Many Brits are now looking for a comfortable staycation to take this autumn. The main challenge that many dog owners face when arranging a holiday is considering who will care for their pe. But they needn’t fret any longer if they’re reserving one luxurious collection of cabins
Samantha Bartlett Assistant Editor, Social News
12:59, 29 Oct 2025Updated 14:43, 01 Nov 2025
The Nest at The Roost Luxury Cabins(Image: theroostglamping.co.uk)
Plenty of people are currently searching for the ideal spot to enjoy an autumn getaway. The bright summer holidays are behind us and numerous
Brits are now choosing to book a comfortable staycation within the UK instead. The main challenge that many dog owners face when arranging a holiday is considering who will care for their pet. But they needn’t fret any longer if they’re reserving one luxurious collection of cabins situated in The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, which is completely dog-friendly. The Roost Luxury Cabins all feature a private sauna, outdoor bathtub, log burner and fire pit. There’s also all the kitchen kit you’ll require – a kettle, toaster, induction hob, microwave, mini-oven, fridge (with small freezer) and a dishwasher.
Plus pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, cooking utensils, washing up liquid, dishcloths, tea towels, cooking condiments, fresh ground coffee plus various teas and fresh milk.
All your bed linen and extra fluffy Egyptian towels are provided too, and there will even be some homemade brownies awaiting you.
Those bringing pets are permitted two small dogs or one medium sized dog.
The venue explains: “We leave a blanket, towel, poo bags, water and food bowel and a treat for each dog.
“If you pooch has got a bit muddy on all those lovely walks, we provide doggy towels and have a dog wash area behind the site office.”
They also provide details on canine-friendly pubs and eateries nearby.
There’s a fee of £30 for one dog (£40 for two dogs) per stay. This must be paid by card to the proprietor before arrival.
Discussing their dog-welcoming approach on their website, The Roost Luxury Cabins state: “Don’t leave your best friend behind! Here at The Roost we love dogs. The cabins are dog friendly with secure garden areas and all your doggy needs are catered for.
“Your pooch will be spoilt with their own handmade truckle bed.”
The establishment shared a video on its TikTok account showcasing the cabins, which rapidly became popular, gathering over 93,000 likes.
A dog was visible outside the lodge as the footage started, before revealing the outdoor bathing facility. The snug sleeping quarters were then displayed, accompanied by glimpses of the charming garden and external sauna.
Text overlay stated: “Call me crazy, but I would choose this with the dog over a fancy hotel.”
One viewer declared: “Oh my God, this looks INSANE!”
Whilst another commented: “Omg love this! Will have to take a look.”
A third remarked: “Looks like my sort of heaven.”
Visitors planning to book should be aware the location requires a minimum 2-night booking and check-in is restricted to Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
Rates are generally £499 per two nights but may fluctuate based on the date.
Whilst the establishment welcomes dogs brilliantly, families with children might prefer alternative accommodation as the cabins are exclusively for adults. Guests can select between two distinct cabins – The Nook and The Nest, with further information available on The Roost Luxury Cabins website.
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The accommodation currently boasts a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor, drawing from 112 reviews.
One guest commented: “We have had a really relaxing and enjoyable week in this amazing cabin! Loved the sauna and hot tub and sitting on the swing seat enjoying the peace! A beautiful place in a wonderful location.”
Meanwhile, another visitor remarked: “A perfect place to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. Everything is beautiful and the soak tub and sauna made it super relaxing. We loved explore the local area and will definitely be back.”
What attractions can be found close to the cabins?
Outdoor and nature
Beechenhurst and the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail: Explore art installations in a woodland setting.
Go Ape: Enjoy high ropes courses and zip-lines in the trees.
Forest of Dean Cycle Centre: Rent bikes for various woodland trails.
Dean Forest Railway: Ride a steam train through the forest.
Perrygrove Railway: A family attraction with a miniature railway and treehouses.
May Hill: A prominent hill with a distinctive cluster of trees on top, offering great views.
Wye Valley: Explore canoeing, kayaking, and walking opportunities along the river.
History and heritage
Hopewell Colliery: Take an underground tour of this working free mine.
Clearwell Caves: Explore this ancient and unique underground attraction.
Dean Heritage Centre: Learn about the local history of the Forest of Dean.
Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum: Discover the history of the regiment in Gloucester.
Museum of Gloucester: Explore thousands of exhibits on the city’s past.
Jet Age Museum: See aircraft and aviation equipment in Gloucester.
National Waterways Museum: Learn about waterways in Gloucester.
Coleford Great Western Railway Museum: A museum dedicated to the railway.
Other attractions
Gloucester Cathedral: A magnificent cathedral in Gloucester with famous cloisters.
Nature in Art: Explore art exhibitions and a sculpture garden.
Sudeley Castle and Gardens: Visit this historic castle and its extensive gardens.
Luton Town reach the FA Cup second round with an injury-time winner after Forest Green Rovers stage a remarkable comeback from three goals down in a thrilling first-round encounter.
‘They call this place the Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania,” says tour guide Marius Lazin, his breath expelling a procession of cotton-wool ghosts into the sharp evening air. “So many people have disappeared here, some say it’s a portal to another dimension.” Marius is leading me on a night walk through what is often described as the world’s most haunted forest: Hoia-Baciu, a square mile of old-growth native woodland on the outskirts of the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca. He’s been coming here three nights a week for the past 12 years, but even he looks a little uneasy as he arcs his torch like a searchlight against the knotted walls of elm and beech trees which embrace us on all sides, looking so thick that they might be the boundary of the known world.
