Little Savanna: The Art of Braaing with Gas

In the heart of Palmerston North, Little Savanna restaurant offers a taste of South Africa, combining the rich, smoky flavours of flame-grilled meat with New Zealand’s fresh, local ingredients. 

When owners Margie and Andy emigrated to New Zealand years ago, they were blown away by the fantastic fresh produce available here, but found themselves missing the smoky, flame-grilled flavours of home. 

Braaing – South Africa’s version of barbecuing – became a way for them to reconnect with their roots. After years in different careers (Andy in construction, and Margie teaching for over 25 years), a series of strange and wonderful circumstances led them to open Little Savanna in 2017. Since then, it’s become a favourite spot for locals and visitors alike.

Using gas-powered flame grills, the Little Savanna team is able to bring the authentic South African braai experience to Palmerston North.

“We unashamedly love meat,” says Margie. “The high heat of the flames caramelises the sugars in the meat, creating delicious flavours you can’t get with any other method.”

Flame-grilling: the Little Savanna secret

At Little Savanna, gas is essential to achieving those distinct flavours. 

“The high heat generated by gas allows for fast, even cooking, especially for our burgers, ribs, and steaks,” Margie explains. “Gas flame grilling is also energy-efficient, making it perfect for our style of cooking.”

While Little Savanna is understandably protective of their popular recipes, they do have a simple and effective tip for home cooks looking to capture the flavour of flame grilling:

“We highly recommend using a basting on your meat,” says Margie. “This not only locks in the juices, but it caramelises the sugars too, creating a beautifully tender cut with a rich flavour when exposed to the high heat of a gas flame.”

Although no one does it quite like they do at Little Savanna, you can easily try flame-grilling at home using gas. All you need is a good grill, a basting sauce, and your favourite cut of meat. 

The future of gas

With gas flowing well into the future, gas-powered flame grilling, like the methods used at Little Savanna, will remain a staple of great dining experiences for years to come.

Learn more about the future of gas.