The Observer: Nigel's love of figs and his prospector pan
Technically we have passed the autumn equinox and the nights start drawing in, becoming ever longer than the hours of daylight. But late September has us clinging to the idea of summer like a child clings to its mother on the first day at school. Whatever the promise of autumnal joy there may be, we are not quite ready to say goodbye to summer. The calendar may say autumn, but there is still heat in the sun and the final tomatoes ripening in the greenhouse.
Nigel Slater points out in last Sunday’s The Observer (21st September 2025) that there are still “last treats to be grabbed before the seasons change” and he focuses on the abundance of figs in his garden and the variety of figs in his local grocer. Using his prospector pan as a roasting tin, he pairs duck with figs and marsala to create a dish whose flavours balance as beautifully as the seasons at this turning point of the year. This promises to be redolent of both long days and cosy evenings, of sunlight and candle glow.
