– Maisie

Autumn is the time when cosy jumpers meet steaming mugs, when leaves fall in golden swirls, and sunsets burn softly across the sky. But there’s something special about how the season finds its way into our kitchens. The smell of spiced biscuits drifts through the air — ginger and nutmeg curling like warmth itself — while cinnamon lingers from the oven as apple crumble bakes. Hot chocolate experiments pile high with cream and melting marshmallows, and even the simplest slice of pumpkin pie tastes like home.

At school, lunchtimes start to mirror the season. Bowls of soup warm cold hands, steam curling up like tiny clouds. Tomato, butternut squash, or root vegetable — each one a small act of comfort between lessons. Then there are the seasonal classics: toffee apples at fairs, stick to fingers at fairs; spiced lattes that taste like nostalgia; roasted chestnuts best eaten warm. Toffee apples stick to fingers at fairs, spiced lattes taste like nostalgia, and roasted chestnuts remind us that the simplest things can still feel special.

Even ordinary meals take on an autumn glow: a bowl of stew after a long walk, or roasted vegetables turning sweet at the edges. Autumn food isn’t just about flavour; it’s about slowing down and finding warmth in small moments. The food and drinks of this season have a way of turning grey afternoons golden and into something worth remembering.

Whether you’re sharing a hearty meal with family or sipping a spiced latte in a café, this season invites us to pause, savour, and feel at home. Let your next meal or drink be your own quiet celebration of autumn — one comforting bite or sip at a time.