Smiley Anyone? MyZA

At the Kirkwood Wildsfees this 28 to 30 June 2013 Johan Swart will be presenting a cultural delicacy – 120 smiley’s (roasted whole sheep’s head) will be served on a ‘lang tafel’. The profits from the all inclusive meal (wine included for R150.00) will be channeled to the ACVV.

Johan tells me that he wraps each head in Tin Foil and cooks them in a low oven (160 degrees centigrade) for around 4 hours. The sheep’s heads are just a nice size to fit into a slow cooker as well. The hard work around this delicacy is scraping and cleaning, though, so you would be well advised to secure a supply of clean heads. Enthusiasts say that the eyes are the best part – myself I can stomach the cheeks and prefer my brains crumbed and fried the way my Scottish Granny used to do them.

Johan is also well known as the founder of The Spekboom Foundation, which was established with the view to doing what we can to preserve our environment through the planting, growing, selling and promoting of Spekboom. Spekboom has the capability to offset huge amounts of carbon emissions, (4.2 tons per hectare annually) creating opportunities for Carbon Credits, creating job opportunities, skills development and greening of the rural regions. Its water requirements are minimal, and is indigenous to South Africa, specifically in the Eastern Cape region.

After struggling with a Lavender hedge for a couple of years, the Longhair and I have decided to now rather establish a Spekboom hedge – thanks to Johan’s tireless efforts and promotion.

Pity the poor sheep that had to pose with the two UGLY Bastards below – “Jammer, Johan, eintlik is daar is net EEN aaklige klong daar met die lang hare!”