Menu

My most excellent guest is, Chef Dom, aka Dominic Taylor. Best known as the winner of Five Star kitchen - Britain's Next Great Chef - on Channel 4 and Netflix. And his recent residency at The Langham, where he showcased the fantastic Good Front Room.  Dom and I talk about his fine dining work with traditional Carribean meals. How he's looking to change the game and not play it safe. And how he's paving the way for a whole new generation of top Carribean fine dining avant-garde chefs. Legendary stuff! We also talk about his food memories as a child, who influenced him as a chef. And why making history with Carribean food means so much to him. In this episode I also talk about the brilliant BBC food show called The Food Chain. And I have my say on chocolate put in the fridge and freezer, not the cupboard! I'll fight anyone who thinks I'm wrong, ha!  Enjoy the episode - get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

This week's brilliant guest is Daneash restaurant owner and chef who creates tasty food via 'Daneash taste of the Carribean.'  We talk about his food memories from back home in Jamaica. How what seems like the whole of his family can cook really well. And how his grandmother made sure he could cook, clean, wash and iron, so he wasn't taken advantage of by a woman, ha! Granny knows best. We also talk about his ambitions for restaurants in the UK and in Jamaica. In this episode I also talk about the brilliant food app Too Good to Go. And my beautiful experience shopping in Sainsbury's during lockdown. I actually loved it. It's up there in my fave lockdown memories. Enjoy the episode - get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

This week's superb guest is Lorraine Copes Founder and CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality. A not-for-profit organisation with a mission to accelerate racial equality in the hospitality sector. We talk about the good work Lorraine does. Why it's so important, and how she got into the hospitality business. Lorraine also talks about the good home-cooked Jamaican food she ate growing up. And we talk pet peeves in restaurants, weird food combos, and how an escape route is needed for a potential food date disaster, ha!  In this week’s show I talk about THAT Burger King advert - you know, the one with the guy in the rucksack eating a burger. Yes, it is weird, but it actually makes sense. I also chat about Love Island, and how a person who ticks all the boxes is referred to as a set menu! I know! These young-uns, eh. Although I kinda like the set menu thing, ha! Enjoy the episode - get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

My fantastic guest this week is Liam part of the foodie podcast duo responsible for Breaking Bread! A podcast that celebrates the wonderful dynamic food scene in Birmingham. Liam and Carl do a great job of spreading the word and their enthusiasm about Birmingham culinary scene. We talk about Liam’s time in hospitality, growing up eating sumptuous Irish food with his family, the strong ties he has to Ireland as a Brummie. Along with his pet peeves in restaurants, weird food combos, and his dislike of fake cherry blossom trees, haha! In this week’s show I tell you about the wonders of a twice baked biccie (it magnificent). And I give you the lowdown on Afternoon Tea at Caffè Concerto. Enjoy! Get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

My superb guests this week are Giorgio and Alessandro from Amore restaurant in Moseley, Birmingham. We had such a good chat! They’re full of character, stories and good vibes, including the rivalry between them and northern and southern Italy. Ha! We talk expansion plans, how they met, and of course pizza! I also talk about my mom’s charitable act with ice cream. Then HAD to add that ice cream Instagram post which took social media by storm! Yes it’s that one with the girl from up north. Haha! In this episode I say goodbye to one of my favourites, Cote in Mailbox, Birmingham. Which was my food date location of the past. You served me well Cote. Gone but never forgotten. Haha! Get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

My fantastic guest this week is Louise Kissack. Lou is not only a food consultant she also does a great job running Liverpool Food Network. We talk hospitality, helping foodie startups, food (of course) and lots in between. I go down memory lane and ask Lou what her favourite food was a child, and who made those great dishes! Which is when I get whisked away to Australia where Louise grew up! So good to hear about food stories from elsewhere. We also have a chat about her aspirations for Liverpool Food Network. Also, in this episode, I chat AI and food. Got a good tip for ya if you're stuck for something to eat and have random bits in the cupboard/fridge! I also talk about when you know that love has gone into food, and how much of a difference it makes to what you're eating. I had that experience recently at Tamu, an famous brunch eatery on Bearwood High Street. Superb! Get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

My superb guest this week is Dan Nash, brand supermo in the hospitality space. Dan started out in the music industry before he decided hospitality, branding, and story telling was for him! We chat about how he got into doing what he does. And he tells me all about his love for food from East Asia - he even runs an Asian cooking club. But, if you ever go out for a meal with Dan, be prepared for seaweed all over your food. Ha! It’s his thing. We also talk food memories. And why as a kid, he only ate McDonald’s. His mom was concerned and took him to the doctors to find out what was wrong. Ha! Also in the episode, I share my food gift joy. And...I ask are you someone who reads the menu before going to the restaurant? If so, then there are 5 things you didn’t know about yourself! Listen to get the lowdown. Get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

This week my guest is the brilliant Sasa Cromack, who’s a Matron working for the NHS, Blood and Transplant. Sasa and I talk food and blood! We chat about the kind of foods you need for top notch blood, particularly if you want to be a regular blood donor - as I am. We also talk food memories, her raw food fetish (with a side of mayo) ha. And her partner’s party trick, which, I have to say I was impressed by. It would have swung it for me, ha. I chat about food smells. Because of a recent experience where food and smell on public transport meant I needed a lie down after. And on a brighter note I review a gorgeous authentic Italian! Cia Bella. Get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

My guest this week is the superb Hannah Todd from The Interesting Eating Company in Liverpool. Hannah gives us the lowdown on how she got into hospitality. And how she very much considers her eatery to be a people business, with customers front and centre - caring about their dietary needs. Hannah’s proudly created an inclusive space for her team and her customers. And regularly runs a death cafe’ for those who need to talk about, or just get comfortable with the topic and all it brings. The death cafe’ came about when Hannah’s mom died and the aftermath of covid. We also talk about back in the day food memories, and generally about what Hannah considers to be good grub! Also, in the show, I get my rant on and give Farmfoods a piece of my mind, ha! How dare they use the slogan “There’s a farm foodie in everyone.” There shouldn’t be! The majority of the food they sell is ultra-processed, high fat, high sugar, high salt...the list goes on. Anyway, let me calm down. Let’s move onto good ol’ Alison Hammond. Who talks food, joy, recipes, culture and sharing. All my favourite things. Get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.

This week my brilliant guest is the one and only Chef Robbie, who is making history by being the youngest guest on Menu podcast! Whoop! Chef Robbie (who I met with his mom Jess) told me all about how he cooks up a storm in the family kitchen. He was inspired to cook after lockdown by the Anime character Sanji, from the cartoon One Piece. And once he got his cooking knives for Christmas, well that was it, Robbie was unstoppable. He makes ramen, schnitzel and lots of other tasty meals for the family. Robbie was an absolute joy to interview and we both could not stop laughing and his description of a mallet. Listen out when he talks about making a schnitzel. It’s joyous! Haha! Thanks again to Robbie’s mom Jess for her help with the interview. Get your ears into Menu, the feel-good food podcast.