The seven best food podcasts for lovers of world cuisine
Travel the world and sate your appetite vicariously as you listen to chefs, writers and comedians discuss all things gastronomic.
From a deep dive into Asian food and culture in Take a Bao to comedy hijinx in Ed Gamble's and James Acaster's Off Menu, food podcasts can inspire, amuse and educate kitchen connoisseurs.
Meet your celebrity heroes, savour a Michelin-starred meal, travel the world… A great food podcast lets you do it all vicariously and can be devoured without you ever needing to leave home. Whether you’re after inspiration for Saturday night dinner or just simple escapism, this food-focused series provides the culinary thrills we all need right now.
1. Point of Origin
The insightful podcast Point of Origin from US multimedia producer Stephen Satterfield examines global culinary practices, highlighting the too-often-unseen contributions of women and people of colour. One week, you’re in Mexico, learning about the effects of the worldwide hass avocado boom, the next in the Palestinian Territories, discovering the local revival of arak.
2. Take a Bao
Take a Bao offers a deep dive into Asian food and culture, from heirloom rice in Borneo to the eventful history of the Chinese salted egg. Food writer host Yi Jun Loh has only released 10 episodes so far, recorded in his native Malaysia, but already he’s covered tea-tasting, Instagram-famous dalgona coffee and the ‘king of fruits’, durian.
Gastropod is the creation of journalists Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley.
3. Gastropod
Why are carrots orange? Why do some people hate coriander? Created by journalists Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley, Gastropod picks apart the science and history behind popular foods. While episodes tend to have a US focus, many investigations, on topics as diverse as saffron and Mexican mole, skip across continents.
4. Off Menu
For something light-hearted, try this full-of-laughs series from comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster. Celebrities, chefs and comedians outline their no-holds-barred dream meals on Off Menu — from drink choice and ‘poppadoms or bread’, all the way to dessert. You’re bound to pick up some great restaurant recommendations along the way, for the likes of London, Sydney and Los Angeles.
Read more: James Acaster on ice cream, Elvis and his most memorable meal
James Acaster is the co-host of the Off Menu podcast.
5. Monocle – The Menu
A culinary tour of Bangalore’s Central Business District; a bite-sized recipe from chef Thomas Keller; a discussion on the rise of Portuguese gastronomy in London… hosted by Finn Markus Hippi, The Menu is a real smorgasbord; integrating trending stories, politics and cooking tips, every episode is thought-provoking and global in scope.
6. Honey & Co – The Food Talks
Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich, the pair behind London Middle Eastern restaurant Honey & Co, invite personalities from the food world — from chefs to writers and producers — to chat about their passions. Conversations are relaxed and as globally varied as London’s food scene itself. Recorded live in the restaurant with an audience, the The Food Talks podcast is — for obvious reasons — currently on hiatus, but check out the back catalogue for guests including Romy Gill, Andi Oliver and Claudia Roden.
A new podcast from TV chef Simon Rimmer explore the careers and cooking habits of industry stalwarts and innovators.
7. Grilling
In this new release, TV chef Simon Rimmer spends an hour chatting, cooking — and, in one regular segment, barbecuing — with big-name food stars including Nadiya Hussain, Tom Kerridge and Ainsley Harriott. On Grilling, listen to how chefs got into the food industry and pick up a few cookery tips along the way.
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