Marius motions with his torch towards several pairs of slender beech trees, eerie in their symmetry, branches intertwined to form arches – portals or stargates, you might speculate, were you possessed of a particularly febrile imagination. “Many came in here and never came out. But don’t worry,” he adds, turning to me with a grin. “Our tours have a 100% return rate.”
Reports of strange happenings here date back centuries – the forest is named after a local shepherd who is said to have vanished in the distant past, along with 200 of his sheep. But Hoia-Baciu came to international attention in 1968, when a military technician named Emil Barnea photographed what he described as a UFO hovering above a circular clearing in the centre of the forest. In the decades since, Hoia-Baciu has drawn yogis, shamans, ufologists and paranormal investigators from across the world, curious to experience the strange energies said to echo through the forest.
‘Home of Dracula’ … Bran Castle, in Transylvania’s Carpathian mountains. Photograph: Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images
It may be one of the world’s premier pilgrimage sites for lovers of the paranormal, but the forest is under threat. The western suburbs of Cluj-Napoca – a modern tech hub of more than 400,000 people, described as the Silicon Valley of eastern Europe – are encroaching, and developers are pushing for permission to clear the trees to build apartment blocks. Barring a few hectares home to locally rare Mediterranean oak trees, the forest is not officially protected, but Marius hopes that the company he co-founded – the Hoia-Baciu Project – will help to change that, encouraging the authorities to recognise the forest’s value as a tourist attraction. The company offers day and night walks in the forest, yoga sessions, paranormal lectures, treasure hunts and escape games – and even, for the particularly intrepid, overnight camping.
As twigs and autumn leaves snap and crunch beneath our boots, Marius recounts some of the folk tales and alleged paranormal happenings here. One famous story describes a five-year-old girl disappearing during a family picnic, only to rematerialise five years later with no memory of what had happened to her, having not aged a day, her clothes shy of the slightest speck of dirt.
More common reports describe mobile phones and camera equipment inexplicably shutting down on entering the woods, while emotional responses range from full-blown dread to states of ecstasy. Some people report seeing strange rashes on their skin, hearing disembodied whispers through the trees, or feel hands grabbing or pushing them, even when sure they are alone.
Marius pulls an iPad from his rucksack and shows me the UFO images which catapulted Hoia-Baciu to international attention in the 1960s. Grainy and monochrome, they appear to show a button-like flying saucer hovering above the trees. He flicks through dozens of other photographs taken in the years before and since, with similar saucer-like objects, glowing orbs or wraith-like apparitions. Enigmatic photographs of this nature have been a fixture of paranormal research for more than a century, not much use as evidence, but it’s worth noting that Barnea did not stand to profit from publishing his photographs – on the contrary, he lost his job in the military, with the communist government not looking kindly on anything with a supernatural tang. “Many of the old researchers who investigated the forest ended up in psychiatric wards,” Marius says. “Did the communist regime put them there? Or did something really happen to them, here in the forest?”
An evening walking tour of Hoia-Baciu. Photograph: Hoia Baciu Project
While many of the stories may be unverifiable, there is much before my eyes that is undeniably strange. All around are trees whose trunks are bent and twisted into fantastical shapes. Some bulge outwards at the base, their crowns disappearing into the black night, so they resemble giant meat hooks hanging from the heavens. Others droop like melted candles, or are bent in strange, spiralling patterns. Various suggestions have been given to explain the deformed trees: that hurricane winds could have bent the saplings, or naturally high radiation levels in the soil account for their crooked growth. But scientific investigations have turned up no satisfactory evidence.
Marius’s tours allow visitors to take part in a little scientific inquiry of their own. As we approach the clearing in the trees where Barnea took his famous UFO photographs, he hands me an EMF meter, a stalwart of ghost-hunting kits which measures electromagnetic fields. “We’re entering the most active part of the forest,” he says. “See what you can find.”
The trees suddenly stop dead as we emerge into a perfect circle. The only greenery is the short grass beneath our feet; it’s clear that it hasn’t been mown, and appears that this strange clearing is natural, not the work of human hands.
Wielding my EMF meter, I sweep the clearing like a detectorist, briefly excited when the needle begins to tick madly back and forth, only for my vibrating phone to indicate that the electromagnetic disturbance was just an incoming text message. Despite spending several hours in the forest, and being genuinely baffled by the twisted trees and the strange clearing, I haven’t seen anything I’d describe as supernatural. Perhaps the forest is a blank canvas, on to which people project their own fears and desires.
Transylvania generally is a place which stirs the imagination, where the border is blurred between fact and folklore. In rural Romanian communities belief persists in strigoi (“screamers”) – undead, shapeshifting bloodsuckers, who rise from their graves to terrorise local communities.
Misty and spooky: Hoia Baciu wood. Photograph: Pal Szilagyi Palko/Alamy
Bram Stoker’s famous vampire Count Dracula is forever associated with Transylvania, and Bran Castle – a Saxon monolith perched on a rocky outcrop in the Carpathian Mountains around four hours’ drive south of Hoia-Baciu – is keenly marketed as “Dracula’s Castle”. While it bears little resemblance to the shadowy ruin described as Dracula’s dwelling, and there is no evidence that it inspired Stoker, it’s still a major attraction for fans of all things gothic and ghoulish – particularly around Halloween, when the castle hosts costumed parties.
