FOOD Recipe Notes Embracing food trends your own way By Kitty Coles O nce I cut up a perfectly good pair of jeans because the girls at the school down the road had all started wearing low-rise denim skirts. I desperately wanted to be one of those girls who could throw on a rara skirt, a giant gladiator belt and a lace camisole and somehow look effortlessly cool. Unfortunately, I lacked both the wardrobe and, more importantly, the confidence. Back then, trends moved much more slowly. You spotted them in magazines, on television or on someone walking down the high street. They drifted from city to city, school to school, friend to friend. Food worked in much the same way. A recipe spread because someone cooked it for a friend and wrote it down on a scrap piece of paper. A restaurant became known for one dish. Now a salad using a whole cucumber goes viral online in America and, by dinner, people in London, Dublin and Sydney are all slicing cucumbers the same way. Someone puts cottage cheese on toast and supermarket shelves are empty by the weekend. Scroll Instagram and the recipes begin to blur into one another. The same has happened with the way food looks. A metal platter, once something youd only really see in restaurant kitchens where meat or fish rested before being plated, is now everywhere, layered with crisps and caviar or jamón with pickled chillies against a stainless steel surface. I went to a new café that opened last week and I loved the interiors but, apart from that, everything looked the same and could have been anywhere in the world. The same sandwiches wrapped in baking paper, the same Basque cheesecake and matcha cookies. Everyone sat at their little stations taking pictures of their matcha latte and pastry. As a food writer I try to stay away from trends, but there are some I cant help but try in my own way. Like Dubai chocolate. While I havent actually tasted it (have you seen the price?), I knew Id love the flavour combination. If youve somehow escaped it, its a thick milk chocolate bar filled with a rich pistachio cream and crisp toasted kataifi pastry, inspired by the flavours of the classic Middle Eastern dessert knafeh. Originally created by FIX Dessert Chocolatier in Dubai in 2021, its designed to be broken open, revealing the vivid green filling inside. It quickly flooded TikTok feeds around the world. Kataifi, or kadayif, is a delicate pastry made from fine, string-like threads of filo dough, used all over Greece, Turkey and the Middle East in both sweet and savoury cooking. Its probably best known as the pastry used in knafeh, where its layered over soft cheese or cream, baked until crisp and finished with sugar syrup and pistachios. (Find it in most Turkish shops or online.) So while I havent made Dubai chocolate, I have borrowed one small part of it. Not because I wanted to recreate the trend, but because kataifi deserves a place far beyond the inside of a chocolate bar. Ive written two recipes. The first is my four-ingredient tahini chocolate mousse topped with toasted kataifi and a pistachio crumb. The second is a simple toasted kataifi with whipped cream folded through yoghurt, topped with torn figs and a drizzle of lemon syrup. Maybe thats the sweet spot with trends. Borrow the idea, not the outcome. Let them introduce you to a new ingredient, a different technique or a flavour combination you might never have thought of, then make it your own. Thats how good food has always evolved. Otherwise, we all end up making the same things, eating the same lunch, in the same café. @kittycoles Maybe that s the sweet spot with trends. Borrow the idea, not the outcome. 62 September 2026 Tahini Chocolate Mousse with Pistachio Serves 4-6 Ingredients 150g good quality dark chocolate (70%) 4 medium eggs, separated 4 tbsp caster sugar or light brown sugar 4 tbsp good quality tahini Pinch of sea salt. Topping: 150g kataifi pastry 50g butter 1 heaped tbsp light brown sugar or caster sugar 50g pistachios, finely chopped Method 1. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bowl doesnt touch the water. Remove from the heat and leave to cool for a few minutes, then stir in the tahini and a pinch of salt. 2. Separate the eggs. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then gradually add the sugar and continue whisking for another minute until thick and glossy. 3. Stir the egg yolks into the chocolate mixture. If it seizes slightly, dont worry. Stir in freshly boiled water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy again. 4. Fold a generous spoonful of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen it. Gently fold through the remaining egg whites until no streaks remain, taking care not to knock out too much air. 5. Divide between serving bowls or glasses and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight. When youre ready to serve, pull the kataifi apart into shorter strands. 6. Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat, add the kataifi and sugar and cook, stirring regularly, for 8 to 10 minutes until evenly golden and crisp. Tip onto a plate and leave to cool completely. Top each mousse with a generous handful of toasted kataifi and the chopped pistachios before serving. Toasted Kataifi Serves 4 Ingredients 150g kataifi pastry 50g butter 1 tablespoon of caster sugar 300ml double cream 200g Greek yoghurt 2 tbsp icing sugar 4 ripe figs Method 1. Heat the oven to 180C fan. Break the kataifi into short strands and toss with the melted butter and sugar. Spread over a baking tray and bake for 12-15 minutes, stirring halfway, until evenly golden and crisp. Leave to cool completely. (Alternatively, toast in a pan until golden.) 2. Whip the cream to soft peaks, then gently fold through the Greek yoghurt and icing sugar until just combined. 3. Tear the figs into bite-sized pieces. 4. Spoon the whipped yoghurt onto a serving platter or divide between bowls. Pile over the toasted kataifi, scatter with the figs and drizzle generously with the lemon syrup. THE IRISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 2026 Autumns new mood Crafting the future + Susie Cave Maria Grachvogel Adrian Dunbar ww th w. eg los s.i e n o i h s E a f SU e h t THE NEW FRAGRANCE CONTENTS the gloss E D I TO R JE NNIFE R STE V E NS D EP UT Y ED ITOR S Í O MHA CO NNO LLY STYLE E D I TO R AISLINN CO FFE Y B EAUT Y ED ITOR SARAH HALLIW E LL CO N T R I B U TI N G E D I TO R PE NNY MC CO RMICK A R T D IR EC TOR PATRICIA C MAR INHO D IGITA L ED ITOR RACHE L HE ALY A DV ER T THE FIRST WORD The Edit restaurants, books, trends, culture This Month Ruth Negga in Radio Bette Lake Burst by Maia Nunes Perry Ogden Through the Lens S SÉZANE Mark Moriarty Studio For aspiring photographers inspired by the incredible eptember is a time for renewal. In the pages of THE GLO TREND 1 Spot The Trend T 3 2 Dramatic glamour is back By Aislinn Coffey 6 4 5 he AW26 shows marked the return of glamour, with designers embracing bold dressing over the restrained minimalism of recent seasons. At Gucci in Milan, jet-black lace and dramatic faux fur coats set the tone under t Photography by Flavien Carlod and Baptiste Le Quiniou. Images are non-contractual. TASCHEN. Éditions Zulma. DDM Architectuur. French Ar t de Vivre Margaux. Large 3-seater sofa, designed by Sacha Lakic. Exclusive Price: 3.950 €* reduced from 4.490 €, until 30/11/2026. Sofa. Eco-designed. W. 240 H. FORECAST 3 Moodboard 4 2 By Susan Zelouf J onesing for a Dolce & Gabbana SS17 pink silk sundress, appliquéd, embroidered and printed with blousy roses backfloating alongside a bestiary of ichthyological illustrations (thats fish to you), a Miami-based girlfriend and I took a hard right away fr ADVERTORIAL Q&A At Close Range Y Interior Designer Brian Woulfe our chief characteristic Curiosity. Ive always been fascinated by people, places and what makes a house feel like a home. 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Blue and white stripe cotton shirt; black silk rosette skirt; snakeskin Maverick leather shoes; all VICTORIA BECKHAM. Crystal brooch, CHANEL. Photographed by Jack OConnor at See Management, assisted by Megan Collante and Tyler Wu. Styled FASHION CRAFTING At risk of extinction in an increasingly digital world, luxury fashion houses and young designers are putting traditional craftsmanship back in the spotlight By Rosa Abbott DIOR STANDING GROUND ROISIN PIERCE CHANEL F 50 September 2026 rom the equestrian hand-stitching on an the FUTURE finale, supermodel Kristen McMenamy sashayed through the Irish embassy in Paris in 15 metres of Carrickmacross lace. It reportedly took a team of 26 Monaghan-based artisans over nine months to create the gown, with ten hours of work required to produce just 20 centimetres. Speaking after ADVERTORIAL Living I The Dream What if you could own five beautiful homes across Europes finest destinations, with none of the hassle? Mallorca, Premium Collection. 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She proposed that young women were posting less boyfriend content on their social media, concluding that it was in part due to a shift in social engagement trends but also BOOKS Reading Notes The best new books to read this month By Sarah Halliwell T here are shelf-loads of exciting new books to light up the autumn, including Stations by Louise Kennedy, the return of Yellowface author, Rebecca F Kuang, and Liane Moriartys follow-up, Big Little Truths. There are al BOOKS On My Bedside Table MEG MASON New Zealand-born Masons Sorrow and Bliss (2021) became an international bestseller and prize-winner, was shortlisted for the Womens Prize and translated into 25 languages. A former journalist, Mason