Lucky Yu, Edinburgh: ‘An amiable, relaxed kind of chaos’ – restaurant review
On a dark winter’s night this place glows a deep and welcoming pink
2024 restaurant roundup: looking back on the year’s culinary highs
There are deep wells of culinary talent across the UK, ably battling the challenging economics facing the sector
The Don, London: ‘The expectation was for something warmer’ – restaurant review
The menu here was overseen by Rowley Leigh, but his generous touch in the kitchen is missing
Claro, London: Many of the dishes are wonderful, but the endless emails are a real pain – restaurant review
When you start shouting ‘encore’ at your emptied plate, you know something serious has happened
Harrods adding £1 ‘cover charge’ to every diner on top of 12.5% service fee
Workers fear cover charge will prompt diners to cancel paying optional service charge, hitting their income
Mulled cherry cheesecake and chestnut ice-cream roll: Helen Goh’s showstopping Christmas pudding recipes
Take the pressure off over the festive season with these luxurious make-ahead puddings, including a twist on a retro classic and a citrussy afternoon treat
My nightmare before Christmas dinner: top chefs and cooks reveal how they turned fiasco into feast
Turkey troubles, thieving pets, fire drills – all manner of things can jeopardise the most important meal of the year
From Caribbean favourites to everyday vegetarian recipes: Observer Food Monthly’s best food books of 2024
Essential reading for would-be top chefs, stocking fillers for the fermentation curious and odes to the simple pleasures of the kitchen. Ask Santa for the set
Edd Kimber’s secret ingredient: cardamom
The baker and food writer on the bold spice that ‘goes with just about everything’
Tim Minchin: ‘Maybe scrolling the traumas of the world is not in itself a moral act’
The comedian, actor and Matilda songwriter on the benefits of quitting social media and why happiness is like an orgasm
Christmas biscuits, cakes and crisps – tested by Ravneet Gill
The chef, author and TV presenter rates snowman cupcakes, sticky toffee cookies and turkey tortilla chips in our blind taste test
Christmas cheese, chutney and mince pies – tested by Cynthia Shanmugalingam
The chef and owner of Rambutan restaurant gives her verdict on maple and pecan pastries, fiery chilli jam and a remarkable limoncello stilton
Christmas chocolates and drinks – tested by Georgina Hayden
The food writer, cook and presenter samples liqueurs and no-alcohol punch, luxurious winter truffles and a dairy-free chocolate gonk
Hachi Japanese BBQ, London: ‘Proper fun’ – restaurant review
Japanese grill fans will love Hachi in Soho, especially those rich enough to indulge in the wagyu beef offering
I’ve never been keen on turkey. Now my aversion is approaching outright loathing
The Christmas bird has now been financially weaponised