But even myth-shrouded Transylvania – literally, “the place beyond the forest” – feels solid and predictable compared to these eerie woods, which seem to be, for reasons radioactive, atmospheric or simply folkloric, a nexus for human imaginative power. “In Hoia-Baciu,” Marius says, “the line between reality and imagination is very thin.”
Dyche said the team are “still a work in progress” as Forest look to get back to the level on the pitch they were at during his time in the academy.
“When I was here 1987-90, that team was finishing regularly in the top six of the old First Division and winning the Littlewoods Trophy [the EFL Cup] as it was then,” he said.
“We’re not quite there yet, the fans know that and the club knows that, but it’s about building that momentum and obviously it’s just lost its way a little bit.”
Dyche left Forest for Chesterfield in 1990, spending seven years in defence with the Spirerites, before playing for Bristol City, Millwall, Watford and Northampton.
He has been out of work since a two-year spell at Everton ended in January, having previously spent 10 years as Burnley boss until 2022.
Speaking about his Forest past, Dyche said: “Everyone knows down the years I’ve spoken about my affection and the beginning of my career which was under the great Brian Clough.
“I didn’t quite force my way into the first team, I had three years as an apprentice and a young pro and learnt so much.
“I have fond memories of wandering down the Trent with Del Boy [Clough’s dog] running past your feet and hearing the boss’ voice in the distance. It’s a strange thing to be back, but it’s a good thing and a very pleasing thing.
“It’s one of those things, you imagine one day could it be? Not in the early days of my managerial career, but as things started changing in my career and changing at Nottingham Forest, new ownership comes in and the growth, they have made you wonder.
“It’s come round my way, I’m very pleased and proud.”
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis sacked Nuno just three matches into the campaign and replaced him with Postecoglou.
The Australian failed to win a game and his dismissal – 39 days after his appointment on 9 September – meant his stint at Forest is the shortest permanent managerial reign in Premier League history.
Dyche was on the books of Forest as a youth team player in the late 1980s while Brian Clough was manager, but never made a first-team appearance.
He has not had a managerial job since being sacked by Everton in January after just under two years in charge of the Toffees.
Dyche won 21, lost 31 and drew 23 of his 75 Premier League matches as Everton boss, guiding the club to 17th and 15th-place finishes.
Prior to that Dyche spent nearly a decade as Burnley manager between October 2012 and April 2022, twice winning promotion to the top flight and helping the Clarets qualify for Europe for the first time since 1967.
He also had a stint in charge of Watford for the 2011–2012 season, only to lose his job following a change of ownership.
Kettering-born Dyche spent his entire playing career as a defender outside of the top flight, making more than 500 appearances for clubs including Chesterfield, Bristol City, Millwall, Watford and Northampton.
Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by Nottingham Forest following the side’s 3-0 defeat by Chelsea at the City Ground.
The Australian’s dismissal – 39 days after his appointment on 9 September – means Postecoglou’s stint at Forest is the shortest permanent managerial reign in Premier League history.
The former Tottenham boss failed to win any of his eight matches in charge of Forest, with two draws and six defeats across all competitions.
Forest collected just one point from Postecoglou’s five Premier League matches in charge, leaving the side one point above the relegation zone in 17th.
“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect,” a Forest statement read.
“The club will make no further comment at this time.”
The due diligence already completed towards Postecoglou’s possible replacement provides a clear indication of the jeopardy the Australian faces.
It would be hard for any manager to change the direction of travel in these circumstances.
Of course, Postecoglou will back himself to turn it around. That’s his nature.
Speaking in his pre-match news conference on Friday, he said: “Some look at the weeds but I look at what is growing. I am really excited as I have a group of young players willing to change.
“I just don’t fit, not here, just in general. If you look at it through the prism of ‘I’m a failed manager who’s lucky to get this job’ then of course this first five weeks looks like ‘this guy’s under pressure’. There is an alternative story that you could look at it.”
Owner Marinakis wants him to succeed, having backed Postecoglou’s track record of winning silverware as one of the key factors in why he appointed him in the first place.
Indeed, prior to their previous Premier League outing against Newcastle – that resulted in a 2-0 loss – well-placed sources told BBC Sport Postecoglou still maintained the immediate backing of the Forest owner.
There was, though, recognition that the result and manner of performance at St James’ Park would have a key influence on how Marinakis viewed his manager’s future.
Likewise, there is a feeling Postecoglou has not been helped by refereeing decisions.
For instance, during the Europa League defeat by FC Midtjylland – during which supporters turned on Postecoglou – earlier this month, there was a feeling as many as 14 key decisions went against Forest.
But with that said, the internal scrutiny on Postecoglou is intense.
Victory over Chelsea could mean he takes the first step towards what appears an unlikely road to recovery at Forest.
Lose the game, and the writing is already on the wall.
The New Forest destination lauded for its picturesque palace, renowned motor museum and stunning river has been dubbed of one of the top UK villages for a winter getaway
13:58, 17 Oct 2025Updated 13:58, 17 Oct 2025
Beaulieu Palace has been described by visitors as ‘fabulous’
A picturesque spot on the fringes of the New Forest has been crowned one of the top “prettiest villages for a cosy winter getaway”. Beaulieu, a “quintessential English village” in Hampshire, was bestowed this honour by National Rail, who described it as an “absolute gem”.
The village is lauded for its array of attractions, including a magnificent palace and motor museum, and a delightful river.
