Welcome to What the Food?—the podcast that dives into the weird, wild, and fascinating history of food, drinks, and dining cultures around the world. We’re Miles, Andy, and Dom—just three friends with a love for food and a knack for uncovering its untold stories. From surprising food origins to the moments that shaped how we eat, we uncover the strange, unexpected, and often hilarious history behind what ends up on our plates. Join us on our next culinary adventure through time!
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The StageLeft Podcast lifts the veil on the music industry by telling the stories of those with a unique vantage point. We talk to the unsung heroes behind the success and help young musicians going into an ever complex industry by gleaning advice about the working practices of the the greats from those who were in close proximity when the magic was being made. The StageLeft Podcast has featured musicians who’ve worked performed live & in the studio with David Bowie, Elvis Presley, The Beatl ...
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In part 1 of this 2 part series, the boys travels back to the stinking banks of the Mekong River to uncover sushi's dirty little secret: it began as a way to preserve fish in fermented rice that was so foul, they threw all the rice away every time... Join us as we follow this acquired taste on its journey to Japan, where street-food visionary Hanay…
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133: Daisy Spencer - Olivia Rodrigo
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1:16:42
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1:16:42The StageLeft Podcast sits down with Daisy Spencer - the incredible rhythm guitarist behind Olivia Rodrigo's record-breaking Guts World Tour! In this candid conversation, Daisy opens up about: ✨ Creating a "stage persona" to handle arena-sized crowds ✨ The reality of touring at the highest level ✨ Her guitar part on Vampire ✨ Those magical acoustic…
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132: Corey McCormick - Neil Young and The Chrome Hearts, Chris Cornell, Willie Nelson
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1:08:24🎸 “I wanted to be the dad who’s present — not recovering from the night before.” — Corey McCormick The Glastonbury headliner series: To mark our 10 year anniversary, we have episodes with Neil Young bassist Corey McCormick and Olivia Rodrigo guitarist Daisy Spencer, which are released the day each headlines the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. From pl…
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131: The Glastonbury Headliner Series: The 1975 live event - July 11th, London
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1:56The Glastonbury headliner series: To mark our 10 year anniversary, we have episodes with Neil Young bassist Corey McCormick and Olivia Rodrigo guitarist Daisy Spencer, which are released the day each headlines the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. We've taken it a stage further for the Friday night headliners The 1975, as we will be hosting a live epis…
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Shiver Me Tastebuds! A Pirate's Life for Food (Part 2)
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32:48We're docking our ship, resupplying, and then heading back out onto the seven seas in the second and final part of our series uncovering the mysteries of pirate food and drink! We've begun our epic voyage uncovering the hows and whys, as well as some of the disgusting food aboard a pirate ship... but now it's time to dig a little deeper. Expect mor…
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Shiver Me Tastebuds! A Pirate's Life for Food (Part 1)
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39:55Forget the lavish banquets and endless rum of Hollywood's depiction of pirates... In part 1 of this 2 part series, Andy, Dom, and Miles uncover the often disgusting, sometimes desperate, and surprisingly democratic world of pirate food and drink. From weevil-infested ship biscuits and suspiciously slimy water, to Dom's beheading of his mum's favour…
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Wartime Tables & Tyrants' Tummies (Part 3)
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48:45It's the explosive finale of our series Wartime Tables & Tyrants' Tummies! In part 3, we brace ourselves for Benito Mussolini's infamous raw garlic salads, his surprising war on pasta, and his own rebellious stomach. Then, we journey to Imperial Japan for Hideki Tojo's extreme austerity and iron discipline that defined his wartime plate. Don't miss…
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Wartime Tables & Tyrants' Tummies (Part 2)
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37:50Ready for another helping of history's most horrifying hors d'oeuvres? In part 2, we brave Joseph Stalin's "Sinister Suppers", marathon vodka-drenched banquets where fear was the main course. Then, it's off to Franklin D. Roosevelt's White House for some truly crap snacks, proving that even the leader of the free world couldn't escape a culinary cr…
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In this episode of The StageLeft Podcast, host Chris Simpson sits down with the multi-talented Ben Sturley — acclaimed bassist, composer, and longtime collaborator of Selena Gomez — for a candid and insightful conversation. From witnessing the realities of fame up close to crafting immersive film scores, Ben offers a rare glimpse into the emotional…
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Wartime Tables & Tyrants' Tummies (Part 1)
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50:51Welcome to Wartime Tables & Tyrants' Tummies, the series that lifts the lid on what WW2's bigwigs were really eating! In part 1, it's Churchill vs. Hitler: one fuelled by champagne, cigars, and colossal dinners; the other by... well, rabbit food, raging paranoia, and rumours of epic wind. We're serving up history with a side of shocking (and hilari…
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Eat Pray Obey: The Worst Cult Diets in History (Part 2)
