Dutchies Gourmet Sausages — Review by Davidsbeenhere
Miami, United States — South African
The reviewer explores South African cuisine at Dutchies Gourmet Sausages in Miami, featuring iconic dishes like bunny chow, gatsby, and traditional bilong. The establishment showcases authentic South African food preparation with a strong Dutch and Indian influence, complemented by South African wines and beers. The reviewer is impressed by the unique flavor combinations and quality of traditional South African offerings.
What was great: Bunny chow with lamb curry and pickled carrot relish, gatsby with caramelized onions and cowboy candy, bolognese snack platter with homemade spreads, chicken liver peri peri sauce, slap chips with vinegar, natural spiced bilong, traditional koeksister pastries
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
Dutchies Gourmet Sausages delivers an impressive array of South African specialties. The bunny chow stands out as a highlight, featuring tender lamb curry served inside hollowed bread with pickled carrot relish that absorbs the rich gravy. The gatsby is a gourmet sausage sandwich with boerewors (a traditional beef and pork sausage), caramelized onions, chutney aioli, and cowboy candy (sweet spiced jalapenos) on a buttered and grilled bun. The bilong, South Africa's answer to beef jerky, is naturally cured with house-ground spices and hung for four to seven days to achieve perfect dryness. The bolognese snack platter offers cream cheese mixed with finely grated bilong, homemade tomato jam, pickled onions, and various bilong cuts served on kata bread. The chicken liver peri peri showcases creamy, spicy Portuguese-African fusion flavors served on toast. Slap chips arrive with vinegar-seasoned crispy exteriors and gooey interiors. The koeksister, a traditional deep-fried pastry dunked in sugar syrup, provides an indulgent dessert.
The Experience
The establishment offers an immersive culinary experience with a full behind-the-scenes kitchen tour. Visitors witness the sausage-making process using hydraulic equipment, the meat-grinding stations, and the hanging room where bilong cures to perfection. The staff is knowledgeable and enthusiastic, explaining the history and cultural significance of each dish, including the Indian influence from Durban's large Indian population and the Dutch-English heritage in South African cuisine. The atmosphere combines a working kitchen with retail offerings, creating an authentic feel.
Value & Pricing
While specific prices are not mentioned in the transcript, the portions and quality suggest excellent value. The variety of offerings and the use of natural, house-made spices and preparations indicate premium quality at reasonable pricing typical of specialty South African establishments.
Notable Moments
The reviewer describes the bunny chow experience: I'll say this one of the most unique dishes of South Africa. The bunny chow. It reminds me a lot of like San Francisco eating a clam chowder in the bread and the end you eat the whole bread.
On the bilong: Forget that regular beef jerky from the supermarket. This is real stuff.
Regarding the peri peri heat: It's spicy. Whoa. Whoa. The spice came out of nowhere.
The Verdict
Dutchies Gourmet Sausages is an exceptional destination for experiencing authentic South African cuisine in Miami. The restaurant excels at preserving traditional recipes while maintaining quality ingredients and preparation methods. It's ideal for adventurous food lovers curious about African cuisine, those familiar with South African food seeking nostalgic dishes, and anyone wanting to explore the multicultural heritage of South African food influenced by Indian, Dutch, English, and Portuguese traditions.