In every part of every old Karoo house are the memories of things that happened there. Their front doors are portals to the mysteries that lie within, the lives that have been lived there and the stories that have happened in their wide rooms with their wooden floors. Retro Karoo Food brings together 80 recipes from author, food writer and playwright Tony Jackman’s Karoo kitchen, made with love in the spirit of the old Garob. Some are traditional, others adapted, and yet others his own invention: from skilpadjies, boontjiesop and tomato bredie to ginger chicken roasted in a potjie and parmesan gem squash; there is Japie se gunsteling, Karoo ice creams and prickly pear syrup... Jackman also revisits cookery classics by C Louis Leipoldt, S.J.A. de Villiers and others, tracking down the histories and variations of dishes such as waterblommetjiebredie, hoenderpastei and tipsy tart.