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52:01Part 2 is here! In this week’s episode of What the Food?, we tuck back into history’s most deranged cult diets... We're talking Aum Shinrikyo and the Mormons! Join us as we rank the worst of the worst in a roundtable food fight no one asked for, and uncover why the road to salvation is often paved with beige, boiled suffering. Trigger warning: This…
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Eat Pray Obey: The Worst Cult Diets in History (Part 1)
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51:39Ever fancied a spiritual journey that involves applesauce, powdered milk, and starvation so severe you hallucinate a raisin? In this week’s episode of What The Food, we tuck into history’s most deranged cult diets, from the jungle gruel of Jonestown, to Heaven’s Gate’s death-by-pudding, to the one-grain-a-day enlightenment plan of Aum Shinrikyo. Ho…
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In this episode of the StageLeft Podcast, we’re joined by the brilliant Andrew Cushin for a deep dive into the artistry, collaboration, and chaos behind the music. We explore the evolving dynamic between frontman and musical director, the highs of working with Noel Gallagher at Lonestar Studios, and the unusual gift of a lightsabre to trusted ally …
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Once upon a time, New York was built on oysters, literally. From the Lenape shell heaps to 19th-century oyster saloons (and the dodgy brothels hiding behind them), oysters were everywhere. They fed the rich, the poor, and even fuelled a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. In this episode, we dive into the briny, bizarre history of New York’s o…
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*We encountered a couple of audio issues while recording this episode. Before you stamp on your headphones or throw your phone or PC out the window, any glitchy sounds you hear are in our recording! Apologies!* Peking Duck isn’t just food, it’s a legend. From its humble origins as a street snack in 13th-century China to becoming an imperial delicac…
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128: Evan Smith - Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Paul McCartney, Bleachers
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1:01:49Grammy winner Evan Smith has the MOST RIDICULOUS CV. As Jack Antonoff's go to man for horns/flutes/sax and more, Evan has played on multiple Taylor Swift records, Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter, St Vincent & Paul McCartney's collaboration on McCartney III and TV Off by Kendrick Lamar, which explore each on this episode. Hear what it's li…
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Flavours of the Colosseum: Bread, Blood, and Power in Ancient Rome
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1:12:14Step into the roar of the Colosseum! 🏛️ This week’s podcast takes you on a sensory journey through ancient Rome, exploring what it was like to attend the gladiatorial games. From securing your Tessera to feasting on honey cakes and sizzling sausages, discover how food, spectacle, and power collided in history’s most iconic arena. Don’t miss this ep…
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Baguettes and Bicycles: Vietnam's Bánh Mì
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1:01:33What’s more than bread, pickles, and pork? A story of resilience, rebellion, and reinvention. In this episode, we trace the journey of the Bánh Mì. From its colonial roots in French-occupied Vietnam to its status as a global street food icon. We discover how Saigon’s street vendors transformed a foreign baguette into a distinctly Vietnamese masterp…
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Frontman of The Lathums, Alex Moore, joins us for a special episode, recorded on the eve of the release of their new album "Matter Does Not Define." We explore: - How to compartmentalise being friends from bandmates? - How he and the band decided which tracks to appear on their new album, and which would be b-sides? - The painstaking process of dec…
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Feasts Before the Fall: The Grand Dining Experience on the Hindenburg
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1:11:35Step aboard the Hindenburg, where high-altitude dining was once an opulent affair with fine porcelain, crystal glasses, and multi-course feasts—even as disaster loomed... In this episode, we explore the luxurious, meticulously crafted meals served on the world's most famous airship, the challenges of cooking at 1,000 feet, and the dramatic, final m…
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Bob Marley and the Ital Diet’s Cultural Journey
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50:37Step into the vibrant world of Ital living, where food isn’t just fuel, it’s a spiritual practice, a cultural statement, and an act of resistance! In this episode, we uncover the history of the Ital Diet, born from Rastafarian principles of purity, connection to nature, and rejection of Babylon’s industrial influence. Discover how Bob Marley, the g…
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125: Ed Seed - Dua Lipa, Jessie Ware, La Roux
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1:15:03Phoebe Waller-Bridge calls him a great songwriter, and both Lauren Laverne and Elton John rate his songwriting—Ed Seed joins us for an unforgettable episode! Get a VR headset-worthy experience as Ed takes us onstage at the Royal Albert Hall, accompanying Jessie Ware. Hear how he mastered 18 songs in just two days, solved a power supply issue mid-pe…
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How French Cuisine Took Over the World
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1:06:40Season 3 is here, and we’re diving into how French cuisine became the gold standard of fine dining! In our new format, we uncover the rich and often outrageous history behind France’s culinary world dominance. From medieval feasts and royal decadence at Versailles to the invention of the Michelin star and the rise of culinary tourism, we trace the …
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126: "The click is gone, the click is completely gone!!"- Best of 2024.
