Ultimate Braai Master Season 4- 

Johannesburg Auditions

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 7^th 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 8^th 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.