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This harrowing drama, created by actor Stephen Graham (who also stars) and writer Jack Thorne and directed by Philip Barantini, will surely clean up at the next round of major awards. The story of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, accused of the murder of a schoolmate, and his family was practically flawless in every aspect, from the excellent ensemble cast (including breakout star Owen Cooper, who plays Jamie) to the extraordinary technical skill (each of its four episodes was shot in a single take). “The balletic production processes that must have been involved are simply staggering, but they suck the audience in and refuse to let them go, demanding we share in every uncomfortable second,” our reviewer wrote. “‘Adolescence’ may be one of the most upsetting shows released this year — at times, it’s excruciating — but it is also a remarkable work of art.” 

‘Severance’ S2 

The wonderfully weird world of Apple’s sci-fi comedy-drama was expanded far beyond the walls of the Lumon offices in season two, as Mark S (Adam Scott) and his team of data refiners dealt with the fallout from their successful, if brief, escape from their ‘severed’ floor — where work and out-of-work memories and personalities are controlled and delineated by a chip embedded in their brains — and alert the outside world to the cruelties of their working conditions. Season two had that same blend of surreal silliness and nightmarish anxiety that made the show so popular — as our reviewer said: “Creator Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller waste no time in rediscovering the subtle blend of tangible oddness and sinister dystopian creepiness that made the first season such an uncomfortable joy.” “Severance” remains smart, thought-provoking, entertaining, and utterly absorbing. 

‘Mo’ S2 

The second season of Mo Amer’s semi-autobiographical comedy drama — in which he plays Mo Najjar, a Kuwait-born Palestinian refugee living in Houston, Texas, with his mother Yusra (the superb Farah Bsieso), and his older brother Sameer (Omar Elba), who’ve been waiting more than two decades to have their asylum case heard — proved that the success of season one was no fluke. Amer, our reviewer wrote, continued to explore “incredibly complex and divisive topics — family, religion, imbalance of power, exile, mental health, parenthood, multiculturalism and much more — with an artful lightness of touch, without ever taking them lightly.” The finale — in which the family finally head to Palestine for the first time in more than 20 years — was a triumph of storytelling.  

‘Black Mirror’ S7 

Charlie Brooker’s near-future-set sci-fi anthology series — which has, since its inception, proven frighteningly prophetic — continued to explore familiar themes in its seventh season, most especially the terrifying potential technology has to reshape our existence. But it did so with a slightly softer touch that suggests Brooker’s cynicism is mellowing just a little — and it was the richer for it. It doesn’t hurt that some fine actors continue to line up to feature in the show — this season saw Rashida Jones, Awkwafina, Peter Capaldi, Paul Giamatti, Emma Corrin, Issa Rae, Patsy Ferran and many more on the roster. And, of course, there was that sequel — the first in the show’s history — to a “Black Mirror” classic: season four’s “USS Callister.” 

‘Andor’ S2 

It seems a shame that what was by far the strongest of the many TV spinoffs from “Star Wars” was just two seasons long, but maybe that limitation was the reason why it was the strongest: it cut out the indulgent exposition. We already knew what was coming — at least, if you’d seen “Rogue One” you did, and if you hadn’t seen it then why on earth were you watching a “Star Wars” spinoff? Its story of a population rising up against the erosion of their rights was both convincing and timely. “With ‘Andor,’ (creator Tony) Gilroy and (star Diego) Luna have truly set the gold standard for what future “Star Wars” can be,” our reviewer wrote. “Not just a space opera, but real stories of transformation and beauty.” 

‘The Studio’ 

Apple’s star-studded comedy about a newly appointed Hollywood studio head (Matt Remick, played by Seth Grogan), who believes himself to be a supporter of great art, but quickly discovers that he’ll have to park his principles and chase the money, was as sharp a satire as you could wish to see. “Even though “The Studio” is a TV show about the movie business, it still manages to skewer both industries,” our reviewer wrote. “At every turn, Remick is confronted by the inherent silliness of the movie business, and we get to watch it in a series of episodic, bingeable installments, each bursting with cameos and a satirical swipe at everything from celebrity culture to pretentious auteurs.” 

DUBAI: Raised on a cattle farm in rural Queensland, Australia, and starting his working life in a butcher’s shop, Ross Shonhan is a man who knows his meat.  

After honing his cooking skills in Australia, Shonhan moved to the UK, working at Asia de Cuba and The Dorchester, before moving to the US, where he helped launch Nobu Dallas as executive chef.  