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25:33The wonderful Beth Iles has chopped up our episodes from 2024 to give you a run down of our best bits as we enter our 10 year anniversary year. Enjoy the most insightful clips from episodes featuring Jess Greenfield of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Ralph Rolle of Chic, Chris Maas of Sting 3.0, James Walsh of Starsailor, The 1975 touring band,…
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124: The 1975 Touring Band - Sequel - Live at BIMM University
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1:03:45Touring members of The 1975, Gabi King, Polly Money and John Waugh join us again for our final episode of 2024, similar to our previous episode in May but we ask a completely different set of questions, which we recorded for students at BIMM University. You can now find us on Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook by searching ‘The StageLeft Podcast’ for …
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123: Andy Crofts - The Moons & Paul Weller
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58:36
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58:36It’s about time, after 9 years, we did an entirely filmed episode isn’t it? So, whilst you enjoy this audio only version, do feel free to search for ‘The StageLeft Podcast’ on Youtube and you’ll find this episode in beautiful 4K, filmed in Andy Crofts stunning seafront hit hut. “Chris and Andy, excellent interview. Informative. Heartwarming. Honest…
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122: John Blease - Robert Plant, Florence & The Machine, Paolo Nutini
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56:37What’s it like getting feedback from Robert Plant when playing on Led Zeppelin songs? How do we best deal with song changes on the day of the gig? How to best negotiate fees to ensure everyone is paid fairly? What makes Paolo Nutini unique to work with? How did the recent Florence and the Machine Royal Albert Hall show work logistically? Hosted by …
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Luxury from the Deep: How Caviar Became a Status Symbol
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1:19:51Season 2 finale is here and it's time to pop the lid on the world of Caviar! This luxurious delicacy has graced the tables of tsars, aristocrats, and celebrity chefs alike—but how did it go from a humble fish roe to a symbol of opulence and indulgence? In this episode, we explore the fascinating journey of caviar, from its ancient Persian roots to …
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The Curious Legacy of the Scotch Egg
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1:03:14Time to crack open the mystery of the Scotch Egg! This iconic British snack has seen it all—from posh London department stores to wartime rations, and even a gourmet revival in the trendiest gastropubs. But where did it really come from, and how did it go from being a travel snack for the upper crust to a staple of the British picnic? In this episo…
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An episode almost a decade in the making. Finally, James Walsh, frontman of Starsailor appears to discuss the final ever recordings with Phil Spector, the impact that episode had on his wellbeing, negotiating with Allen Klein, how he wrote 'Fever' and 'The Greatest Story Never Told', plus how to best work with a singer when you're a session musicia…
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Chop Suey and the Birth of American Chinese Cuisine
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57:30It’s time to stir things up with the saucy saga of Chop Suey! In this episode, we’re diving into the deliciously complicated history of the iconic dish that’s as much a part of American takeaways as it is Chinese cuisine. We kick things off by exploring the legendary origins of Chop Suey, from the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown to the imperia…
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Pop-Tarts and the Breakfast Revolution of Postwar America
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55:48It's time to unwrap the foiled sugary saga of Pop-Tarts! The iconic breakfast pastries that have toasted their way into the hearts of millions. From their crispy, frosted beginnings in the 1960s to their status as a pop culture phenomenon, we're exploring how Pop-Tarts became a toasted favourite. We head back in time to the post-war drive for conve…
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Sweet Deception: The Scandal That Shook the Wine World
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58:04In this episode, we're uncorking the story of the Austrian Wine Scandal of 1985—a vintage tale of deceit, drama, and diethylene glycol. Imagine the picturesque vineyards of Austria, where a few unscrupulous winemakers decided to give their wines an illicit boost with a sweet but toxic twist. Join us as we swirl through the details of this scandal t…
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Sting 3.0 drummer Chris Maas joins The StageLeft Podcast mid-tour! We explore: How to fill the ‘space’ in a trio when playing Sting classics. The auditions, rehearsals and soundchecks for Sting 3.0 Locking with Sting as a bassist within a rhythm section. Drumming long sets with high BPMs with Example. The challenges of fluctuating salaries as a mus…
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The Earl's Invention That Changed Lunchtime Forever
