This just posted by Miles Davis on the BAExpats Food and Drink forum, reporting on the Underground Market held Saturday 9th June.
"Highlights for me (I didn't try everything), were the Biltong and the Goat's cheese. I am just finishing the slab of Biltong I bought, perfect, moist, great balanced seasoning that didn't overwhelm the meaty taste. "
travelers. Share advice.
"Highlights for me (I didn't try everything), were the Biltong and the Goat's cheese. I am just finishing the slab of Biltong I bought, perfect, moist, great balanced seasoning that didn't overwhelm the meaty taste. "
travelers. Share advice.
Biltong a delicacy loved by South Africans and meat lovers around the world !!
Biltong a delicacy loved by South Africans Reviews
Biltong - A meat delicacy loved by South Africans! May 29, 2010
South Africans love their Biltong! That includes me because I am a born and bred South African girl. I grew up with biltong and so did my ancestors. In fact Biltong originated more than 400 years ago in South Africa from our Dutch ancestors. The word "Biltong" comes from Dutch - ‘BIL’ meaning buttock and ‘TONG’ meaning to strip.
If you are a South African Ex-Pat then I am sure one of the things you will miss very quickly is your biltong. In fact you might come very close to wihdrawal symptoms if you are not careful. My fellow Ex-Pats in London and Australia of course do not have this withdrawal problem because you can find biltong shops everywhere. The unfortante ones like me, have to rely on friends and family to bring us a piece when they visit. You do run the risk of it being confiscated at the airport because you are bringing in meat from another country. I can just imagine an angry looking custom official taking my piece of biltong! That will not make me a happy puppy! Ok I have been raving about it and you have seen the photo but what is Biltong exactly? Biltong is pieces of cured and air-dried beef or game. Both are good but I prefer the beef.I have been shown by my dad how to make biltong. We have tried it before and it worked. There are so many recipes and methods how to make biltong. Each biltong maker believes he's got the perfect recipe! Most recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. It is very easy and simple to make your own biltong. The best thing about it is that you can add the spices according to your own taste. In Argentina it is difficult to find the correct spices. My dad brought me a lot of biltong spices when he visted me a couple of months ago. The most important thing about Biltong is the meat. You need a good piece of meat. Luckily in Argentina we have excellent meat. Remember that the meat will shrink a lot when you dry it because it is losing it's moisture. So make sure you use a nice big piece of meat! |
'Bil' means buttocks and 'tong' means strip in Dutch, together they term strips of lean buttocks meat which is salted, air-dried/sun-dried and enjoyed as a traditional South African cured snack, namely biltong. South African forefathers known as Voortrekkers preserved meat in this fashion during their Great Trek across South Africa.
Historically meat was tenderised under horse-back saddles and preserved with vinegar and spices abundant in the Cape Colony at the time. Quality vinegar for flavouring the biltong was produced by French Huguenots from their grapes which also yielded European style wine. Shared vineyard ingredients in a shared period in South African history make it fitting that biltong and wine pair up for a taste of South Africa. In the rolling hill setting of Stellenbosch wine country, Stellenbosch Hills Wine Estate pairs biltong and wine in a unique tasting experience.
Biltong seasoning is as subjective in taste and varied in 'recipe' as wine blending which is why a range of different biltong varieties is paired with complementary wine varietals. Intense and subtle flavours are presented in pairs of meat and grape, hand selected by the winemaker. Red and white wines are merged in taste profiles with beef and game biltong. Extra-dry springbok biltong cuts draw out the butter and citrus aroma of the chosen Chardonnay while the kudu biltong highlights the intensity of the flagship 1707 Reserve, red blend wine. Afrikaans history meets French viticulture at a table of South African tastings. slice the meat, sip the wine and slip into a well-fed relaxation.
Historically meat was tenderised under horse-back saddles and preserved with vinegar and spices abundant in the Cape Colony at the time. Quality vinegar for flavouring the biltong was produced by French Huguenots from their grapes which also yielded European style wine. Shared vineyard ingredients in a shared period in South African history make it fitting that biltong and wine pair up for a taste of South Africa. In the rolling hill setting of Stellenbosch wine country, Stellenbosch Hills Wine Estate pairs biltong and wine in a unique tasting experience.
Biltong seasoning is as subjective in taste and varied in 'recipe' as wine blending which is why a range of different biltong varieties is paired with complementary wine varietals. Intense and subtle flavours are presented in pairs of meat and grape, hand selected by the winemaker. Red and white wines are merged in taste profiles with beef and game biltong. Extra-dry springbok biltong cuts draw out the butter and citrus aroma of the chosen Chardonnay while the kudu biltong highlights the intensity of the flagship 1707 Reserve, red blend wine. Afrikaans history meets French viticulture at a table of South African tastings. slice the meat, sip the wine and slip into a well-fed relaxation.
