Daily 13 January

Ellie Smith & Parm Bhamra
January 13, 2026

Staying In

Cook A Cosy Chicken Soup

Amelia Christie-Miller played a big part in making beans cool with Bold Bean Co, known for its giant jars of premium legumes. And, better still, she’s given us a whole load of ideas for ways to cook them in her recent cookbook, Full of Beans. Our top pick is this cosy chicken and white bean soup, described as ‘soup for the soul’ and made using leftover roast chicken – made all the better with a crispy skin topping. ‘The soup features two types of stock – chicken stock AND bean stock – creating layers of flavour,’ reads the recipe. ‘It’s super fragrant with fresh and dried herbs, and the milk addition is an old Italian trick to keep things creamy.’ Perfect for chilly nights this January (find more bean-centric dishes from the book here).

Cosy Chicken + White Bean Soup

Feeds 4
Takes 45 minutes

Ingredients

250g (9oz) leftover roast chicken, shredded, skin reserved for the crispy topping
3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to serve
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1–2 rosemary sprigs, leaves picked and chopped
1 tsp dried oregano or thyme
100g (3½oz) kale, chard or cavolo nero, roughly chopped
750ml (25fl oz) chicken stock
250ml (9fl oz) milk
570g (1lb 4½oz) jarred white beans, with their bean stock
1 bay leaf (optional)
Salt and pepper
Lemon wedges, to serve

Method

If you have any leftover chicken skin from your roast that’s gone all cold and flabby, this is the moment to turn it into something the table will be fighting for. Peel it off the chicken and heat a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan over a medium–high heat (you don’t want the hob too hot or you’ll risk burning the chicken skin). Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, then lay the chicken skin in the pan in a single layer. Fry for 3–4 minutes on each side, moving the pieces around so they crisp up evenly. Once crisp, remove them using tongs and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Leave all the rendered fat in the pan to start your chicken soup.
Add the remaining oil to the pan (use a bit less if you had lots of chicken fat), reduce the heat a little and chuck in the onion, carrot and celery. Season, stir to coat the veggies in the oil, then gently cook for 15 minutes to soften.
Chuck in the garlic, rosemary and oregano, and cook for a further few minutes, then add the chicken and kale, and stir everything together. Season again, then pour in the chicken stock and milk. Add the beans with their bean stock, and bring to a simmer. Add a bay leaf at this point, too, if you like. Cook for 10–12 minutes.
Divide between deep bowls, then top with an extra splash of olive oil and a handful of the crispy chicken skin. Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over.

Full of Beans is out now (Octopus Publishing Group, £22)

Going Out

Book Estelle Manor’s Wellness Retreat

After a successful run last summer, Cotswolds members’ club Estelle Manor is hosting its second retreat in partnership with Thai sanctuary Kamalaya. Taking place at the hotel’s Eynsham Baths, a jaw-dropping, 3,000 sqm Roman-inspired spa, the experience will bring Kamalaya’s award-winning holistic expertise to the Oxfordshire countryside. Guests will spend three nights at Estelle Manor, enjoying a programme of chakra meditation, sound baths, pranayama breathwork, chanting and resilience workshops, alongside nourishing meals and two 90-minute wellness treatments – with the overall aim being to restore balance in the body and mind. 21 – 24 June 2026, from £4,800 for single occupancy in a Stable Bedroom, or £7,230 for double occupancy in a Stable Bedroom. estellemanor.com

Property Of The Day

There’s nothing more embarrassing than trying to get changed on the beach: towel one gust of wind away from immodesty, sand in places you definitely don’t want sand. Well this Brighton townhouse has a nifty solution – a tunnel which takes you straight from the shorefront to your own backyard. Rumour has it that this hidden passage even inspired former neighbour and fellow tunnel user Lewis Carroll’s rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland.

On the market for £1.4m. Find out more at hamptons.co.uk

Little Luxury

Trawling through Dry Jan and missing your Friday night wine? Give Elton John’s new non-alcoholic sparkling a whirl: the Blanc de Blancs is made for celebrating and actually tastes good. From £10, eltonjohnzero.com

Competition Time

Golfers, get your clubs at the ready. Now’s your chance to win a two-night stay at Foxhills Club & Resort for a weekend getaway packed with golfing and plenty of spa relaxation.

Psssst…

British singer songwriter Skye Newman – who has toured with Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi – has been named as BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026. The accolade has previously been won by the likes of Adele, Haim and The Last Dinner Party, so she’s definitely one to watch this year.

Whatever You Do, Don’t

Assume you have to forego croissants for life if you’re gluten-free: Parisian GF bakery Copains has arrived in London and we can confirm the pastries are delicious. Find it at 54 Neal Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H