Those in search of authentic South African Cuisine with the influences of the Karoo , need to go no further than the Karoo Caffé.

The Karoo covers almost 50% of the total of South Africa and being sparsely populated, far away from major urban and distribution centres, it forced its inhabitants to be self reliant and similtaneously became the great teacher of improvisation.

Here in the Karoo we have the true organic foods. Succulent free range Karoo Lamb, with taste changes from one district to the other, brought about by the different type of grasses and shrubbery on which the animals feed. Game, such as Kudu and Springbuck. Birds on the wing; Pheasant, Grouse, Quail, Mountain Dove and the King of all: Ostrich. Culinary herbs, the likes of Sorrel, Wild Mustard and Wild Sage.

Karoo Lamb Noisettes, Kudu Hunters Pot, Wild Herb Stuffed Quail and Ostrich Carpaccio give new meaning to age old cooking terms. South Africa and especially, the Karoo , offer many culinary challenges such as Prairie Oysters -“Skilpadjies” (chopped lamb's liver and speck wrapped in caul, bbq'd or pan fried), oven baked sheep's head named a “Smiley, due to the silly grin it displays when cooked and Tripe, brought to us by the Huguenot's and today a delicacy here as much as it is in France.

The myriad indigenous delicacies, such as Biltong (dried, salted meat) find new converts when made in the Karoo from Game and Ostrich.

Bobotie, using venison, tastes much better than the original brought to us by the Malay and served by the rest, and is a much improved version of the “Shepherd's pie”.

The culinary inspiration of the French, Spice of the East, Chillies from Africa, Cuisine from the Dutch, British, Portuguese, Germans, Greeks and Italians, today the tradition of South African cuisine, embedded in the Karoo.

At the Karoo Caffé you will find the forces of North –South and East at work bringing together our ancestry, coming from all parts of Europe, of the East, and not least, from Africa.

This kaleidoscope , this “Rainbow Nation”, apply not only to the people, but to the gastronomic delights of the Greater Karoo.