5 drinks to try if you're bored of Pimm's
Swap your lukewarm party pitcher for one of these Continental aperitifs, says Emma Hughes.
Food and Drink
Discover the latest in food and drink news, try our delicious and easy recipes using fresh seasonal produce and read our pub and restaurant reviews.
Here at Country Life we love to cook and we love to eat. Seasonality is important, whether you’re growing your own or visiting the farmers’ market for your ingredients – but we love to cook seasonally. Whether it’s our brilliant collection of elderflower recipes in the summertime, our ultimate sloe gin recipe in autumn or gorgeous roast goose recipes in the winter, we have collected the best seasonal recipes by ingredient on dedicated pages
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How to eat seasonally in April, from lamb and Jersey Royals to 'one of the true glories of the British year'
Tom Parker Bowles shares his advice for seasonal eating in April.
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Curious Question: Why was the tomato considered to be poisonous?
Martin Fone takes a look at the history of one of our mealtime staples, from its first introduction into Europe in the early 16th century as an exotic plant, to how it ended up on our plates.
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Recipe: The ultimate ways to cook new potatoes
A bowl of hot buttery new potatoes, especially if you’ve dug them up yourself, is one of life's simplest pleasures, says our Kitchen Garden Cook, Melanie Johnson.
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How to eat seasonally in March: Tom Parker Bowles shares tips and recipes
Eating seasonally in March is a real treat, as Tom Parker Bowles explains.
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How to make Emily Scott's Cornish clotted cream and lemon drizzle Bundt cake
Delicious at any time, but this lemon drizzle Bundt cake recipe from Cornish chef Emily Scott — which goes heavy on the clotted cream — is ideal for Mother's Day.
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The best gins for Mother's Day
What better for Mother's Day than a bottle of 'Mother's Ruin'? We've selected some of the finest gins on the market which are sure to give your long-suffering parent a treat.
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Recipe: Rhubarb and coconut tray bake with rose glaze
With its long, elegant pink limbs, forced rhubarb is a sign that spring's bounty is just around the corner, says our kitchen garden chef, Melanie Johnson.
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Why you shouldn't grow onions on your allotment — but if you do, go for these really exceptional ones
Mark Diacono takes a look at allotment logic, and shares his formula for what you should and shouldn't spend your time and energy growing.
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Charlie Bigham shares his tips on how to make the perfect pie
The man whose name adorns what are arguably the best pre-prepared meals in the supermarket chillers has shared his pie tips with us, to mark British Pie Week.
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Recipe: Leek and chicken macaroni cheese, a delicious take on classic comfort food
‘Sometimes we need a little comfort and this fulfills that need deliciously’ says our kitchen garden chef, Melanie Johnson.
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The best potato varieties to grow in a British garden
If you grow your own potatoes, you may find things are a little harder this year — but Mark Diacono picks out nine varieties that you can grow yourself which will easily outstrip what you find in the shops for flavour, texture and often colour.
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How to make stuffed butternut squash with bangers and mash
When autumn arrives, it brings with it the most amazing excuse to eat comfort food.
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Curious Questions: Who is Maris Piper?
The Maris Piper has become Britain's best-loved potato (hush, King Edward fans) — but where did it get its curious name? Eleanor Doughty investigates, while Toby Keel takes a look at where King Edward potatoes got their name.
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How to make honey and soy chicken that's a mouthwatering way to get kale onto your plate
Melanie Johnson shares a recipe that makes kale as delicious as it is healthy.
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How to make three-cheese sourdough bread and a perfect winter-warmer soup to go with it
We'll leave it up to you to decide whether the soup or the sourdough is the star of the show in this pair of recipes...
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How to eat seasonally in February — and how to make a perfect Lancashire hotpot — by Tom Parker Bowles
February may be grim, but it’s never, ever dull says Tom Parker Bowles — especially if you know what to eat.
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Jason Goodwin: 'We have enough stuff to last us for a generation. We are at Peak Gubbins. What we do not use and re-use gets plastered across beaches in the South China Seas'
As we head into February, Jason Goodwin looks back at the now-seemingly-distant Christmas festivities — and some deeply disturbing back-of-a-napkin calculations.
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Recipe: How to make Anna Haugh's Potato and Truffle Velouté
Potato soup is elevated to new and wonderful levels by chef Anna Haugh in this gorgeous potato and truffle velouté.
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Recipe: Chocolate and pomegranate tart, an ideal dish to brighten up January
Tart and jewel like, pomegranate seeds are just what we need to brighten January, says our kitchen garden chef, Melanie Johnson.
