As the new year rushes in with its demands for self-improvement and future planning, a quietly radical alternative is gaining favour: indulging in the comfort of nostalgic, familiar dishes. This January, the call is not for reinvention but for the culinary hugs we know by heart.
The Radical Act of Nostalgic Eating
While many see January as a time to overhaul diets and 'clean up' eating habits, there's a compelling case for leaning into old favourites. This means dishes we grew up with, the simple staples that have provided solace in the past. Choosing familiarity over novelty, and pleasure over punishment, acts as a powerful counterpoint to the relentless forward planning that defines this season.
It’s not an exercise in claiming the past was better, but rather a conscious way to slow the flow of time, if only momentarily. In many households, this translates to humble, beloved recipes. For Felicity Cloake, it might be a perfectly crafted fish finger sandwich. For others, like the writer's partner Sarit, it's a simple, beige bean and barley soup, a winter staple from her childhood.
A Taste of Personal History
This culinary nostalgia is deeply personal. The trigger could be a school canteen memory, a perfected weeknight dinner, or a homemade version of a beloved takeaway. The universal recognition of 'nostalgia' as a flavour makes these dishes infinitely interesting, offering a taste of someone else's memories.
The article illustrates this with the story of a friend named Bridget, whose meticulous Christmas planning begins anew in January's sales. This forward-looking energy is common, as people fill calendars with spring holidays, autumn babies, and summer hopes. In the face of this temporal rush, comfort food becomes an anchor.
This Week's Food Highlights
The piece also shares snippets from the writer's week in food, a feature from the Feast newsletter. January is a time for preservation projects, with Seville oranges arriving for marmalade and curd, joining quinces, lemons, and blood oranges in the jamming queue.
It highlights a cherished Christmas gift: a photograph of lychees by Thai-born artist Dham Srifuengfung. For those attempting Dry January, it recommends the jalapeño popper gilda at Rita's in Soho, suggesting it can be paired with a 'mini martini' cleverly rebranded as a starter.
Ultimately, the message is clear: before the year accelerates, take a beat to look—or taste—back. Embracing the comfort food of January is a small, defiant act of self-care, a way to nourish the present by honouring the flavours of the past.
