The FoodTalk Show

WE ALL DESERVE AN ALCOHOLIDAY

We are very lucky to have Ellie Webb in the studio today with her incredibly popular non-alcoholic drink Caleño. We also have Matt from Lixir, which is just as well as he mixes some fabulous non-alcoholic cocktails with Ellie for AJ and Susie to taste. Did you know you can use a pineapple spike as a garnish? Nor did we and what is the thing about having too much ice? You really can get that cocktail vibe without the alcohol and not have to wake up with a headache. 

THE LEADERS IN THEIR FIELD

Farming is a science, coupled with some trial and error and a good deal of experimentation. Naturally the weather plays a big part too. AJ and Susie talk to two farmers who both happen to be called James and have generations of experience behind them. They want to know how today's farmers play a part in the local community. How they are so important for preserving and caring for our landscapes and whether you need to wear shorts all year 'round! In addition, they taste some bread that is simply sensational. 

DOGGIE DESSERTS FOR YOUR PAMPERED POOCH

Dog ice cream is a thing apparently. Just so you don't get confused we mean ice cream for dogs. You have to be careful to make sure the ingredients can be consumed by pooches obviously but they can be eaten by humans too. Enter Sally Newall of the multiple award winning Simply Ice Cream company who has just launched her first doggie ice cream. Susie and AJ have a taste and give it the thumbs up. They're also joined by Keith Morrison of Solley's Ice Cream and along with Sally they spend the rest of the show, well . . . just tasting a succession of new flavours until they run out of time. Hello summer.

JACK FRUIT. IT’S BIG AND BUMPY!

Susie and AJ are joined by Lisa Marley who pretty much knows everything there is to know about plant-based cooking. Her inspirational recipes have been featured in ELLE magazine, Women's Health, Time Out and Take a Break, to name a few and Cosmopolitan magazine regularly teams up with Lisa to offer their readers virtual plant-based masterclasses. As well as writing magazine articles, she does interviews and live demonstrations at food festivals, and is a trained nutrionist. Oh yeah, and does a lot of work in schools. Phew! They're also joined in the studio by the splendidly named Biff Bloom Burrows to sample his Biff range of vegan products - how did he go from working in McDonald's to making plant-based burger sauces? And what the hell is jack fruit?

TINDER FOR THE FOOD SECTOR

AJ and Susie meet Katy Cox and Floortje Hoette (Flo for short) this week where they discuss the merits of rescued food. Flo describes the wonderful FoodLoop app, which is a sort of Tinder for the food sector. It connects food left on the shelf with someone who is looking to cherish it and let it shine. So those businesses who have unwanted goods can connect with those who want to turn it into something delicious. Katy is the founder of Wasted Kitchen. If you want a lunchbox, cocktail box, meeting box, party box or whatever, she is your saviour. A mouth-watering assortment of dips, rice dishes and salads in compostable kraft brown boxes made from unloved veg is her forte. She makes amazing pickles with all that unloved veg too. Yum.

EATING MANGO IN THE BATH

We have a new presenter today, taste expert, AJ Sharp, and two wonderful guests. They have both managed to take their inspiration from another country and skilfully combined that with the best their home county can produce. Maria Bradford is a classically trained French chef and now makes the most incredible juices and sauces inspired by her family background in Sierra Leone. Susie knows nothing about the country and is keen to learn about the cuisine which uses mango, cassava, ginger, chilli and garlic to such great effect. Meanwhile, Finn Dunlop of Macknade explains how the centuries old farming family have used their Italian connections to develop probably one of the best farm shops in the country. 

TAKE IT WITH A PINCH OF SALT

Susie and Jane admit that they don't really know anything about salt, except our bodies need it but not too much. Is there any difference between common old table salt and seasalt or rocksalt? How is it 'made'? Luckily they have Gregorie Marshall of Blackthorn Salt on hand to explain how they make this amazing stuff up in Ayr. The story of salt is truly fascinating.

WHY EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT FOLKESTONE

Susie and Jane get to talk to the inspirational James Lawrence in this week's episode. He explains why Folkestone is now so hot, with the Harbour Arm a hugely popular food, drink, art and music destination. Think greek food (served in a blue and white double decker bus), street food from Argentina, artisan hot dogs, seafood shacks, a champagne bar in a lighthouse, tacos, tapas and tequilas. He goes on to talk about Dr Legumes the fine dining plant-based restaurant with the most mouth watering menu you've ever come across, that he set up with his pal Lee Desai. They started in the Harbour Arm car park and have never looked back. If you've not been to Folkestone Harbour Arm, the neighbouring Sunny Sands beach or the harbour - what are you waiting for? 

HOW TO GET A 3 STAR ’GREAT TASTE AWARD’

Sue has changed her name, no longer is she Sue Nelson but is now Susie Warran-Smith. Something to do with getting married apparently. Anyhow Jane and Susie have two wonderful guests this week - AJ Sharp and Stu MacDonald. AJ is a seasoned judge for the Great Taste Awards and explains how the judging works and exactly what constitutes the star ratings they give. That's just as well, as Stu is our other guest. He is the founder of ManiLife peanut butter, which just happens to be the most Great Taste awarded peanut butter in the UK, including a coveted 3 star. Find out how he makes the nutty breakfast favourite and why he needs some recipes for his new cookbook.