Beaulieu Palace is recognised as one of the UK’s ten ‘Treasure Houses’, marking it as an “architectural masterpiece” surrounded by “beautiful parklands and gardens”. The house, which has been the Montagu family residence since 1538, overlooks the Beaulieu River millpond. It’s hailed as a “fine example of a Victorian country house”, adorned with family heirlooms, portraits and memorabilia.
One visitor shared their experience on TripAdvisor: “Fabulous and interesting especially when decorated for Christmas. Plenty to see and do, very worthwhile visit.”, reports the Express.
Another enthused: “Really excellent house full of historical memorabilia and family links to the owners and their forbears. Everything well displayed and the staff on hand helped bring things to life.”
A third reviewer posted: “Beaulieu Palace is maintained in splendid condition, with well-informed and costumed staff to explain how the house operated in yesteryear and exhibits from the generations who lived there bringing each room to life.”
At Beaulieu, guests can purchase a single ticket granting entry to both the Palace and the National Motor Museum. The museum boasts “one of the finest collections of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia in the world“.
Beaulieu National Motor Museum holds a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, with one visitor commenting: “What a glorious place! Absolutely brilliant collection of cars in lovely grounds. My children (10 year old car enthusiast and a 3 year old) were kept entertained all day.”
Close by, situated along the banks of the Beaulieu River, lies the 18th century shipbuilding settlement of Buckler’s Hard, renowned for constructing warships for Nelson’s Navy.
Guests can explore the museum which recounts the tales of the vessels and the village’s inhabitants, or stroll down the main street to observe boats sailing on the waterway.
There’s also a picturesque, two-mile walking trail to discover, and tourists can embark on a cruise along Beaulieu River. One holidaymaker remarked: “A smashing place overlooking the river. Plenty of quaint old cottages from its shipbuilding past to walk around. And we also had a delightful trip on the boat down the river.” Another described it as like “stepping back in time”.
Match of the Day’s Joe Hart talks about his experience playing under Ange Postecoglou at Celtic to explain why he should be given more time at Nottingham Forest despite a winless start.
Postecoglou’s other two games saw him draw against Burnley and Real Betis.
However, he maintains he is not thinking about an exit and is hopeful of getting a result against Newcastle.
Ange Postecoglou jokingly makes dig at Marinakis as new boss opens up on Nottingham Forest trophy hopes
Postecoglou said on Friday: “I get it. It’s a valid assumption in modern football there’s always a manager under pressure, that’s part and parcel of what we do.
“I don’t think that way. I knew I was getting sacked at Tottenham three or four months before I did.
“It didn’t stop me winning something. It doesn’t enter my head. If I start worrying about what’s going to happen next week, I’m not performing the role I’ve been given.
“It’s not helpful to anyone. The things I control are the environment training, the way we play. I am strong in my belief we are not too far away.”
West Ham have appointed former Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo as head coach after sacking Graham Potter.
Nuno, 51, has signed a three-year contract with the Hammers and will take charge of his first match on Monday away at Everton in the Premier League.
Potter was dismissed on Saturday morning after only eight months in charge, with the club 19th in the table.
Nuno joins West Ham after being sacked on 9 September by Forest, who he guided to seventh in the Premier League last season – their highest finish since 1994-95.
“I am very pleased to be here and very proud to be representing West Ham United,” he said.
“My objective is to work hard to get the very best from the team and ensure that we are as competitive as we possibly can be. The work has already started and I am looking forward to the challenge that is ahead.”
Nuno joins West Ham shortly after a 21-month stint at the City Ground, where he was sacked only three games into this season.
He took his first training session in east London on Saturday afternoon before the club’s match at Everton on Monday.
West Ham said Nuno will be assisted in the interim by academy coaches Mark Robson, Steve Potts, Gerard Prenderville and Billy Lepine, with a further announcement on his coaching and backroom staff to be made in due course.
The Hammers took only three points from their opening five league games this season under Potter.
After dismissing the 50-year-old, West Ham said they believed “a change is necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible”.
They added: “Results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of the 2025-26 season have not matched expectations.”
In a statement via the League Managers Association, Potter said: “I am incredibly disappointed to be leaving West Ham, particularly without being able to achieve what we set out to achieve at the start of our journey in east London.
“I do, however, fully acknowledge that the results have just not been good enough up to now.”
Cheese is the star at one of the world’s most enchanting restaurants in a Puglia forest. Plus, cold noodles to obsess over … how fish sauce caramel transforms instant noodles … the sexy steak videos transforming an Armenian meat shop … losing Birdie G’s pickle chicken … 6-to-1 grocery shopping … and an Angeleno’s connection to Mexican Chicago. I’m Laurie Ochoa, general manager of L.A. Times Food, with this week’s Tasting Notes.
Slinging the blues
Cheesemaker Vito Dicecca, who built Baby Dicecca, a cheese bar in the Mercadante forest close to Altamura in Puglia, Italy.
(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)
It’s been more than 15 years since I stumbled into Caseificio Dicecca, the shop of the famed cheesemaking Dicecca family in the Puglia city of Altamura, and bit into a round of freshly made burrata, the rich, oozing cream still warm. No burrata I’ve had since has equaled that first bite.
I had come to the region with chef Nancy Silverton, who was poking her head into the doors of the city’s many bakeries, sampling focaccia and the local bread that has a tradition so old the ancient Roman poet Horace called Altamura’s crusty loaves “by far the best bread to be had.”
