Winter is the perfect excuse to embrace the Scandinavian concept of hygge and settle in for a long weekend at home. Pour a glass of Burgundy, wrap up warm and get comfy with GT’s guide to the best books, shows and podcasts to enjoy this winter.

WHAT TO WATCH

The characters Carmen and Sydney from The Bear.

From hit series The Bear and culinary-obsessed Phil Rosenthal to a gripping drama and edgy Nordic crime, here are GT’s pick of the latest shows.

Tulsa King, Season 3, Paramount+

The highly anticipated third season of Tulsa King is nearly here, so now is the perfect time to start the series from the top. Combining action-packed sequences, some standout sartorial styling fit for a true mafioso, and iconic performances from Sylvester Stallone, the third season will also introduce Samuel L. Jackson as a guest character. Season three starts streaming from 21 September, only on Paramount+.

Great Australian Road Trips, SBS On Demand

Pairing actor and producer Claudia Karvan with writer/performer Steph Tisdell in one car, and food critic/writer Melissa Leong with comedian/writer Nazeem Hussain in another, this series follows these Aussie faces as they explore top destinations across the country. Great Australian Road Trips, presented by Lexus, sees the duos pass through breathtaking locations like the Daintree Rainforest, Kangaroo Island, Arnhem Land and Cradle Mountain, with illuminating conversations going down in the cars, and with the characters they meet along the way.

The Bear, Season 4, Disney+

Talented and tormented chef Carmy returns home to look after the family business – a failing old-school Chicago sandwich shop. The show’s flawed characters and dysfunctional relationships – including supporting roles from stars like Olivia Colman and Jamie Lee Curtis – have been a hit, winning countless awards. Anyone not immersed in Carmy’s world is advised to devour the previous three seasons, pronto, before tucking into this one.

Stick, Apple TV+

Led by Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill, a derailed golf-pro, Stick skilfully sidesteps the polished world of pro tournaments in favour of mateship, rogue swings and dry humour as he coaches prodigy Santi Wheeler. There’s an ease to it that’s addictive: the long silences, mis-hits and unfiltered yet profound banter. Golf is the thread, but the journey is all about character, connection, redemption and keeping your cool. A hole in one.

Somebody Feed Phil, Season 8, Netflix

Affable show writer and producer Philip Rosenthal’s travel and culinary escapade returns for another season, and Australia gets a look in. From A.P Bakery meat pies to fishy discussions with Josh Niland, you’ll recognise many of the locations from these very pages.

The Last Anniversary, Binge

Based on Liane Moriarty’s novel, this binge-worthy Aussie drama is set against the beguiling backdrop of Scribbly Gum Island, a fictitious place as charming as it is haunted. In true Moriarty fashion, it’s a slow burn with gripping twists and turns, serving up mystery with a side of sun-drenched nostalgia. Expect money, greed and the unravelling of secrets through rich characterisation and wit.

Titan: The OceanGate Submersible Disaster, Netflix

Focused on the 2023 implosion of the Titan submersible during the last deep-sea expedition to the Titanic wreck, this documentary unpacks the events leading up to the news story that gripped the world. Ignored warnings, design flaws and workplace toxicity are at the forefront of this tragic tale.

Forever, Netflix

A beautifully shot and impeccably produced series broken up into eight film-like episodes, Forever charts the coming-of-age love story of two LA teenagers – Keisha and Justin – on the cusp of self-discovery. This adaptation of Judy Blume’s 1975 novel is frustratingly accurate, relatable and raw.

The Rehearsal, Season 2, HBO Max

Absurd yet real, the epic second season of Nathan Fielder’s genre-dodging show blurs the line between reality and comedy. Exploring a real-life aviation problem and attempting to solve it through role play, this truly bizarre but compelling format raises almost as many questions as it does awkward laughs.

Dept. Q, Netflix

Based on a Danish novel series, this nine-part drama captivates with its stellar cast and moody Edinburgh setting. Matthew Goode plays detective Carl Mørck who struggles with the guilt of a botched case he led, which left his partner paralysed and another officer dead. To atone, he’s tasked with heading a cold case department. Goode is a standout as the haunted, darkly wry detective, as is Kelly Macdonald, who plays his therapist.

