Warren Mendes reimagines his favourite old-school recipes, perfect for winter gatherings.

As a chef, I am constantly looking for ways to improve recipes or to create the next flavour sensation. But, if I’m honest, some of the best recipes in my arsenal are from the past. If you ask most people for their favourite Bolognese or classic pudding recipe, the answer is usually “my Mum’s”. This isn’t because all our mums are flavour maestros, it’s because familiar recipes from yesteryear hold key ingredients that pack the most punch: nostalgia and simplicity. While not all recipes need to be brought back to life (goodbye, aspic jelly!), today I’m turning to classic dishes that will always be special to me.

In times of constant change, there’s comfort and stability in reviving things from bygone eras instead of trying to rewrite them. Take, for instance, cottage pie, beef stroganoff or even a prawn cocktail – these recipes are hardly modern, but that doesn’t make them any less delicious. So, in the name of comfort and sentimentality, here are a few recipes – including sticky, saucy meatloaf and my own four-cheese fondue – that I think have never gone out of date, because they are fun, but above all, yum. Of course, I couldn’t help but put a little tweak on each!