Burrata is a much younger food. It wasn’t established in the region until the 1920s and Caseificio Dicecca is just one of several family-run operations in the area making the cheese that is now ubiquitous around the world — thanks in part to Silverton, who first started serving burrata in the 1990s at L.A.’s Campanile before she later opened her many Mozza restaurants.
The phenomenon got so out of hand that a burrata backlash was sparked, led by author Jeff Gordinier‘s 2019 Esquire story titled “F*** Your Burrata,” in which he argued that the appearance of the cheese on a menu “is like a billboard announcing, ‘The chef at this place has never had an original idea in his life …’”
Meanwhile, burrata sales continue to grow, with one estimate valuing the global market at more than $2 billion this year.
Last week, I returned to Puglia with Silverton, this time with author Alec Lobranoand several food-obsessed travelers. Silverton, who is a fan of Gordinier’s writing, read parts of his story aloud to the group even as she extolled her love for the maligned cheese. Especially when it is made by expert cheesemakers like the Diceccas.
And no one would ever accuse the Dicecca family of being unoriginal.
The cheese operation is now in the hands of five siblings — Vito, Paolo, Angelo, Vittoria and Maristella — who are the fourth generation to run the caseificio. At various points, the siblings left Altamura to travel the world and, in some cases, make cheese in places far away from Italy. But Altamura is their lodestar and several years back Vito Dicecca, who spent time in Japan, Thailand, Mexico, Australia and even lived for a bit in Southern California, not only brought back new cheesemaking ideas (the siblings make more than 300 varieties) he created one of the world’s most enchanting restaurants in the Mercadante Forest not far from Altamura.
Focaccia with fresh stracciatella at Baby Dicecca in Puglia’s Mercadante Forest.
(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)
You may have seen an earlier version of the restaurant — which then was more of a kiosk — in the Puglia episode of Stanley Tucci‘s CNN series “Searching for Italy.” A few months ago, Vito Dicecca relocated and expanded his restaurant, Baby Dicecca, but it is still a very simple spot where the majority of diners eat outside surrounded by the trees of the forest.
“Proudly, we serve mostly cheese and some vegetables from our friends close to here,” Dicecca said as he welcomed the group. Even his wines are usually made by friends of his, he explained, as he poured “a natural, biodynamic sparkling wine” made with the Puglian Marasco grape from the producer L’Archetipo.
“I don’t buy the brand,” he said. “I like the people and then I’ll like the wine.”
What followed was a cheese lover’s feast, including focaccia draped in fresh, almost liquid stracciatella (or the “heart of mozzarella” as Dicecca put it on the menu) and “calzoncello alla Vito,” a handmade type of raviolo sauced with mozzarella whey and topped with a fresh grating of the aged cheese the family calls Dicecca Gold. To break up the richness, there was an heirloom tomato salad plus Vito’s take on a Caesar salad with seasonal greens mixed with fennel and celery plus a bit of honey and aged Pecorino. It may not have been a true Caesar, but it was delicious.
At one point Dicecca broke out a charcoal-colored loaf of bread made with grano arso, the burnt flour that also is used in some of the region’s pastas. He sliced the bread, drizzled it with local olive oil and then took a bundle of dried, wild oregano grown in the forest nearby and shook some of it on top of the slices.
Wild oregano is shaken on olive-oil-drizzled slices of bread made with grano arso, or burnt flour, at Baby Dicecca, a restaurant in Puglia, Italy.
(Laurie Ochoa / Los Angeles Times)
Dessert was two kinds of gelato, including one with goat’s milk, oregano and honey, made on the spot by Dicecca’s friend — “a genius” — Maurizio Bonina.
But the climax of the meal was, of course, cheese. And it wasn’t burrata.
Amore Primitivo is Vito Dicecco’s fever dream of a cheese, a blue, aged variety that is soaked in local Primitivo wine for 100 days, turning the exterior deep purple. He places the whole cheese on a cake stand and then loads the top with macerated cherries. Once the group admires the cheese’s beauty, he slices and serves it atop guests’ hands like a caviar bump.
Only when you taste the cheese and its beautifully mellow funk does it become clear that this is not just a cheese for Instagram. This aged blue created in the land of fresh mozzarella exemplifies the best of the Italian spirit — a healthy respect for tradition infused with a risk taker’s desire for innovation.
“For the first three years, I didn’t sell one piece,” Dicecca told us. “My family was very mad at me. Friends of my dad, they said to him, ‘Tell your son, this is not a pastry shop, it’s a cheese shop.’”
For a time, he added, “I pretended to sell the cheese — I was giving it as a gift to friends. But now it’s one of the best sellers.”
These days, Caseificio Dicecca is almost as well known for its blue cheeses as it is for its fresh burrata and pasta filata family of stretched curd cheeses. They’ve experimented with more than 60 types of blue, including an ultra aged cheese, golden yellow on the inside, that Vito Dicecco named Surfing Blu. Who knows what he’ll think of next?
More generational innovation, this time closer to home, as our favorite Grocery Goblin Vanessa Anderson reports in her latest dispatch on the social media ideas transforming an Armenian meat shop: “Sevan Meat Market’s social media videos — conceived by owner Hrach Marukyan, his son Serop and manager Norvan Simonian — tell an Armenian American story built on beef, a story of the old and new, of adaptation to a rapidly changing world. And their growing audience of now nearly 60,000 Instagram followers is eagerly tuning in.”
In a pickle
The “pickle chick” cutlet, front, plus the relish tray and knife-and-fork tomato sandwich at Jeremy Fox’s Birdie G’s, which will close in December.
