1 — Find warmth and softness in Aimé’s new cashmere sweatshirt and sweatpants. These new additions to the collection are the perfect fit for cold days, either spent lounging or actively outdoors. The fashion codes of sportswear are timeless and deliver on practicality as well as style. Wear with ballet flats for a less casual take or with sneakers for dashing around.
2 — Socks are an indispensable accessory and are too often neglected. In our book, they should not be left as a second thought and bring an outfit together. Choose plain neutrals or patterned iterations that will gladly show off in shearling sandals.
3 — The English seaside has a unique appeal that can be enjoyed regardless of the weather. In the off-season, when there is no pressure to have perfect sunshine, the atmosphere is tranquil and the sea air bracing. A Kentish half term break could start in Deal where The Rose offers eight unique rooms, thoughtfully decorated and particularly cosy. The hotel lends their tandem to get around town and breakfast is included. Alternatively, Updown Farmhouse has several rooms in a restored farmstead and serves glorious meals cooked with produce from the kitchen garden (open for lunch on Fridays and weekends; dinner Wednesday to Saturday). Deal Pier Kitchen on Beach Street serves a famous brunch every day and has a takeaway shack for restorative hot drinks and snacks. In Margate, Fort Road Hotel rooms boast sea views and benefit from the proximity of Turner Contemporary where an exhibition of artist Anya Gallacio recently opened. Her work is truly of the moment and linked with the regional and culture landscape of the area. On the harbour, Sargasso is a welcoming spot for wine and small plates.
4 — After September’s flurry of fiction releases, quiet enjoyment can be gained from the new pages of our favourite cooks. These books are more than collections of recipes, the writing is top of the class, memories are shared earnestly and we are reminded that digital recipes will never replace the appeal of a book. We are forever fans of Nigel Slater and his last tome, A Thousand Feasts is written in his familiar warm and charming style. Depictions of small moments of joy are not only interesting, they are filled with heart and humour. Our local personality Yotam Ottolenghi’s last opus, Comfort draws inspiration from around the world and presents recipes tested in a confident kitchen. The Vietnamese meatballs on page 83 are a crowd pleaser. Traveling on to the Middle East, Diana Henry’s new edition of her classic book written 24 years ago, Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons is aimed at a new generation of cooks, the recipes still feeling fresh and modern. Lastly, vegans and vegetarians are wonderfully catered for by Meera Sodha in Dinner. This volume is packed with effortless and vibrant recipes for the everyday.
5 — Perhaps the most plentiful fruit around this time of year, apples abound on farmers’ markets in countless varieties. Have a go at making Tarte Tatin, preferably using Braeburns. Shop bought puff pastry is more than good enough if it is all-butter; it is not the star of the show as the emphasis is on the apples.
Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 6. Peel, core and cut 6 apples into quarters. Make a caramel in an ovenproof 20cm frying pan using 100g of caster sugar over a medium heat. When the sugar resembles syrup after 5 to 7 minutes, turn off the heat and stir in 60g of cold butter. Arrange the apples very tightly on top of the caramel, starting around the edges, making your way towards the middle, with the core facing up. Put the pan back on the heat to cook the apples for 5 minutes. Place a disk of pastry over the fruit, tuck the edges in and prick some holes. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Allow to cool before turning upside down on a serving plate. Serve warm with crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream.