January 2026 Favourites list

Happy New Year, my friends!

January in the UK is a little bit cold, dark, and grim. It isn’t my favourite time of year, as each day I wonder whether I will need to wear something warm or something waterproof. As a result, the part of my mind devoted to food immediately thinks “comfort”, and I crave the kind of food Nigella Lawson had in mind in her Defence of Brown Food essay in her Eat, Cook, Repeat book.

This is the time for soups, stews, curries, and casseroles. They fill the kitchen with aromas as they cook, and they warm you from the inside out as you eat.

This month’s photos are dishes I have consumed with enthusiasm when out and about, rather than any home cooking. The brown food I have been cooking recently has been delicious but definitely not photogenic.

Onion flower bhaji

 

I hope you enjoy this month’s list!

2026 – what to expect in food and drink this new year

Thriftiness is in, buying lunch each day is out. BBC Good Food on the food trends for 2026: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/news-trends/food-trends-2026

Cabbage takes over from Cauliflower as the veg of the year, according to the BBC’s analysis of 2026’s food trends: https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/2026_food_trends

Gol gappas

 

Dubai chocolate is dead. Chocolate and pistachio rocks as a combination. But that crunchy stuff that doesn’t remotely taste like kadaiyif? No thanks. https://www.foodandwine.com/food-trends-for-2026-from-experts-11871415

London food trends for 2026: https://www.cityam.com/food-trends-2026-how-londoners-will-eat-in-the-new-year/

Alleppey prawn thali

Food writing

British Chinese take away food, some history, and how it is different from its American counterpart: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/british-chinese-takeout-uk-american-differences

Fruity sorbets

 

I missed this at the end of 2025, but I am sure you will forgive me. Here are the 23 restaurants added to the Michelin Guide for the UK. (They will “Michelin bibbed”, not Michelin starred.) https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/uk-restaurants-added-to-the-michelin-guide-december-2025-122825

Budget baked beans beat our best known brand (I can vouch for Newgate being a very decent substitute for Heinz): https://metro.co.uk/2026/01/12/supermarket-own-brand-baked-beans-crowned-best-uk-better-heinz-26225350/

Sichuan spicy fried chicken

 

Kitchen tips

Your reusable water bottle is keeping you hydrated, good. It might also be a breeding ground for bacteria, not so good. Here’s how to keep your bottle clean to avoid illness: https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2026/jan/05/clean-your-reusable-water-bottle

How to thicken soups – tips from chefs – because nothing beats a home made soup: https://www.foodandwine.com/how-chefs-thicken-soup-11886228

Chinese spinach in Supreme stock

 

Recipes

Two recipes from Jose Pizarro for cold January days; Pumpkin, aubergine and pepper stew and Jamón and winter truffle croquetas: https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/foodanddrink/jose-pizarro-recipes-stew-croquettes-cold-weather-b1264983.html

Warming cocktails for these wintry days: https://www.standard.co.uk/going-out/foodanddrink/warm-drinks-winter-cocktail-recipes-b68520.html

A new TikTok cooking trend is “brothy rice”, and I like Nigella’s equivalent from Eat, Cook, Repeat “soupy rice” with celeriac. These two light and fresh east-Asian inspired brothy rice recipes for Tom Yum soup with chilli and galangal and Clear vermicelli noodle soup with fresh herbs and goji berries can be served over rice or noodles. I would add prawns or cooked chicken to make a meal in a big bowl. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/recipes/brothy-rice-tiktok-trend-recipes-b2892068.html

My Bluesky friend Shihab Joi shared a Youtube video of how he makes a Bengali style goat curry. If you love lamb curry, this is for you: https://youtu.be/nbhy2IL_TQU?si=cOTjkv0Xj5d8tZbV

 

Sea spiced aubergine and rice

TV

Wild London

David Attenborough has lived in London for decades, and in this special one off programme, he explores the expected wild nature of the city. I particularly enjoyed seeing the parakeets of Hither Green Cemetery and the two urban myths surrounding their origins. Were they freed by Jimi Hendrix or did they escape during the filming of The African Queen?

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002hzg7 via @bbciplayer

Music

Snigdha’s music from 2025 playlist – I share the songs which I have enjoyed from last year. The list can be found here:

https://www.tumblr.com/snigskitchen/806277257177022464/music-from-2025

To go straight to the YouTube playlist, go here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcZVuU7Jd5ia-2m-s-V64iqfWeDuCcKY4&si=5V4Q3H6Xw5YSlALC

Please note: as with every monthly Favourites List, all of these items have been selected by me simply because I love them. I do not receive any money, benefits in kind or other incentive for posting these links or recommendations.