(Shelby Moore / For The Times)
Last month, when I was at Birdie G’s in Santa Monica for a family get-together — and a taste of the restaurant’s famed “pickle chick” fried chicken cutlet — the place was packed, with the crowded valet station just one indication that this was a place people wanted to be. It seemed that chef and partner Jeremy Fox‘s vision for a chef’s take on a chain restaurant was ready to spread to other locations.
But as Fox told Food’s Stephanie Breijo this week, business has been inconsistent since the Palisades fire in January. “One month the sprawling restaurant’s seats would all be filled,” wrote Breijo, “the following, sales would drop by 40%.” And in the days right after the fire, Fox estimated that the restaurant’s revenue fell by 80%.
“That was a bloodbath,” Fox told Breijo, explaining his decision to close the restaurant on Dec. 31.
Until the end of the year, Fox and Birdie G’s co-owners, Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan, owners of the Rustic Canyon Family restaurant group, are planning more daily specials, ambitious large-format dishes, guest chefs and “one final run,” Breijo writes, “of the restaurant’s fan-favorite Hanukkah series, 8 Nights.”
“What’s the worst that could happen,” Fox said, “we go out of business?”
The great holiday cookie bake-off returns
(Leslie Grow / For the Times)
Here at L.A. Times Food we decided it had been too long since our last Los Angeles Times Holiday Cookie Bake-Off — a tradition that began in 2010 and allowed us to connect with you, our readers, and your recipes. As Deputy Food Editor Betty Hallockwrote in our recipe call, we are accepting recipe submissions until Monday, Oct. 13. If you’ve got a great holiday cookie recipe we want to hear from you.
Noodle cool-down
A bowl of Beijing Yanji cold noodles from Bistro Na’s restaurant in Temple City.
(Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times )
Columnist Jenn Harris’ latest obsession is Bistro Na’s Beijing Yanji cold noodles. “It’s a tangle of buckwheat noodles in an ice-cold broth,” she writes, “with sliced beef shank, beef tongue, kimchi, watermelon, boiled egg, shredded cucumber, pickled radish and chile sauce all arranged over the top like a color wheel.” I think I need to return to the Temple City restaurant very soon for a bowl of my own.
Mexican as Chicago
Marcos Carbajal, left, and his father Inocencio Carbajal at their Little Village location of Carnitas Uruapan in Chicago.
(Carnitas Uruapan)
With so much of the Trump administration’s focus on Chicago, Food Editor Daniel Hernandez wrote about the city’s deeply established Mexican roots as seen in its restaurants from the perspective of a visiting Angeleno: “Los Angeles may have more Mexican residents in total numbers, but in terms of who makes up each city’s Latino population, Chicago is as Mexican as Los Angeles.”
Instant classic
Holy Basil’s chef and owner Deau Arpapornnopprat holds his ‘Yum Mama’ Instant Noodle Salad With Lime And Fish Sauce Caramel in the Times Test Kitchen.
(Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
Have you ever made fish sauce caramel? It could become your next kitchen essential. For our most recent “Chef That!” cooking video, Deau Arpapornnopparat, chef-owner of the Thai restaurants Holy Basil, came to the Times Test Kitchen to show us how he elevates instant noodles with easy-to-make fish sauce caramel and more toppings. As Deputy Food Editor Betty Hallock wrote, the “dressing is classically sweet, sour, salty and spicy all at once.” Find the recipe here.
Curtis Stone’s ‘Field Trip’
To cap off the weekend of The Times’ Food Bowl Night Market, presented by Square, we’ve added a free Sunday evening screening, reception and conversation on Oct. 12 featuring L.A. chef Curtis Stone with Michelin-starred chef Vicky Cheng of the acclaimed Hong Kong restaurants Wing and VEA. I’ll be talking with Stone and Cheng about the Hong Kong episode of “Field Trip With Curtis Stone” and more. It takes place at the Fowler Museum at UCLA. To sign up for free tickets, click here.
And although VIP tickets (allowing early entry) to The Times’ Food Bowl Night Market are sold out, general admission tickets remain for the two-night event taking place Oct. 10-11 at City Market Social House in downtown L.A. More than 40 restaurants are participating, including Holbox, Baroo, the Brothers Sushi, OyBar,Heritage Barbecue, Crudo e Nudo, Hummingbird Ceviche House, Rossoblu, Perilla L.A., Evil Cooks, Villa’s Tacos, Holy Basil and Luv2Eat Thai Bistro. Check lafoodbowl.com for tickets and info.
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The Hafren Forest in Mid Wales has been named as the UK’s most popular autumn walk. t’s a stunning forest with a rich history and a variety of walking trails
This is Hafren Forest in its quietest, most enchanting season(Image: Portia Jones )
As you step onto the woodland path, the first thing you’ll notice is the fresh air tinged with the earthy aroma of damp pine and moss, a sensory nod to nature in its wildest form.
Welcome to the lesser-known Hafren Forest in Mid Wales, home to tumbling waters, marked trails and the birthplace of a formidable river. The forest’s name, Hafren, derives from the Welsh term for the River Severn (Afon Hafren), which embarks on its impressive journey to the sea from this very spot.
This meticulously managed woodland boasts a rich history and numerous trails to discover. According to TikTok data, it has just been crowned the most popular autumn walk in the UK, showcasing its beauty best during the autumn and winter months. Other walking spots across the Peak District, Scotland, and the Lake District have also secured spots in the top 10.
