Meat Meet crowned Windhoek SA's Best Shisanyama for 2018

“It’s great to know that all the hard work, long hours and absolute dedication to perfection over the years has paid off and that our customers love our meat so much,” said an excited Khothatso.

“We base the culture of Meat Meet, first and foremost, on integrity and the quality of our products. Respect and friendship for our customers, team work, and engagement with the community is also important to us. It’s a recipe that has led to our success and I want to thank the public who voted for us.”

About bringing people together

The competition is the brainchild of Windhoek, and marketing manager of Windhoek Dana Katz says they are proud to be involved in the campaign for a second year. “The shisanyama industry is one that embodies entrepreneurial spirit, community development and true South African flavour. It’s about far more than cooking, it’s deeply entrenched in our roots as South Africans and it’s about bringing people together. The campaign continues to capture the attention of the public and we’re very happy to have crowned Meat Meet as champions in 2018.”

Windhoek SA’s Best Shisanyama for 2018 ended with the grand finale this past weekend when the four finalists: Chaf Pozi, Senzi’s, Imbizo Shisanyama and Meat Meet went tong-to-tong at Nasrec. It was a spectacular day with a variety of DJs, intermingled with live bands entertaining a crowd that enjoyed a feast prepared by the four finalists.

The voting for the ultimate winner took place on the day. The public placed their tokens in the slot of the Shisanyama they believed should win after tasting what they had to offer.

“DJ Mo Flava and I visited each shisanyama in October and November, so we knew what each had to offer in terms of succulent meat that is prepared with their secret marinades and spices,” said Chef Benny Masekwameng. “Our task on the final day was to observe the preparation and presentation of the food. Of course taste was important, but we also looked at how each contestant interacted with their customers and whether they were prepared to go the extra mile to please them.”

'Customer comes first'

Chef Benny’s advice to existing shisanyama owners and those thinking of starting up is to visit a popular shisanyama to see how they do it. “The concept is still relatively new and specific to South Africa,” he said. “It’s an excellent way for entrepreneurs to start out, but always remember that the customer comes first. Running a successful shisanyama takes hard work, creative thinking, good business acumen and outstanding braai recipes. And don’t forget the vibe! People come to have fun, so a good vibe and personal treatment makes all the difference.”

DJ Mo Flava entertained the public at the grand finale and tasted the excellent food on offer. “I want to congratulate Meat Meet on winning and I know that the prize will help the owners to uplift their shisanyama and take it to the next level. Hopefully the winnings will enable them to achieve their business objectives in a far quicker time period.”