BREAD THAT IS OH SO SPECIAL

Sue travels to Margate to meet the lovely people at Speciality Breads, the artisan bakers. Neil, the development chef explains the range of products they make, then Sue goes for a tour around the factory to watch them make a huge batch of teacakes. Meanwhile, Neil can't help himself and cooks up a real treat for Sue's lunch which is waiting for her when she gets back to meet Simon the managing director. It looks like a scene out of British Bake Off. Yum!

IRELAND’S BEST SELLING BLACK PUDDING EVER

Hari Ghotra joins Sue as a guest presenter this week and the subject is black pudding. The first mention of this interesting delicacy can be found way back in Homer’s Odyssey. The family business of our studio guest, Colette Twomey, doesn’t go back quite that far, but Clonakilty Blackpudding Company certainly has an impressive history. Founded in the 1880s and still family run, the company produces truly delicious black pudding, along with equally tasty sausages. Sue fails to get the secret family recipe out of Colette but does get lots of insight into how to cook this hugely underrated breakfast treat. 

HOW TO CATER FOR COELIAC DISEASE

Sue explains coelic disease, and why, if you are unfortunate enough to have this life changing condition, eating out is a nightmare. Kerry Clare and Sarah Wren are committed to providing gluten free food that tastes incredible. Kerry owns a completely GF bakery and Sarah a GF restaurant, while Jane lists the best GF drinks to go for. On top of that, Kerry has brought a whole range of gluten free baked goodies which Sue and Jane feel obliged to eat their way through. 

MAKING A PIG OF OURSELVES

Sue and Jane admit to being a bit piggy on the programme today. They are joined by the marvellous James Golding of the hotel and restaurant chain 'The Pig'. He brings along some delicious food he has prepared for the occasion and they just can't help themselves. James extols the virtues of sourcing from local producers and we can't help wonder why everyone doesn't support the local guys. 

THE HEALTHY ALTERNATIVE TO OLIVE OIL

Jane and Sue are bowled over by the taste of some lovely Kentish rapeseed oil. They discover it contains the lowest saturated fat content of any oil, with less than half that of Olive oil AND it contains 10 times more Omega 3 than Olive oil too. In addition it produces large amounts of nectar, particularly loved by honeybees. Well, why aren't we all using this beautiful #British made stuff? Later our presenters are wowed by the best walnuts they have ever tasted. 

MITCH TONKS AND WHY FISH ROCK

Sue and Jane are truly honoured to have the legendary Mitch Tonks, restaurateur, food writer, TV star and expert on all things fish in the studio this week. Sue whips out her 15 year old copy of Mitch's book and explains why she has used it nearly every week since she bought it. Mitch explains his upbringing and why the sea and fish are simply in his blood. He also introduces the new concept of RockFish for home cooks. You just have to listen to one of our favourite ever FoodTalk episodes.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF GIN

Sue goes to Copper Rivet Distillery to see how gin is made, from the grain being delivered all the way through to blending the botanicals. She then has a tutored tasting with author of The Philosophy of Gin, her fellow presenter Jane Peyton. They taste their way through five gins and Jane explains the origins of Navy Strength. Which brand do they think is best to drink neat, and best with a dash of tonic?

CALUM FRANKLIN AND THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF PIES

Jamie Oliver described Calum Franklin as "The king of pies", we think he produces the best looking pies in the UK and probably the world. He is Executive Head Chef at The Pie Room at Holborn Dining Room - a treasure trove of savoury delicacies, and somewhere for every food-lover to swing by and take away one of the beautifully intricate pastry creations including the humble sausage roll.

Calum discusses the art of pie making and we also talk to Matt from Kentish Mayde who make thousands of pies a day, all by hand for very happy customers. 

OUR FAVOURITE COOKBOOKS PART 2

Part 2 of our favourite cookbooks. What better present for your loved one on Valentine's Day than a cookbook? Forget the flowers and chocolates and get them something beautiful and useful. Jane Peyton our resident beer sommelier and expert on cider, discusses the best books about drink including Noble Rot and The Brewmasters Table. We are also honoured to have Charlotte Pike in the studio. Charlotte is not only a chef, award winning cookery writer and a food educator, she is the Chair of the Guild of Food Writers. You can't get a better person to advise us on cookbooks than that. Sue chips in with her favourite Giffords Circus Cookbook but what else do they recommend? 

OUR FAVOURITE COOKBOOKS PART 1

What better present for your loved one on Valentine's Day than a cookbook? Forget the flowers and chocolates and get them something beautiful and useful. Jane Peyton our resident beer sommelier and expert on cider, discusses the best books about drink including Noble Rot and The Brewmasters Table. We are also honoured to have Charlotte Pike in the studio. Charlotte is not only a chef, award winning cookery writer and a food educator, she is the Chair of the Guild of Food Writers. You can't get a better person to advise us on cookbooks than that. Sue chips in with her favourite Giffords Circus Cookbook but what else do they recommend? Part 2 next week.

MEAD: THE BEES KNEES

Sue and Jane are great fans of bees, those beautiful pollinators that keep our flowers and plants alive. They are mysterious creatures though, so they are joined by Michael Bispham of North Downs Bees to explain what goes on inside those hives. After that, they get to taste some mead probably the oldest drink in the world. Tom Gosnell of Gosnell's Meadery brings along his innovative canned and sparkling mead to see what Jane makes of it. Clue: It's a big hit!