out on the road again, because it
was such an awesome journey.”
Question: What would you say
to future contestants?
Answer:
“Be yourself and cook with your heart,
there isn’t anybody who you can be but yourself. Cook with love and you can
taste it.”
Charmaine: MC of the event.
Question:
It is the first time at the show, what are your thoughts?
Answer: “I
have had the most phenomenal experience and I couldn't have ever imagined it
would be as good. I have met the most interesting people and have seen what can
really do on a Braai. I am a vegetarian so I thought that you just slap on a
piece of meat, left, right, and center done.”
Question: What has been your favorite part of the show
so far?
Answer: “Definitely meeting the contestants, working with
the crew and tasting all of the food.”
Question: What would you say to future contestants?
Answer: “Be creative; never put a hold on your imagination.
Add your own spin to spices, some contestants have grown their own veggies and
to be open and creative.”
The
following teams made it to the shortlist at the Johannesburg Audtions:
Braai Vingers
The Fire Flies
Rustenburgers
Cinnamon Zest
Yolo Roadies
Braai Code
Dad's and Lads
Big D's Braai
Gee Gee
Smoking Hot
Die Worsmasjiens
The Travellers
Double Trouble
Tjop en Ou Top
Warriors
Wild
Card Teams:
Vat n Kans
Guts, Grills and Glory
Wine and Dine
Let’s
see what happens with this year’s contestants, we wish you the best of luck.
Written by Shannalee Doran.
