Smoked meat a hit in Soweto

SLOW-COOKED: STARTED WITH PIG HEADS AND LEARNT THROUGH TRIAL AND ERROR

- Thando Nondywana

Standing with his apron smelling of smoke and spices, Mpho Nkomo, 31, has become a name synonymous with the art of smoked meat in Soweto.

Operating in the modest backyard of his family home in Chiawelo, the bright orange smoker stands proudly at the centre of the small driveway, its steel body bearing the marks of countless hours spent perfecting the art of smoking meat.

The aroma of slow-cooked meat has become a distinct feature of the mouthwatering platters that have made Something Smoked Roadhouse BBQ a local sensation.

"My first brisket was so horrific that no-one could stomach it," he recalled.

The early mistakes only fuelled his passion to master the craft.

In 2019, Mpho was retrenched and without a steady income, he ventured into entrepreneurship, starting with a custom furniture-making business.

The venture faced significant challenges and by 2021 it took a severe hit, eventually leading to its failure.

But Nkomo's creativity and determination wouldn't allow him to give up.

That same year, he decided to build a smoker from scratch and immerse himself in the art of smoking meat.