If you’re up for a challenge, the Source of the Severn Trail is the ultimate adventure(Image: Portia Jones )
To encourage folks to soak up the great outdoors and enjoy quality time together without breaking the bank, caravan holiday providers Parkdean Resorts have revealed the UK’s favourite autumn walks and are offering a 20% discount on four-night staycations this autumn.
Overseen by Natural Resources Wales, the forest strikes a balance between commercial forestry, conservation, and public enjoyment, making it an essential habitat for wildlife and a sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts and walkers, reports Wales Online.
Originally established as a timber production forest, Hafren Forest has evolved into a beloved and accessible spot for walkers. Its blend of natural splendour, historical features, and well-kept trails draw visitors throughout the year.
The trails are clearly marked and welcoming, meandering through clusters of pines and firs, their natural symmetry creating overhead archways that frame the path ahead.
The winding river is the star attraction here. The Afon Hafren, more commonly known as the River Severn, commences its journey on the slopes of Pumlumon, with its concealed source lying just beyond the forest’s edge.
You’ll see rushing waterfalls here(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Initially, it’s merely a tranquil stream threading its way through the trees with quiet resolve. However, it soon gains momentum, cascading over rocky ledges and morphing into thunderous waterfalls that carve their way through the landscape with unyielding vigour.
“Autumn is my favourite time to visit this serene forest, when the foliage changes colour and the air becomes crisper,” says writer Portia Jones.
There’s an abundance of trails to amble along here, all clearly marked from beginning to end. Starting at the Rhyd-y-benwch car park, the paths guide you through towering trees, past gushing waterfalls, and even to the hidden source of the River Severn.
She adds: “My favourite trail is the 13 km-long Source of the Severn Trail, which leads to the source of the River Severn through a varied landscape.”
It’s quite astounding to consider that the mighty River Severn, stretching over 220 miles, originates here in Hafren Forest. The river’s modest beginnings on the slopes of Pumlumon rapidly gather pace as the water etches its path through the forest, creating a series of vibrant cascades and waterfalls.
As you traverse the trails, the river’s sound evolves, becoming more powerful and persistent. Each stride brings you nearer to the water’s rhythm, escalating like an overture before unveiling its concealed source beyond the forest’s boundary.
Writer Portia Jones loves to visit it during the winter months (Image: Portia Jones )
Reaching the source is no ordinary stroll. A steep ascent leads you onto the moorland, where a simple, carved wooden post signifies the start of the UK’s longest river.
Hafren Forest also serves as the launch point for two epic long-distance walks. The Wye Valley Walk traces the River Wye for 136 miles, whilst the Severn Way follows the Severn’s route to Bristol. For a shorter and more manageable walk, the 2.3 km Severn-Break-its-Neck Trail provides a picturesque romp through woodland.
This trail lives up to its dramatic name. Starting at the car park, you’ll follow a gently meandering path along the river until it expands into a meadow, where a boardwalk brings you closer to the sound of rushing water.
This is the unsung Hafren Forest in Mid Wales, where you’ll find cascading waters, marked trails and the source of a mighty river(Image: Portia Jones )
After a brief climb, the Severn-Break-Its-Neck waterfall comes into sight. Cycling enthusiasts can take advantage of the Sustrans National Cycle Network, a scenic route that meanders through the forest and beyond, offering a quicker way to soak up the region’s stunning landscapes.
Consider booking a stay at Cedar Cottage in Llanidloes for a snug autumn getaway. This charming semi-detached barn conversion, once an old grinding mill, is perfectly suited for a small family or a group of mates.
The cottage boasts a host of amenities including double and twin rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a cosy sitting room with an electric stove, and a shared garden at the back complete with patio furniture. You can secure your booking here.
ANGE Postecoglou was left cursing his luck as Martin Dubravka’s stunning double kept him waiting for a first win.
Clarets keeper Dubravka pulled off two stunning stops in two amazing minutes, to leave Postecoglou throwing his hands up in frustration on the touchline.
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Neco Williams scored the fastest goal of the Premier League seasonCredit: Getty
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But Jaidon Anthony’s equaliser meant the teams shared the pointsCredit: Getty
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To be fair, it was no more than Burnley merited, in a game neither deserved to lose – or did enough to win – yet for Ange it is three games and counting as Forest chief without a victory.
First Dubravka went full length to push away an Igor Jesus header with the Forest sub’s first touch off the bench.
But while that was good, the Slovak stopper’s next was out of this world, getting down superbly to push Neco Williams’ volley behind as it flew through a packed area.
Mind you, defeat would have been harsh on a Clarets side which had gone ahead after barely 90 seconds.
With a start like that,, you felt maybe their ill fortune of recent weeks was about to change.
Seven days ago a rush-of-blood handball gifted Liverpool a last-gasp penalty winner, while a fortnight earlier there was an even harsher spot kick in an Old Trafford loss.
Well there was no luck involved in Williams’ early opener – just a finger-snapping strike that flew in.
When Fiorentino turned away a Douglas Luiz corner to the edge of the box, Williams hit a rocket that took a slight deflection, but not enough to deviate off a true line.
It certainly didn’t impact Dubravka’s chances of saving it – he wouldn’t have got close in any case – for the Welsh defender’s third goal in 111 Forest appearances.
Opposite number Quilindschy Hartman got in on the act with his own screamer which, while it was never likely to catch out Matz Sels, certainly warmed his palms.
