Alex Mead VIEWPOINT

At last, the votes have been counted and we have yet another epic shortlist for the Food and Travel Reader Awards, full of the brightest culinary hotspots, jaw-dropping destinations, faultless tour operators and cruise lines and incredible places to stay, not forgetting the best chefs in the land. When we launched our awards a decade ago – when a young Ollie Dabbous was our first Breakthrough Chef – we’d never have guessed how big they would become. That tens of thousands of votes get cast by you, the readers, never ceases to amaze us, so a huge thanks for your support. Turn to p34 now to find out if your favourite places to eat, stay and visit have made the list. Obviously, we’re all winners at the moment as, with Christmas around the corner, the restaurant scene is back in business – with seemingly more launches than ever – and international doors are opening everywhere, meaning we can now begin to book holidays, with some confidence, to our favourite places. There are more than a few ideas inside this issue to get you excited, whether you want a city break now (p94), to find your own little slice of isolated paradise (p86) – or, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay with your extended family, why not take Grandma on a safari? (p105). A Food and Travel Christmas issue wouldn’t be the same without a galaxy of stars on the food front, too, and we’ve got festive family feasts from six of them – Simon Rogan, Chantelle Nicholson, Margot Henderson, Anthony Demetre, Phil Howard and Niall Keating (p62). Elsewhere, we’ve got recipes from Marcus Wareing (p82), James Martin (p76) and Claudia Roden (p80), with cocktails to get things going (p84) and, of course, desserts for the sweetest of Christmas dinner finales (p68).

It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for all us, so make the most of having your family together and make this Christmas a big one!

ʻWHEN WE LAUNCHED THE AWARDS A DECADE AGO, WEʼD NEVER HAVE GUESSED HOW BIG THEY WOULD BECOME, WITH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTES CAST – IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE US, SO A HUGE THANKS TO YOUʼ