Steadying.

This evening the ancient and sacred rite of the Welsh Rarebit will be performed and repeated as needed ...

WELSH RAREBIT (to feed six)

Ingredients

A knob of butter

1 tbsp flour

1 tsp English mustard powder

½ tsp cayenne pepper

200ml Guinness

A very long splash of

Worcestershire sauce

450g mature strong Cheddar

cheese, grated

4 pieces of toast

Method

Melt the butter in a pan, stir in the flour, and let this cook together until it smells biscuity but is not browning. Add the mustard powder and cayenne pepper, stir in the Guinness and Worcestershire sauce, then gently melt in the cheese.

When it’s all of one consistency, remove from the heat, pour out into a shallow container and allow to set. Spread on toast 1cm thick and place under the grill. Eat when bubbling golden brown.

This makes a splendid savoury at the end of your meal, washed down with a glass of Port, or a steadying snack.

Fergus Henderson, from The Complete Nose to Tail