Rundu street chef turns flame and flavour into thriving braai business

A roadside braai stand at Oshetu Lounge in Rainbow, Rundu, is quickly becoming a go-to spot for meat lovers, thanks to the sizzling skills of Ester Mande.Mande, who spoke to Ewi lyaNooli yesterday, has been running the meat stand for three years and says the business has grown steadily since she started cooking outdoors in early 2023.“We started slow,” she recalled. “But as time went by, we had more customers. Now, by 11:30 our food is ready and people come throughout the day, especially during lunch.”Operating under Oshetu Lounge, Mande’s stall serves a variety of meat dishes, including goat, chicken, horse meat and chicken wings – either braaied or cooked. Their menu also features pap and mango pap as staples.Ready to serve Despite the growing demand, Mande says they’ve never run out of meat.“We always make sure we have enough stock for the week. Even on our busiest days, we’ve never had to turn customers away because of a shortage,” she said.Mande is currently running the stand solo but shares shifts with a colleague, who is also her namesake. Their outdoor kitchen was set up to ensure bar patrons don’t have to leave in search of food.“We cook outside because we have a bar, and we don’t want our customers to go far looking for food,” she said. “Also, being on the side of the road helps. People passing by can easily see what we’re doing.”For Mande, braaing is more than just a job – it’s a passion and a lifeline.“I like braaing. I love what I do because it puts bread on the table for me and my family.”

Rundu street chef turns flame and flavour into thriving braai business

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Rundu street chef turns flame and flavour into thriving braai business

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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