Hunker Down This Autumn: Our 11 picks to celebrate, from feasting to reading and crafting
Our collaboration with interior brand Neptune for The Flags Collection finds inspiration in the colours and textures of changing seasonal landscapes. In preparation for the launch, we’ve been rounding up our absolute favourite recipes, adventures and makes to celebrate each season.
In this journal post, you’ll find recipes from home inspired by the nights drawing in and the fading days of summer. We’ve also curated a list of our favourite Autumn activities, podcasts and books to see you through the season.
Join us in embracing Autumn with warming dishes, gallery visits and some creative visible mending.
Evenings drawing in but a hint of warmth left in the air, the Autumn Quilt encapsulates the nights drawing in and the fading of the bright summer sun. The softer tones of the moleskin velvet and the delicate green print leave room for dramatic stitching and textural shifts.
Eat
Celeriac is one of my favourite vegetables, and it comes into its own in this dish by Mera Soda. The pickled onion perfectly balances the sweet roasted celeriac; it is a dish worth saving for a weekend feast with friends.
Nothing beats pasta on a chilly evening, and this lentil bolognese from Anna Jones ticks all the boxes. There is no shopping, and it is speedy to have on the table on a Monday night.
Darker evenings call for warmer dinners, and this brilliant mushroom korma by Nigel Slater ticks all the boxes; creamy and warming yet light and fragrant, it is the perfect midweek meal with flatbread or as part of a larger feast at the weekend.
A roasted squash & taleggio salad from A Salad for All Seasons. Roast squash with thyme, red onion and olive oil. Make a dressing of maple syrup and balsamic vinegar seasoned with salt and pepper by simmering equal quantities until they are thick and shiny. Toss the squash with taleggio and rocket and add the dressing. Warming and delicious, you could add a cooked grain such as spelt to the pan at the end for a more substantial meal.
Rice pudding is an absolute favourite in our house; sometimes, it’s ambrosia from a tin, but more often, it is slowly simmered and enriched with cream to make a truly special treat. Nigel Slater is the cook I turn to most often during the Autumn, and his spiced rice with plums hits the spot every time.
Do | Make | See
Immerse yourself in The Secret Lives of Colour by Kasia St Clair, a book alive with stories about the history of colour, the perfect way to celebrate the autumn hues beginning to creep into our days.
Watch Salt, fat, acid, heat - if you haven’t seen it, this is the perfect Autumn viewing on Netflix, conveniently set during the chillier months around the world and a joyous exploration of what makes great food.
Darn It! You’ve got all your jumpers out of storage, and they’re looking a bit sad; now’s the time to get darning for winter. Join us for a special Darn it at Neptune Fulham on 22nd October and kickstart your new favourite Autumn hobby.
In early Autumn, the hedgerows are bursting with blackberries (if you’re in London, the Thames path is full too), instead of the traditional crumble we loveBlackberry Spoom (above) is perfect for those first days of Autumn when the heat of Summer is still lingering.
Head to Lewes to visit the fantastic Charleston House and revel in the colours of Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and David Garnett in the spiritual home of the Bloomsbury Group. Marvel at the decorative surfaces and enjoy the chaotic brilliance that this experimental domestic set-up created.
Read H is for Hawk, a beautifully written account of loss and finding freedom. This book vividly depicts autumnal landscapes and will transport you to the outdoors whilst staying cosy inside.
Highlights from the Neptune Flags Autumn collection
The Neptune Flags A/W collection launches on 22nd October 2022, join the mailing list to be first in line to shop the collection.