On Saturday I visited the Stellenbosch Slowmarket for the second time.

I am not an avid market fan and if I do go it’s really a pop-in-and-out visit to get something special, but on Saturday it was a celebration for my friend, Jean Nel who has just launched his first cookbook, Braai the Beloved Country, which is packed with delicious ideas for braai days. (Check out Jean’s recipe for lemon and herb chicken kebabs.)

The guy who took the delicious photographs for the book is Russel Wasserfall – who now owns another must-visit spot in Stellenbosch – Overgaauw ­– with wife Camilla Comins. It’s a new country restaurant, where you can sit under the trees and eat the most scrumptious honest food. They both used to own Table at de Meye in Paarl, which won the best Country Restaurant at the Eat out DStv Food Network Awards in 2011.

Jean is passionate about braaing and apart from having his own catering company he is also an ambassador for Weber. You will find him every Saturday busy at his ‘Flamed’ stand at the Slowmarket, cracking eggs for his famous bacon-and-egg roll, or grilling perfect sirloin rolls.

Another passionate stallholder is Eric Labuschagne  who has a story to tell about his “boomin brilliant brownies”, as he describes them.

The Yummi Chef brand started by selling a few (but very delicious) brownies, made using 72% couveture chocolate, at the market and has now grown into a baking business. Eric is still at the market though, selling his array of brownies, and I can’t wait for his cookbook!

I will definitely be popping a bottle or two of Saltare sparkling wine, which is also available at the market, as well as a few slices of decadent brownies very soon.

Happy holidays!