WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE COMFORT FOOD?

We asked some of our star contributors to tell us which foods they turn to when they’re in need of some comfort

Cassie Best

Senior food editor ‘Pasta in pretty much any form. Macaroni cheese is a favourite from childhood, but it has to be gooey and properly cheesy, with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. I always serve it on Bonfire Night with bangers and a salad (for good measure).’

Asma Khan

Chef and restaurateur (see p18) ‘Paratha. It was something I looked forward to for the whole week when I was a child. Before shallow frying, our cook would make me and my siblings pick our toppings – mine was always sugar!’

Tom Kerridge

BBC chef and restaurateur (see p78)

‘I love cheese, all different types of cheese; goat’s cheese, blue cheese, hard cheese, soft cheese, all of it served with grapes and chutney. It’s amazing.’

Dan Doherty

Britain’s Best Home Cook judge and BBC chef (p84) ‘Beans on toast with cheddar. The toast needs to be really buttery, the beans need to have been cooked in the pan for a while so they’re lovely and stodgy, and the cheddar well aged.’

Diana Henry

Food writer (see p86) ‘Roast chicken is very soothing, but if it has to be quicker than that, then Dairylea on toast (and I’m not embarrassed about it either!). It goes way back. It’s hard to kick the habits you formed as a child.’

Emma Freud

Journalist and broadcaster (see p133) ‘Potatoes, egg sandwiches, cheese and bacon, hot camembert, Quavers, bagels with cream cheese, cheesecake, cheese. I could go on.’

Yotam Ottolenghi

Food writer and restaurateur (see p94) ‘Gnocchi alla romana – semolina dumplings – I had growing up. The combination of starch and melted cheese is irresistible, and my kids love it just as much.‘

‘Roast chicken is very soothing ’