So long, and thanks for every single dish

Dear readers,

I’ve written this column for over a decade and, like all things, it has to come to an end at some point. This is that point. There’s a combination of factors that have helped me make my decision and I won’t bore you with them.

Of course, I will still eat. Of course, I will still write. But the combination won’t be determined by the regularity of submission needed for this format and the language will not be sanitised to avoid poking the eyes of this newspaper’s readers.

What I will wrap up with is a handful of titbits I’ve learned along the way, the snippets of knowledge that help me have a better dining experience in the hope that they can help guide yours.

So draw a chair, tip two fingers of your favourite tipple into a familiar tumbler, and let’s start at the beginning.

I’ve always been a curious eater. I recall eating a fly as a small child, hoping it would taste better than it did. I live to tell the tale, even if I know it makes some people a bit uncomfortable. Just be happy it was I and not you. Being a curious eater is essential to heightened dining experiences because we must broaden our palate.

There’s nothing wrong with comfort food but slipping into the...