Mix and match

Dishes and drinks by Mr Lyan and chef friends

WHEN I ASK A FRIEND how they are, they’ll inevitably reply: ‘Busy.’ I’m guilty of it too – it’s a symptom of the modern world. But it only confirms the need for time spent with the people you love – the most effective panacea for a busy week /month/year. And making these moments properly memorable should be a priority.

In my first book, Good Things To Drink, I talked about the worlds of food and drink being one and the same, and how the right food and drink can shape the mood of an occasion. For Good Together, I have called on some of my favourite friends from the world of food, and some of the best chefs in the world. This isn’t about trying to reproduce dishes from their (excellent!) restaurants (and I’ve not included drinks from my bars – no one wants to spend hours prepping a multitude of complicated steps; it ’s much smarter to have something that’s still exciting and delicious, but straightforward to make). The atmosphere and food they create at work are very different to how they eat, drink and entertain in their homes, so I asked them to suggest something personal that reflects what they make when they want to get together with the people close to them.

This isn’t about party planning, nor is it about cocktail pairing. It’s a guide to drinks and dishes that fit a particular mood or occasion – be it a cosy night in or an afternoon catch-up over cake – and also work well together. And it’s all very adaptable. Where I ’ ve suggeste d gin, you can substitute vodka; if you don’t like particular herbs and spices, adjust the recipes to your tastes. Experimentation, trial and error are all part of the fun – and I think you learn more, or at least faster, when things go belly-up! Good Together: Drink & Feast with Mr Lyan and Friends, by Ryan Chetiyawardana (Frances Lincoln, £20), is out now. To order your copy for £16.99 plus p&p, call 0844-871 1514 or visit books.telegraph.co.uk