Southern Hemisphere · Jun · Jul · Aug

Winter on the table.

Long Sundays. Red wine that gets better the longer you leave the lid on. Root veg, brassicas, whatever is cheapest at the market, turned into something that feeds six people and a leftover lunch.

Why we cook like this in winter

Winter is where Food & Drinks does its best cooking. Low oven, long braise, a pan of something bubbling at the back of the stove from late morning. The ingredient list shrinks (and the work with it) because everything needs time more than it needs tricks. The drink gets bigger. The glass gets heavier.

What to pour

Shiraz, grenache-mourvèdre, an aged nebbiolo, a Tasmanian pinot with a bit of weight to it. Cocktails: old fashioned, boulevardier, manhattan, a hot toddy if you must.