In May this year, when Karen Dudley announced she would be closing The Kitchen, her beloved deli-style eatery in Woodstock, the heartbreak was palpable: no more mosaic salad plates, no more Love Sandwiches, no more flirty winks from Karen from across the deli case. For many, the idea of emerging from lockdown to a Cape Town without The Kitchen, seems a bland prospect. With her tell-tale charm, wisdom and humour, Karen says goodbye to her restaurant, muses about her favourite memories and meals, and offers up some essential ingredients for the future.