lives in Sydney. Her new novel, Sophie, Standing There (Bloomsbu IN CONVERSATION man clad in a suit winds his way down a lane, his arm around a woman in towering platform sandals. A young boy, just visible in the distance, is running ahead. The image has a subtle beauty; the protagonists are singer songwriter Nick Cave and his wife, Susie, model, muse and design IN CONVERSATION DOMINIQUE ISSERMANN I wanted this new chapter to feel slower, quieter, more personal. has graced multiple magazine and album covers (Glamour, Elle, i-D, The Damneds Phantasmagoria and The Best of Roxy Music). It was an extraordinary time, because fashion still felt very personal, ADVERTORIAL Design Week Dublin 16-20 September 2026 F ollowing the success of the inaugural event last year, Design Week Dublin (DWD), in partnership with Range Rover, returns from 16-20 September 2026. Founded by Jane and Sarah McDonnell, founders of THE GLOSS Magazine and THE GLOSS Interiors, ADVERTORIAL 18/09 17/09 DESIGN TALK: BRIAN WOULFE DESIGN PANELS, ROUND TABLES AND FASHION CONVERSATIONS ARCHITECT DIASPORA: IN PRACTICE OVERSEAS 16/09 at The Malt House: A chance to meet three Irish architects (above) succeeding on the global stage: John McElgunn (RSHP), Ronan Dunphy (Renzo Pian FOOD Recipe Notes Embracing food trends your own way By Kitty Coles O nce I cut up a perfectly good pair of jeans because the girls at the school down the road had all started wearing low-rise denim skirts. I desperately wanted to be one of those girls who could throw on a rara skirt, a giant gla Wine Notes The regions garnering attention now By Julie Dupouy E ach year, I set aside some time to reflect on the most memorable wines I have been fortunate enough to taste over the previous twelve months, whether through the incredible work of Irish wine importers or during my travels to vineyar FASHION Menswear Notes 1 2 N Get a head start on autumn By Aislinn Coffey 4 ew season, new look. The strongest autumn capsule wardrobes are built around a curated selection of versatile, interchangeable staples that can be mixed and matched with ease, taking you from casual weekends to smarter IN CONVERSATION Interview with a Man Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar By Sarah Caden A How would you describe your parents? They were people who worked very hard, as well as being very loving and caring. There were seven kids, and I was the oldest. My father was a carpenter. He worked all the tim IN CONVERSATION IN CONVERSATION I did find that there were safe spaces, usually through music or amateur dramatics ... I gravitated towards the arts for that reason. Do you enjoy how your Northern Irish-isms have really caught the public imagination? Its pretty bonkers, isnt it? I just gave this g ADVERTORIAL The power of financial decade thinking THE GLOSS Goodbody Investment Club is helping women make more intentional financial decisions, one decade at a time Some of the strongest engagement has been around the very real, often under-discussed moments that can reshape a womans financial l TRAVEL Travel Notes I Stylish new stays in Scotland By Penny McCormick Hope, WildLand. f plaid, tartan, and checkerboard prints are trending this season, particularly when worn together (Chemena Kamalis AW26 collection for Chloé is a favourite), so too is Scotland, where a flurry of luxury hote IN CONVERSATION BEHIND the LENS The Irish photographers making waves on the international fashion stage By Penny McCormick JA CK IE K NIC ER SO N EIMEAR LY N C H It has been just 18 months since Jonathan Anderson took the helm at Dior and in that time it has felt like a watershed moment f IN CONVERSATION Andrew Nuding London-based Andrew Nudings cinematic fashion, portraiture and documentary photography has been commissioned for brands including Simone Rocha, Standing Ground and Moncler and publications such as British Vogue and Luncheon. Ive always had an interest in fashion. It IN CONVERSATION Eimear Lynch Eimear Lynchs work is known for capturing atmosphere and the nuances of youth culture She has collaborated with brands including Prada, Miu Miu, H&M and & Other Stories. Her work has been published in Dazed, The Face and W Magazine. I always wanted to do something in f ONE LAST THING The List Designer and founder of handbag label Liffner, Paulina Liffner von Sidow opens her little black book T LIFFNER The new collection is exclusive to Seagreen stores in Ireland. he designer whose work I endlessly admire ... Matthieu Blazy is the first designer ever to make m Official Weighted Combined WLTP Fuel Consumption figures for the Range Rover PHEV : 2.9-2.7 l/100km. Weighted Combined Utility Factor CO 2 . 66g/km-63g/km The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturers tests in accordance with EU legislation. For comparison purposes only. Real world