WELCOME TO November

We’re doing Christmas slightly differently in 2019.

The joy of anticipation…

Take a breath, daydream for a moment or two, make notes…

25 of the best sparkly, festive things to do… BRING ON CHRISTMAS!

1 A VISIT TO DENNIS SEVERS’ HOUSE, an 18th-century

YOUR delicious.

The October issue celebrated 50 years since Delia’s

Marcus Wareing

The star chef and MasterChef judge on why he’s now the most relaxed he’s ever been – and what he’ll be asking Father Christmas for this year

Your PLAN-AHEAD Gift guide

Christmas is coming and with it a chance to spoil loved ones with a carefully chosen present. Enter our dynamite finds for the food and drink obsessed. Scissors and Sellotape at the ready!

How to survive Christmas

The onset of the festivities is nigh… Whether the prospect of the season of goodwill brings you out in tingles of ‘bring it on’ anticipation or a few minor hives, Debora Robertson has some sage, sanity-saving words of advice

The art of the charcuterie board

It’s the simplest starter or party spread: an assembly job of bought-in elements, the success of which hangs on the quality of the items you choose. Henrietta Green, founder of the British Charcuterie Awards, explains how to get it right

“Our gingerbread recipe is hidden in a bank vault”

A secret recipe and a 165-year legacy are key ingredients of Grasmere Gingerbread. Phoebe Stone visited Cumbria to meet the custodians of this (crumbly) slice of history

YOUR get ready to party KIT

White or red, sparkling or still, spirit or cider… Whatever your favourite tipple, Susy Atkins has the bottle to get your party started

Gin school

KINLOCH LODGE, SCOTLAND

Your get-it-sorted Advent calendar

Every year I have a hope. A hope that this will be

COOKERY SCHOOL ROAD TEST THE FESTIVE ONE

WHERE HH&Co Backstage, Lime Wood, Lyndhurst

WHERE TO SHOP, EAT AND STAY

Remember when Christmas shopping was a joyful tradition – looking in twinkly shop windows rather than browser windows? Three food writers bring back the festive magic with their home city tips for present buying. And why not make an event of it with a slap-up lunch and overnight stay?

FEZ BITE-SIZE BREAK

If you’re looking to buy some ingredients for your Christmas recipes, or just fancy a break from the festive madness, how about a quick trip to Morocco? As Les Dunn discovered, Fez’s medina entices with the aroma of exotic spices and delicious street food. Even in November, temperatures hit the 20s, and this otherworldly milieu is only a three-hour flight away

Present tensions

Enjoy a quiet moment with a cuppa, a mince pie and our two-part short story, written exclusively for delicious. by chef, Bake Off judge and novelist Prue Leith. In part one, it’s Christmas Eve and emotions are running high

VEGGIE & VEGAN CHRISTMAS Menu collection

This Italian dish is a pastryless quiche – a cross between a flan and a soufflé. According to Italian food writer Antonio Piccinardi, the word sformato derives from sformare, which means to unmould.

COOK IT LIKE delicious.

…You could WIN dinner at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons

FREE! Rick Stein’s Secret France

It’s always good to shine a new light on something

15 great reasons to buy next month’s delicious. The Christmas & New Year issue

• Mix-&-match menus: starters, mains, sides

LOOSE ENDS

Don’t let this month’s special ingredients linger in your kitchen. Instead make the most of them with these smart and easy ideas

PRIZE CROSSWORD

Complete the puzzle, take a picture and email it to

GET READY FOR Christmas

For Gill Meller, festive daydreaming begins in early November. Planning what to cook is almost as enjoyable as the moment itself; it’s all about the anticipation of warm and wonderful times – and good things to eat. What will be on his table this year? Turn the page to find out

MAKE-AHEAD SPECIAL COOK NOW, SAVE TIME LATER

What are the most useful recipes to magic up and squirrel away, ready for the warm & twinkly times ahead? Here are five winners to get you started, from a crowdpleasing pie and casserole to the best mince pies, slice-and-bake cookies and trad-with-a-twist pudding of 2019

Roasts The meaty ones

Ever fancied freeing up the oven and cooking the turkey on the barbie? This is the moment! This stellar collection of main-event showstoppers, full of vibrant flavours, will give you plenty of plan-ahead inspiration for your festive table

The delicious. Christmas hamper

Chosen for Harvey Nichols by editor Karen Barnes

“My favourite food to come home to”

There’s no one quite like Rick Stein for creating dishes to make you hungry. He has turned to France as inspiration for his latest book, and the recipes are so good you’ll want to get into the kitchen immediately, whether to set you up for the day, prepare a satisfying lunch, cook for friends or simply to revel in the joy of the very finest home cooking

Magical flavours from around the world

Memories, emotions and cooking traditions combine at this time of year in one big celebration. We asked five food writers from different cultures to tell us about the people, places and dishes that make their Christmas special

FEELGOOD FOOD FOR A FEELGOOD MOVIE

If Christmas in Connecticut (1945) is the black-and-white festive movie you’ve never heard of, it’s time to acquaint yourself with a comedy classic – with comfort food on the side

Nibbles with attitude

Forget weedy canapés. If you’re after vibrant, flavour-packed food to make your bash go with a bang, these lip-smacking delights will satisfy even the hungriest of guests

The nation’s favourite

In this new series, national treasure Delia looks back over her five decades of food writing to tell the story of some of her greatest hits – starting with her famous Christmas cake

The alternative Christmas cake

Celebrated chocolatier Paul gears up for maximum creativity during the weeks ahead. His spiced-up creation more than matches a classic fruitcake in the seasonal flavour stakes, plus you can make and freeze it ahead of time. And, well, chocolate…

The joy of creativity

Making edible gifts for friends is one of the pleasures of the build-up to Christmas – and if you make Georgina Hayden’s wall-hanging Advent calendar too, you can tuck in some morsels for your household to take turns opening. No cheating on the days, please…

MEET THE CROWDPLEASERS

It’s that moment in the year when it seems there’s more to do –in less time. What’s needed are quick, simple, universally appealing dishes to satisfy whoever you find at your table