WHAT TO READ

A retro photograph of a young Lisa-Marie and Elvis Presley.

Inspirational memoirs, a supernatural tale and classic storytelling at its best, these tomes will captivate with drama, wit and plot twists.

From Here to the Great Unknown: A Memoir by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough

This dual memoir, co-authored by Keough and her late mother, Lisa Marie Presley, delves into the almost inconceivable experience of growing up as the daughter and granddaughter of the King himself, Elvis Presley. Superstardom intersects with addiction, grief, redemption and motherhood in this raw and engaging reflection.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

If you could sit down for one more meal with a loved one who’s passed away, would you? Set in the gritty New York hospo scene, this novel explores how flavours and aromas connect us to special people in our lives, even when they’re no longer with us. Colourful characters and mouth-watering descriptions of food make this a fun, punchy read, even if you’re not usually a fan of the supernatural.

Rytual by Chloe Elisabeth Wilson

Girl boss culture is flipped on its head while questioning the allure of beauty brand marketing in this page-turning novel. Follow Melburnian Marnie Sellick as she climbs the ranks while descending into depravity in a cult that’s disguised as a lust-worthy new-age cosmetics company.

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Winter is the perfect time to revisit the classics, so dust off a dog-eared copy of Mrs Dalloway. A paragon of the stream-of-consciousness style, it ebbs and flows throughout the course of a single day, centred around a socialite prepping for a party in post-WWI England. It’s incisive, expansive and emotionally revelatory.

Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The latest novel from the best-selling author of Americanah and We Should All Be Feminists, Dream Count collages the experiences of four interconnected women, delving poignantly into their methods of grappling with love and loss. Melancholy meets fierce wit and piercing observations in this cosy read.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

Pulitzer Prize-winner Anne Tyler’s latest novel is a charming gem that’s easily read in a weekend. Divorced couple Gail and Max meet again at their daughter’s wedding. Gail has questions about the marriage after a secret is revealed, while insouciant Max does little to assuage her fears. It’s domestic drama as Tyler does best – sharply observed, beautifully written and emotionally gripping till the end.

Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron

Inspirational and heartbreaking, this memoir follows Ephron’s second chance at love following her first husband’s death and her own leukemia diagnosis. Uplifting, much like Ephron’s delightful screen rom-coms, this has been adapted to a Broadway play starring Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher.

WHAT TO LISTEN TO

Journalist Lee Tran Lam of the Culinary Archive podcast holds a stacked ice cream cone.

Discover the history of our nation’s food, tune into the lives of wise women, and learn from the insights of successful people with our pick of the best podcasts.

Culinary Archive Podcast, Season 2

Journalist and GT contributor Lee Tran Lam hosts this audio series developed in collaboration with the Powerhouse Museum. Bolstered by the institution’s culinary archive – the first nationwide project to collect the vital histories of people in the food industry who have helped shape Australia’s taste and appetites – each episode looks at a different ingredient from seaweed to wine through interviews and objects.

The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett

From relationship coaches and psychologists to entrepreneurs and world leaders, host Steven Bartlett sits down to candid conversations with influential talent. Insightful, vulnerable and funny at times, The Diary of a CEO is an engaging, reflective listen, ideal for introspective days.

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Tune in to the always witty Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep) talking with experienced souls like actor and activist Jane Fonda, writer Fran Lebowitz, Gourmet editor Ruth Reichl and designer Diane von Furstenberg. These trailblazing women share their passions, life lessons and advice on how to live well. You’ll also love the sweet post-interview chats with her 90-year-old mum, Judith.

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

Hosted by two amusingly awkward British comedians, well-known guests are invited to talk through their dream meal, from starters right through to drinks and dessert. Guests have included Carey Mulligan and Jeff Goldblum, though the highlight so far is an incredibly confused Robert De Niro who clearly wasn’t briefed beforehand.

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Approaching this with the same cheery optimism that made her seminal character Leslie Knope so likable, Parks and Recreation actor Amy Poehler hosts this easy listening podcast. Interviewing A-list guests with a good-natured edge, this is an ideal kitchen soundtrack while cooking.