And then Olekssandr Zinchenko joined in the full back fun with a swerving long ranger that Clarets keeper Dubravka was happy to beat away.
Moment Roy Keane shuts down Sky Sports host live on TV
If the Ukraine defender was nearly a hero at one end, he was swiftly case in the role of villain just minutes later, as Burnley levelled.
He was initially outjumped by Lyle Foster as Hartman hung up a deep cross which fell kindly for Jaidon Anthony on the left of the box.
Anthony’s strike was anything but crisp, although it was at least on target and would probably have crept in of its own accord.
Yet Zinchenko made sure it did when his attempt to clear merely saw him tumble onto his backside and hook the ball into the opposite corner.
Strictly speaking it couldn’t be classed as an own goal, given the ball was – almost apologetically – heading for the net, but ZInchenko should have done better.
To be fair to Forest, they dusted themselves down and were soon pinging it around again, and one pinball passing move had Dubravka diving to push away a Dilane Bakwa snapshot.
Mind you, Burnley went even closer to a winner with a thunderbolt free kick that would have taken Matz Sels hand into the net if he’d got anywhere near it.
Loum Tchaouna’a whipped-in 20-yard piledriver had the crossbar rattling so much you’d swear the woodwork was still shaking come the final whistle.
But it would have been even worse had it not been for Dubravka, who came up with those two stunning late stops.
And even when Dubravka was out of the equation – when Arnaud Kalimuendo looked sure to score at the far post, Hartman saved the day by blocking his goalbound drive.
At least it ensured Forest didn’t mark the 21st anniversary of Brian Clough’s death with defeat.
Yet ff it hadn’t been for the Burnley keeper, they’d have done so with all three points instead of just the one.
Ange Postecoglou says his Nottingham Forest players got too “comfortable” after Championship side Swansea scored twice in stoppage time to knock them out of the Carabao Cup.
Two first-half goals from Igor Jesus had put the Premier League side firmly in control of their third-round tie.
However, a Cameron Burgess goal gave the Swans hope and, in a stunning finale, Zan Vipotnik levelled before Australia international Burgess scored his second to send the 2013 winners into the last 16.
“We had to finish them off and we had plenty of opportunities to do that, and a couple of decisions didn’t go our way,” said Forest boss Postecoglou.
“I think the lads got a bit comfortable in that moment and you’ve got to know the warning signs.
“Players just thought it would naturally finish that way and we’ve paid a heavy price for that. We need to improve.”
The former Spurs boss had promised this would be the night fans started to see his imprint on the side he inherited from Nuno Espirito Santo at the City Ground.
Instead, Forest conceded three for a second game in a row under Postecoglou, who added: “Tonight was a great opportunity for us to progress in a cup and give ourselves an opportunity to that success – and to let it slip is hugely disappointing.
“But it doesn’t change anything – we understand some of the things we have to work on.”
ARSENAL welcome Nottingham Forest to the Emirates for Saturday’s early kick-off.
The Tricky Trees have appointed Ange Postecoglou to replace Nuno Espirito Santo after the Portuguese gaffer was brutally sacked at the start of the week.
The former Tottenham manager will be looking to get off to a winning start away at his side’s former archrivals.
Arsenal are hoping to get back to winning ways after they suffered their first defeat of the season to Liverpool before the international break.
Towards the end of his spell at Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou was embattled, despite guiding Spurs to the Europa League final.
After beating Bodo/Glimt in Norway in May, he was combative in response to questions about whether winning the competition would save Spurs’ season.
Those who have worked with him feel that was down to the pressure. He dealt with it by firing back to his critics and doubters.
Fast forward to now, and the 60-year-old was relaxed in the City Ground press room, joking about how his birthday celebrations at the weekend were interrupted by negotiations with Forest and how the school run was the best motivator to return to work.
But there was the importance of winning – and winning trophies. It will not have escaped anyone’s attention owner Evangelos Marinakis referenced winning trophies in his statement announcing Postecoglou’s arrival.
So the pressure at Forest will be there – maybe not to the extent it was at Spurs – but he has been brought to the City Ground to progress the team and club.
Forest have not spent £180m this summer and installed Postecoglou in order to go backwards after last season’s seventh-place finish.
While winning the Premier League is out of reach, the Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup will all be seen as legitimate targets.
Forest have not won a major trophy since lifting the League Cup in 1990.
Postecoglou has pedigree. He has won trophies throughout his career, including two Scottish titles with Celtic and the Asian Cup with Australia, and there will be an immediate expectation for Forest to challenge for silverware again.
BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton says Ange Postecoglou will have learned from his time at Tottenham and will adapt his playing style to suit the squad at Nottingham Forest after being named manager.
Spurs lost 22 of their 38 league matches last season, accumulating only 38 points as they finished 17th – their worst finish in the Premier League.
They conceded 65 goals, with only Wolves and the relegated trio of Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton shipping more.
But Postecoglou led the club to a first major trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final.
The victory secured Champions League football, but it was not enough to keep Postecoglou in a job and he was sacked by the club 16 days later.
Spurs, who appointed Thomas Frank as his successor, said Postecoglou would be remembered for delivering “one of the club’s greatest moments” in becoming only the third manager to win them a European trophy.
Tottenham finished fifth in his first season in charge before he kept his promise to provide silverware in his second year.
Postecoglou was initially praised for the attacking style he implemented, but he was forced to defend himself from criticism for sticking to his principles and had to contend with a catalogue of injuries to key players.
