Jo Lewin

Summer is now officially over. Granted you may not have thought so as you basked in the glorious sunshine last weekend. The hottest October day on record naturally brought with it barbeques, drinking cider and a state of undress across the nation (well mainly in the south). Bliss.

But then in the blink of an eye, the thermostat plummeted and we are now in Autumn. I personally love autumn. Not just the characteristic russet and orange colours but more the fact that we are once again entitled to wear baggy jumpers, eat warming stews and really indulge in a Sunday roast with all the trimmings without the fear of  having to wear a bikini! The lighter bite of a crisp salad accompanied by a refreshing drink is the perfect partner for a midsummer night but now it’s autumn I welcome x-factor and Sunday Night Supper Club (more on that to follow) with open arms.

Autumn has always been the season for food – embodied through the celebration of harvest. Harvest Festival was the only semi-religious festival  at school that I had much interest in (perhaps because it was food related?) I remember bringing in tins of baked beans and rice pudding to signify one of the oldest Pagan festivals in the UK and give thanks for the food grown on the land. In return we would go home with a dolly made out of a corn. Make the most of what this year’s harvest has to offer by eating seasonally. This way you get the freshest, tastiest and most nutritious supply of fruit and vegetables, often grown locally therefore reducing your carbon footprint and shopping costs too.

Here are 3 of Octobers best:

Sweetcorn is in season now. Boil, season and nibble the kernals straight from the cob (with a good slathering of butter!)

The quintessentially English Cox Apple is also in season right now. Look out for the rosy red skins and enjoy their sweet crisp crunch.

Halloween brings with it pumpkins and squash, deliciously sweet with rich buttery flesh, a tasty accompaniment to a Sunday roast.