Posted on 17 Nov 2009 at 3:47pm By GavinoTravel has some compensations and one is the opportunity to taste regional foods and variations on more traditional themes that would otherwise never come to mind. My lunch today in Pretoria comprised of a first ever bacon and banana toastie, a common light meal here that, despite visiting South Africa on several previous occasions over the past ten years, had previously eluded my consciousness.
It should be pointed out at this point that my multicultural lunch companions, coming from England, France and Japan, did not share my inclination to try something different. Our South African host sidestepped the purposely awkwardly named monkey glands burger and joined me with gusto in what he assures me is a national favorite.
Bafana Bafana
To satisfy your curiosity, the banana is lightly sautéed before hitting the toast and the bacon out-populates the fruit filling by a ratio of around seventy to thirty. But the combination is remarkably good, with the flavors complementing each other in ways that I, for one, never expected.
With the start of the World Cup only 205 days away, South Africa resembles a construction site more than ever, with multiple large projects underway such as a light railway and, of course, the new soccer stadiums. O.R. Tambo International Airport has made huge strides since my last visit here eight months ago and endless improvement work goes on at many hotels.
Sad to say, Bafana, Bafana, “the brave men”, who are the nation’s – if not the continent’s – great hope come June and July 2010 are in the same poor shape as their out of favor English premier league striker, Benni McCarthy. Can Carlos Alberto Parreira revitalize the team following his reappointment as coach so close to the tournament? This soccer-mad country demands nothing less.
It is hard not to sympathize with the locals but the reality is that South Africa will find it very difficult to progress from its group, whichever nations emerge as its competitors. In recent World Cups some of the weaker host nation teams have succeeded in defying the odds and moving forward but I just can’t see it happening this time.
Whichever country ultimately triumphs next year, perhaps the hoards of foreign soccer invaders will at least discover the unbeatable bacon and banana toasties and will introduce this somewhat unlikely South African culinary delight to willing compatriots.
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Banana and Peanut Butter is good too.
Ah, but what about Captain Jack’s lobsters? Surely, you’ve not missed that? And while we’re at it, it is very noteworthy that New Zealand has qualified for the World Cup Finals in South Africa next year – only the second tiem in the country’s history, and 28 years after the last qualification. Perhaps not the most aptly named team given the venue….we are the All Whites!
The French eat their famous “Boudin noir” (Black pudding) with apples or their not less famous “canard” (duck) with orange. the Spanish regularly eat their cheese with quince marmelade and not to mention the delicious Pastilla coming from Morocco only for conoisseurs or even the sparkling merger of lemon with salt in the Tequila Margarita from Mexico. The Chileans around the beautiful island of Chiloé also mix fish and meet in their so called dish “Curanto”. I would not dare mentioning the Irish who can put pineapples on their pizza (i once heard that a guy from Naples in Italy-not in Florida, excuse me!!- and who lived in Ireland for a while has still nightmares about that terrible experience lived in that country).
The bittersweet or even unexpected combinations can give actually very interesting results and I do regret now not to have tested the Bacon and Banana toast in S.A. May be next time for a new trip or during the world cup before or after a game of the lousy French team !
Herve makes my mouth water and long for travel!!
Please post the receipe for the bacon and banana toastie. I know it’s probably just bananas and bacon on toast but quite often, even with simple things, the devil is in the details. I want the FULL culinary experience!!
A recipe from the Rainbow nation of South Africa and a must try!!
Serves 1 (Do the same thing again if you want to make one for someone else….!)
Preparation Time 10 mins
Cooking Time 5 mins
Ingredients
6 rashers Streaky bacon or macon – with fat or without
1 Banana, Sliced
15 ml
Butter
30-45 ml
Peanut Butter (Optional)
2 slices Whole Wheat Seeded Bread
Drizzle of Golden Syrup or honey or simply a pinch or two of coarse salt…
Method Grill the Bacon rashers or macon stuff until crisp. (Not sure if macon does the taste bud flipping trick…you decide…)
In a non-stick frying pan, fry the banana slices until well browned. Spread a generous tablespoon of peanut butter onto each slice of bread. (Optional) Add the fried bananas & drizzle with golden syrup or honey or as mentioned just plain or coarse salt..
Top off with the crispy streaky bacon rashers.
Not your average banana republic sandwich!! Gotta love it!
I’m not sure that the American Heart Association will approve of this receipe but my family sure does! Really browning the bananas brings out the flavor
Thanks Rick