Food & Drink

Planning something for a big group sounds straightforward… until it isn’t.

For years, it sat quietly in supermarket fridges, associated more with outdated diet plans than modern cooking. But lately, something unexpected has happened — cottage cheese is back, and it’s everywhere.

Maybe it’s the thick layer of icing. Maybe it’s the unapologetic handful of rainbow sprinkles. Or maybe it’s the fact that one bite can take you straight back to a plastic tray, a wobbly custard, and the best part of the school day.

Set within Gilpin Hotel & Lake House in the heart of the Lake District, SOURCE is the kind of restaurant that quietly commands attention. Michelin-starred and multi-award-winning, it has built a reputation for delivering something far beyond the expected—and after experiencing it for myself, it’s easy to see why.

There’s something comforting about an Easter roast. Whether it’s lamb on the table, a golden chicken fresh from the oven, or a perfectly pink slice of beef, it’s one of those meals that feels both celebratory and deeply familiar.

Every spring the same thing happens. My social feeds fill with bright green pesto, glossy pasta dishes and chefs wandering through woodlands blagging us they are out there daily, foraging….ok chef, ok.

It used to be a full night out, of course. But like many of us now firmly in our middle-aged era, staying out past 7pm comes with consequences. So instead, we’ve settled on a far more civilised plan: a 1–5pm slot, followed by a questionable junk food binge and home in time for EastEnders. What fun.

St Patrick’s Day tends to conjure up images of lively pubs, pints of Guinness and plenty of Irish cheer. But away from the celebrations, Ireland’s food is rooted in something far simpler — hearty, comforting dishes built around good ingredients and straightforward cooking.

Recently I watched James Martin cook a leg of lamb on a bed of hay, scattered with rosemary, olive oil and a little salt and pepper. The idea seemed almost theatrical at first — hay in the oven? — but the more I thought about it, the more curious I became.

The one that says “I love cocktails because they taste like juice and then suddenly you can’t walk.”