Heritage Day is around the corner – plan a proudly South African feast.
Are you in charge of the menu for a Heritage Day event? Whether you’re feeding a large conference group or bringing the food to a corporate celebration, a Heritage Day menu gives you an opportunity to explore foods from the many different cultural heritages that make up South African cuisine. And that can be both exciting and daunting.
Need some inspiration for a Heritage Day feast sure to delight your guests? From scrumptious platters to simply ‘lekker’ desserts, we’ve got you covered!
Four of our best Heritage Day food ideas
1. Something filling
Looking for something hearty and warming for a lunch or supper course? Try gourmet samp and beans (one of Madiba’s favourite meals) or bobotie - this national treasure is spiced mince meat baked with an egg topping. A popular Cape Malay dish, serve it with rice, green beans, and sweet pumpkin fritters (which also make a perfect addition to any snack platter). Want to go vegetarian? Serve up a vegetable curry or briyani with traditional sambles and roti – Indian delicacies made SA style and sure to have your guests coming back for more.
2. Think platters
Platters are always a win when serving large groups and they don’t have to be standard or boring, especially if you have a theme like Heritage Day to guide you. Include a tasty treat from as many different South African cultures as possible or mirror the cultures of the guests you are serving. Spring rolls, sandwiches, and sausage rolls are go-to favourites but why not spice things up a bit with unexpected delicacies like snoek pate and seed crackers, biltong and cream cheese, chilli bites or mini bunny chows? See more catering platter options here.
3. The sweeter, the better
Peppermint crisp tart, coconut vetkoek, buttermilk and caramel rusks, traditional milk tart... South African desserts tend to be sweet and delicious. You simply can’t go wrong with milk tart - this South African favourite is perfect for tea or dessert, in slices or as dainty tartlets. Milk tart (or ‘melktert’ as its Afrikaans creators say it) is so South African it even has its own celebration day on 27 Feb!
4. Braai time
Heritage Day is also unofficial Braai Day in SA. So embrace the tradition and fire up the grills for this truly South African way of eating! Serve flame-grilled lamb chops, steak, borewors bites, or chicken kebabs (or all four!), potato salad (jazzed up with mint, peppers, and sprouts), three bean salad, sweetcorn on the cob, and crusty bread rolls. Yum!
Planning a special menu can be challenging, especially when dealing with large groups or an important event. We can help! At Food Matters, we have the experience and expertise, to cater any professional event in a variety of venues and in line with your corporate menu requirements. From the food to the waitering staff, talk to us about your next big celebration – we can help make it a success.