19 Jul 2022

Traditional cuisine stole the spotlight for Dr Dikoloti Classics as the events attendants indulged in local delicacies, a proof that traditional food has found its way back into kitchens.    

The attendants for the Segwaragwara dog and horse races near Lorolwane had a feast that one would have mistaken the Saturday event for Letlhafula day.

While some years back some locals would not order a Tswana dish, the recent times have seen a shifting with people rushing for such foods in events a development that has seen Dijo tsa Setswana dishes costing more than your ordinary plate of rice and stew.

Dieticians’ recommendations for their health benefits too, could be a contributing factor to their prices.

They were spoiled for choice with a variety of an extremely desirable Tswana dishes ranging from dikgobe, diphaphatha, mogodu and seswaa among others.

The fresh aromas of traditional cuisine infused with the richness of English taste was something out of this world at the dog and horse races.

Co-owner of Skyline Aqua stable, a catering company, Malebogo Abram who usually gets busy during such events said she usually prepared various Tswana delicacies such as dikgobe for such events, owed to Batswana’s appreciation for local such.  

She also introduced Seswaa for meat lovers served with beans or rice and other forms of carbohydrates.

Abram also has minced meat burger on her menu which she referred to as star fast food in Botswana. The chef also served traditional chicken, bogobe jwa lerotse among other foods.  

She also prided herself over her phaphatha which she referred to as Botswana bread.

“It is cooked in a dry pan and is normally alone, or filled with meat. It is a very filling bread, so as a starter it can be quite heavy. It is served as breakfast or a snack in most instances,” she said.

She thanked the organisers as such events had potential to turnaround the economic fortunes of the locals as well as to promote culture hence her servings.  

The entrepreneur said she made a substantial amount at the event.

A customer who had an opportunity to sample a variety of dishes, Kagiso Serame said the food was delicious and pointed he observed other customers were happy with the quality of service.

Serame said the catering crew was time conscious and customer friendly, his favorite cuisine was papa and beef stew.  BOPA