At the end of this October it is still so warm that even my second harvest of figs keeps ripening slowly. I am not usually that lucky in the cool Dutch autumn. But these October figs are not as big, sweet and juicy as the…

  In my sunny south-facing garden, the red shiso or perilla is having a great time and forms big bushy shrubs. I love the fragrant foliage of this Japanese herb and use it in my cooking often. Now that the cold nights are approaching, it’s…