Those waging a war on woke have turned their attentions to twentysomethings’ supposed rejection of ham and mustard sarnies. Clearly this is what people mean by bread and butter issues ...

You are what you eat. And if you eat sandwiches? Then you’re probably woke, I’m afraid. While the convenience food may have been invented by a degenerate earl who, legend has it, didn’t want a proper meal to interrupt his gambling, some sarnies have now been deemed politically correct by the MailOnline – who are, of course, leading experts in wokeness. The MailOnline is getting flak for a recent headline that states gen Z “are ditching English classics like ham and mustard in favour of fancy woke fillings”.

What sort of PC fillings are we talking about? Quinoa, vegan camembert and kale on artisanal sourdough with a non-binary condiment (they-onnaise)? Nope. It seems what has ruffled the MailOnline’s feathers is … chicken. According to The Great British Sandwich Study , a wholesome survey conducted by the bread maker Allinson’s, older generations are partial to a ham sandwich while gen Z prefer chicken. Most boomers also like cheddar while younger consumers are fond of fancier fillings. Pretty inoffensive stuff, right? Yet somehow this has been packaged up into a culture wars piece. It’s funny how conservatives love to accuse the left of being snowflakes, yet they’re the ones getting upset by a sandwich.

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Tommy Banks says £25,000 of stock, which included 2,500 pies bearing his name, was ‘not really very saleable’

A van which was stolen containing 2,500 pies has been found abandoned, although inquiries are continuing into the fate of its contents.

The Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks had appealed to thieves to “do the right thing” and give the van’s contents, which also included custard and gravy, to people in need.

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A boldly flavoured traditional Christmas side that’s always a winner when paired with richer meats

Braised red cabbage is a relatively recent addition to my Christmas dinner, a contribution from the Scottish branch of the family, though I can’t find evidence it’s any more common in Scotland. Sweet and sour and festively spiced, it’s a long-standing favourite with richer meats such as goose, duck or pork, but, truth be told, its bold flavour makes it a hit on most winter menus.

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A caramelised cauliflower encased in pastry and served with a silky, cheesy sauce

A wellington makes a great centrepiece for a celebration. This one, in which the more traditional beef is swapped for a whole cauliflower, is the stuff of golden, buttery, flaky pastry fantasies. Roasting the cauliflower first, until it’s browned and a little caramelised, only adds to its delicious flavour. Serve with ladlefuls of the silky cheese sauce, and the carnivores are bound to have food envy.

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This classic supper is full of sophisticated flavours but is actually really easy to make

A quick fish and potato supper that tastes like it required more effort.

Preheat the oven to 200C/gas mark 6. Bring a pan of water to the boil and salt it generously. Wash 350g of small potatoes , then cut them in half. Cook them in the boiling water for 15 minutes, then drain.

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Need a generic but thoughtful gift? Here’s our inspiring list of affordable, and often useful, failsafe presents we buy time and again

We’ve all been there: royally stumped for a present for someone, be it a newly acquired father-in-law whose taste you don’t yet know, or a birthday you’d forgotten about. That’s when you reach for your fail-safes – the gifts you’ve bought time and again because, well, they’re a winner every time.

From a kids’ game and a box of iced biscuits to rejuvenating bath foam and a box of charity teabags, these presents have all been gratefully received by their recipients, over and over.

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Monkfish, squid, prawns and clams and a tomatoey sauce soaked up by broken vermicelli – think festive seafood pasta paella

Bring a taste of the Spanish coast to your kitchen with this vibrant dish that captures the essence of Spanish cookery. Treat yourself to a glass of fino while the pasta soaks up the saffron-rich shellfish broth, smoked pimentón and juicy tomatoes, while the monkfish, squid, prawns and clams come together in one pan for a beautifully simple, rustic meal. This is definitely one to enjoy with friends and family.

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Actor and comedian Diane Morgan joins Grace for another helping of Comfort Eating. Diane is best known for playing mockumentary historian Philomena Cunk, droll antihero Liz in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom Motherland, and Mandy in … Mandy. Diane reveals how she keeps a straight face when asking world experts very silly questions, why she was sacked from her waitressing job, and what happened when she tried to introduce hugging to the Morgan family.

If you liked this episode then have a listen to Grace’s conversations with Aisling Bea , Saoirse-Monica Jackson , and Jamie Demetriou

New episodes of Comfort Eating with Grace Dent will be released every Tuesday

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Readers respond to an impassioned plea for understanding by Clare Wise after the government made farms subject to inheritance tax

Clare Wise’s emotional representation of the family farm offers an excellent insight into the importance of maintaining generational continuity ( My family has grown Britain’s food for 140 years. Here’s what politicians don’t understand about farming, 27 November ). She rightly condemns the potentially devastating effects that inheritance tax (IHT) on farmland will have on many family farms. Enforced sales will accelerate the break-up and loss of smaller and medium-sized farms, favouring accumulation of land owned as investments and for tax avoidance.

I support IHT and other forms of tax on wealthy estates, investment properties and farmland sold off for development. But this tax is misplaced, introduced without due consultation and pays no attention to the effects it will have on many farming families who will be unable to afford to pay it from farm income. The government needs to listen to the many voices of protest and have the courage to review this tax.

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