But it was his return to London — and a shift towards modern Japanese cuisine — that was a defining point in his career, Shonhan says. As executive chef at ZUMA London, he deepened his understanding of Japanese technique, and eventually founded the Bone Daddies Group in 2011, which quickly gained a following for its ramen bars and creative approach to Japanese comfort food.  

More recently, Shonhan brought his fire-driven cooking style to the UAE, founding Netsu in Dubai and Strawfire in Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental — a restaurant that blends Japanese technique with bold, open-flame cooking.  

When you started out, what was the most common mistake you made?  

Trying to overcomplicate things. When you are young and eager, you want to impress, so you layer flavors, technique or garnishes, and often forget that restraint is just as powerful. Over time, I’ve learned to trust great ingredients. 

What’s your top tip for amateur chefs?  

Taste everything as you go. It sounds basic, but it’s amazing how many people season once at the end and hope for the best. Some slow-cooked foods, for example, taste better when they’ve been seasoned throughout the process.  

What one ingredient can instantly improve any dish?  

Acid — like citrus juice or a good vinegar. Whether it’s a splash of rice vinegar in a salad or a bit of aged balsamic, acid lifts everything. It balances richness, sharpens flavors, and gives a dish structure. It’s a critical part of the seasoning process. 

When you go out to eat, do you find yourself critiquing the food?  

Not consciously, but when you’ve been in kitchens and restaurants your whole life, it’s hard not to notice the details. 

What’s the most-common issue that you find in other restaurants?  

The biggest issue is inconsistency.  

What’s your favorite cuisine to eat?  

I tend to gravitate towards simple places that execute well. I have some great Iranian restaurants near where I live and some brilliant Thai restaurants too. So, just family-run restaurants that have been going for years.  

What’s your go-to dish if you have to cook something quickly at home? 

Rice noodles with courgette, chili and fish sauce. It’s light and heathy but very tasty. It’s actually my wife’s recipe. It’s a mid-week staple. 

What customer request or behavior most annoys you? 

I don’t mind requests. Food is personal. But I find it tough when people don’t respect the team. We work hard to create an experience, and hospitality is a two-way street. A bit of kindness costs nothing and I think you can judge a person on how they treat their waiter.  

What’s your favorite dish to cook? 

Anything cooked over fire. It connects me to my childhood in the Australian outback. There’s something timeless about cooking with flame; it strips things back to instinct and makes food taste more alive. 

What’s the most difficult dish for you to get right? 

Creating a well-made broth requires patience, balance and discipline. It takes time and skill to develop the layers of flavor. That’s also applicable to making sauces. 

As a head chef, what are you like?  

I’d say I’m direct, but not constantly shouting. Firm but fair, maybe. Kitchens are intense enough without unnecessary drama. I want my team to feel supported and clear about expectations. I value honesty, effort and curiosity, and I try to create an environment where people want to grow. 

Chef Ross’ spaghetti mentaiko recipe  

For the Mentaiko mixture:  

100g mentaiko                                          

30g grapeseed oil                                    

2g smoked sweet paprika powder 

For the spaghetti:  

132g mentaiko mixture 

200g butter 

320g spaghetti (dry) 

40g parmigiana (grated) 

160g cream 35% 

8g salt 

Juice from a half lemon 

Zest from a half lemon 

20g chives (finely chopped) 

8g kizami nori  

60g pasta water 

Step 1 

Place a pot with water without salt on the stove and bring it to a boil. 

Then cook the pasta according to the package directions or preferences.  

Step 2  

While the spaghetti cooks, start with the mentaiko mixture. 

The whole mentaiko comes in the roe sack which has a tough outer skin. Cut the skin in, and scrape the roe with a spoon from the skin, then add it into a mixing bowl. 

Add the smocked paprika powder, grapeseed oil and grated parmigiana in and mix everything gently with a spatula and keep it on the side. 

Step 3 

Place a pan on the stove and add the cream, salt and butter, then heat it up slowly until the butter has melted. 

Step 4 

Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan with the cream and butter mixture.  

Stir until the sauce is nice and creamy. If the sauce starts to curdle or thickens too much, add a little bit from the pasta water until the sauce reaches a smooth consistency again. 

Step 5 

Add the spaghetti and sauce to the mixing bowl containing the mentaiko mixture, add the juice of half a lemon, and mix gently. (Chopsticks or a meat fork work well for mixing this). You can add a little more pasta water If the sauce becomes too thick again. 

Step 6 

For serving, we recommend using a meat fork and a large spoon and twist the spaghetti into a nest then place it in the center of your plate. Distribute the chives and kizami nori over the spaghetti and grate a little lemon zest over it.