Last Saturday the parish held its first Potjie Competition – I think I have spelt it correctly- it sounds more like poykie! It means a cooking pot and the idea was for teams to compete in cooking the best stew in a traditional 3 legged iron pot over a wood fire. Some teams were a family or a couple, others were the lay ministers, Mothers' Union and so on. There were 13 in all; I know because I, with Tom's help, had to taste the finished product and judge the best! Two others helped so we compared notes and rather luckily the one we agreed best was by chance a group of young lads, so a very popular choice.
The lads had an ingenious device for lifting the potjie lid.
It was the first time they had tried such an event but it was deemed very successful in bringing people together socially. No coffee is served after services, people rush away, so I think it was quite important.
At about 4pm people arrived and the organiser had got a big fire going so it was easy for competitors to start a fire quickly. The wood was so dry it could never have been difficult. The church grounds are not paved or concreted (something they do want to do, anyway at the front.) And there is masses of space and piles of stones or bricks from previous buildings here. We learnt that there used to be a school on this site. The tiny old Anglican church in the town centre still exists but is unused.
So stones were used as surrounds to the fires and to support the iron pots. Gradually oil began sizzling and lamb, beef or chicken pieces were browning, along with spices and vegetables of all types added at various stages depending on the cook's idea of what constituted the very best method. Some groups had brought a folding table and were chopping large quantities of veg, others had come prepared; one even used frozen mixed veg.
Then came the wait, as the sun went down and everyone got hungrier. Judging was put off as some needed longer. The temperature changed from very hot, anyway if you were near a fire, to really quite cool by the time it was dark.
Eventually the 13 pots were lined up in the vestry for some light, with a number but no other distinguishing marks and the judges were given plates and a spoon and got the first tastes. They were so good, some rather too hot or spicey for my liking, some had meat still a little less than tender, some the vegetables had turned to a complete mush. But all were very good.
Meanwhile some pots of rice had been cooked at home and warmed up on my cooker. One stew had dumplings added (extra point that!) and one cook had even baked her own yeasty rolls over her fire.
Interestingly no alcohol was consumed or if it was it was a discreet beer. They do love their sweet squash or fruit juice. Once everyone had eaten up the contents of their own potjies and maybe tasted others everyone cleard up very quickly and disappeared into the night.
After the service next morning winners were announced and a cup given to the winning team with medals over the necks of someone from every team. All very serious stuff!
