Welcome to October
The peculiarities of a seasonal shift have always fascinated me. Why, for example, do I always look to pocket the shiniest, smoothest conker I can find, and keep it in my jacket for the whole season, as a good luck charm? Why do I suddenly become obsessed with baking at this time of year? (I’ll blame Bake Off for that one.) And why do I battle against myself on when is acceptable to turn the heating on? The answer is surely when I’m cold, but I normally only buckle a good few weeks, and probably a bout of flu, later.
These little habits herald the arrival, officially (no chance of an Indian summer now, folks), of autumn – and, when it comes to food and drink, I am definitely here for it. I want croissant bread and butter pudding studded with blackberries; I want hearty fillets of venison wrapped in pastry; I want porridge piled high with apples and spice, and all things nice. I even want a pie made out of spaghetti and three cheeses – and if you can’t indulge in a little slice of such heaven when it’s cardigan and coat weather, when can you?
This issue, as always, is a celebration of the season. Whether you’re after a transitional red wine (I’m looking at you pinot noir) after drinking yourself pink with rosé over the summer; or whether you’re into the idea of a cosy staycation (I vote for my second home, Somerset) – we’ve got you covered. Winter might be coming, but autumn is here first. So let’s do this!