Wednesday 4 November 2026
Free, fun food information and cookery resources for all: no subscription, no sign-up, no login. We love good food and wine and are passionate about sharing great recipes and know-how with all cooks, novice or old hand.
Today’s feature · In the larder
Two spices from one tree: nutmeg is the seed and mace the scarlet lacy covering around its shell. Warm, sweet and aromatic, they lift béchamel, rice pudding, spinach and Greek moussaka; Grenada is known as the 'Nutmeg Isle'.
More from the larder
Recipe of the day
Pastry
A tender, buttery loaf cake made with lemon zest and a little ground almond, soaked while still hot with lemon juice and granulated sugar that sets into a sharp, crackly crust.
Chef Col says hello8 seconds · sound on, captions on · press play
Hello, I’m Chef Col. Here are the cookery and wine questions everyone’s asking, answered.
Ask me a cookery or wine question
Got a question? Email Chef Col.
Pour a bottle of fruity, unoaked red into a pan. Chef Col’s answer →
More questions → The most-asked questions, browsed by topic
Bonfire Night Thu 5 Nov
Hot food for cold hands.
Pheasant season in season until 1 February
Pheasant shooting runs 1 October – 1 February.
Braised Pheasant with red wine · Pheasant in red wine · Hanging and plucking game
Oyster season in season until 30 April
The months with an 'R' in them.
Stir-up Sunday Sun 22 Nov
The traditional day to make the Christmas pudding.
A short weekly email with the week’s features, a few recipes and seasonal tips is on its way.
Newsletter coming soon
Simple, good food for one person – and tales from Steve’s travels.
Cook BookHundreds of recipes with portion scaling, costs and shopping lists – plus cook books worth buying.
KnivesWhich knife for which job, what makes a good one and how to keep it sharp.
Pots & PansSaucepans, sauté pans, casseroles and Dutch ovens – choosing the right pan and metal.
Kitchen ToolsWhisks, spoons, forks, skewers and bakeware explained.
Know HowGlossary of cookery terms, methods of cookery, weights and measures and kitchen organisation.
Fish & SeafoodOur A–Z fish and seafood dictionary, with cuts and folds of fish.
Grapes & WineGrape varieties from Chardonnay to Zinfandel: where they grow and how they taste.
Eating OutWhere to eat, worldwide.
Friends of the site: Fine foods from Spain · Cook’s Thesaurus
