Zim chef serves up ‘braaivleis’ at Boris Johnson’s anniversary celebration

Lester Kiewit spoke to UK-based Zimbabwean chef, Simon Chiremba, about his mushrooming braai company.

Exiting British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie, celebrated their first-anniversary earlier this month. They included an authentic Southern African braai on their menu.

Simon Chiremba, a UK-based Zimbabwean chef, catered for the wedding celebration. Wors, chops, and braaied mielies were served. Chiremba is the founder and managing director of Smoke & Braai, a street food BBQ and braai business in Coventry, England.

Chiremba says people are drawn to the unique smell of a braai, which is one of his key selling points. Expats appreciated a taste of home, while locals said the meat does not compare to a regular BBQ, added Chiremba.

We actually play with a lot of recipes to get what works and like you’ve mentioned before, there’s a lot of expats from Southern Africa. When they come, when they taste it, they say 'that is boerewors, that how it’s supposed to be'.

Simon Chiremba, Owner - Smoke & Braai

I’ve had to make it quite clear that we are not going to compromise in terms of how we prepare our food.

Simon Chiremba, Owner - Smoke & Braai

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