Absolute beginners: a novice’s guide to cooking Christmas dinner
Preparation, organisation and giving yourself plenty of time will help bring lunch to the table with your festive spirit intact
Samosas made by aunties, salmon caught by Dad – the childhood dishes that inspired chefs
Ravinder Bhogal, Stephen Harris and others share their memories of food they loved that set them on their career paths
Theo Randall’s secret ingredient – white balsamic vinegar
The English chef on using the Italian condiment as a dressing, a rub or a marinade
Organic wine boxes, fruit candles and dan dan noodle kits – what to buy food lovers for Christmas
Whether it’s something special for a stocking filler or treats for friends and family, Observer Food Monthly has picked the best festive foodie gifts
Colmans Seafood Temple, South Shields: ‘All the things you want’ – restaurant review
This northern temple to everything fishy hits all the right notes
Most foods experience a revival at some point, even chicken livers, but not the humble turnip
Like Thérèse Coffey said, we should all learn to cherish this overlooked winter root, but obsess? Maybe not
Adam Hills: ‘I vowed to try every food but I couldn’t eat lutefisk – it’s dipped in chemicals that dissolve bodies’
The comedian and broadcaster on Tim Tams, barbecue wear and the perfect coffee
My Jewish cultural identity is wrapped up in food. But some events are so momentous they blunt the appetite
As the crisis in Gaza and Israel unfolds, we hunger for grand statements and moral clarity. But all I really feel is despair
The Small Canteen, Newcastle: ‘Bloody marvellous’ – restaurant review
Generous portions, huge flavours and a big heart – the Small Canteen knows what really matters, writes Jay Rayner
Gloriosa, Glasgow: ‘This is where the good things are’ – restaurant review
From the best focaccia you’ll ever eat to puddings that leave you cooing, everything Rosie Healey cooks here is a delight
Chop Chop at the Hippodrome: ‘Run by a Soho legend’ – restaurant review
For great Chinese food at any time in central London, Chop Chop is an absolute winner
Vervain, Croydon: ‘The terrific cooking deserves a snazzier setting’ – restaurant review
A seriously good menu is served in a grand hotel which needs a bit of work
Autumn minestrone and pumpkin baked with cream – Sally Clarke’s comforting recipes
Baking, braising and simmering is what’s called for when the clocks go back. Try halibut with mushrooms, and potato and gorgonzola tart
‘A little bit of the hay barn on the nose’: British ciders tasted and rated
This traditional drink is having a moment, so who better to sample the country’s finest than ciderologist Gabe Cook?
Nick Frost: ‘If you spend four hours in the kitchen on your own, it’s never really frowned upon’
The actor and writer on hotel breakfasts that trigger his ADHD, and why cooking helps him cope with his troubled past and successful present