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1:03:56We’re unwrapping the story of a beloved culinary staple—the sandwich! This versatile delight has traveled through time, evolving from ancient creations to a global favorite. We’ll dive into its rich history, starting with Hillel the Elder’s Passover creation, then moving to medieval Europe’s trencher plates, and finally, the 18th-century gaming tab…
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Plov and the Feasts of the Silk Road
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1:07:06In this episode we’re stirring up the rich, aromatic history of Plov, Uzbekistan's national dish! Plov isn’t just food; it’s a celebration, a symbol of community and hospitality that has been feeding hearts and souls for centuries. For Miles, he thinks it's all fake and this is one big April fools joke... We travel back in time to uncover Plov’s Pe…
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119: Seye Adelekan - Gorillaz (live band)
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1:06:35Ginger shots at the ready! What would someone learn from working with Damon Albarn they wouldn't learn from anyone else? How does sobriety work on gig days in an environment so conducive to drink and drugs? How is Self-Esteem approaching her new record, given the success of her last? When does practice end and rehearsing begin? What happened to the…
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Marmite: A British Obsession Loved and Hated
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1:08:52In this episode, we're diving knife-first into the polarizing pot of Marmite, the yeasty spread that splits opinions as sharply as Brexit, blue steak or having a poo at work. Love it or hate it, Marmite’s rich history and distinctive flavor make it a British icon worth exploring. From its inception in the breweries of Burton-upon-Trent to becoming …
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Caesar Salad's Journey from Tijuana to Global Fame
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59:28Welcome back! In this episode we're diving into the deliciously intriguing salad bowl of history, and talking Caesar Salad. Was it really invented by a Roman emperor, or is there a more tangy and surprising story behind it? Join us as we try and piece it all together. Prepare for the usual concoction of fun facts, history and three idiots. Bon appé…
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Ralph Rolle joins Chris Simpson to discuss his unique open-hand drum technique, walks us through the Grammy's tribute to David Bowie with Lady Gaga (which without Ralph's genius almost ended us a disaster), working with Nile Rogers and Prince and.... cookies. #chic #davidbowie #ladygagaBy The StageLeft Podcast
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Donuts and the Sweet Story of America's Favourite Treat
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1:12:55Join us and sink your teeth into the sweet, pillowy goodness of doughnuts! From ancient fried doughballs to modern-day gourmet wonders, we look at how a wartime comfort has evolved into a symbol of culinary creativity worldwide. This episodes takes some strange turns as we discuss the trenches of the First World War, the inventive hands of Captain …
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Goulash: Hungary's National Dish with a Fiery Past
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1:00:28Join us this week at a bubbling smokey cauldron because we're stewing over the rich and hearty history of Goulash, Hungary's beloved dish that's more than just a stew—it's a story of resilience, culture, and culinary evolution. Originating from the rugged plains of Hungary, where cowherds concocted a simple yet satisfying meal, Goulash has transfor…
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118: The 1975 Touring Band - Live Episode of The StageLeft Podcast
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1:11:24After 8 years, we’ve finally done a live episode! We are joined by Polly Money, Gabi King and John Waugh (touring band with The 1975) in front of a live audience of BIMM students, recorded in London just before the European leg of The 1975s most recent tour. The interview begins with a 30mins interview with Chris, then then band jammed three songs …
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Dim Sum: Unveiling the Rituals of an Ancient Cantonese Tradition
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59:07We're unwrapping the delightful world of Dim Sum, the heart-touching tradition that's as much about togetherness as it is about taste. Journey with us from its beginnings along the ancient Silk Road, all the way to the bustling teahouses of modern-day Guangzhou and Hong Kong. In this episode we steam through the rich tapestry of Dim Sum, exploring …
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SPAM: From Wartime Rations to Culinary Icon
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1:01:02In this episode, we're heading into the compressed, greasy world of SPAM - the iconic canned meat that's polarized dining tables since 1937. From its humble beginnings as a wartime staple to its status as a global culinary phenomenon, SPAM's journey is nothing short of astonishing. We'll slice into its curious rise to fame, exploring how it went fr…
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Turkish Delight: The Sweet Temptation That Led to Betrayal
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1:01:33In this episode we embark on a sweet journey to the heart of the Ottoman Empire to uncover the sticky secrets behind Turkish Delight! We delve into the sugary saga of this iconic confectionery, from its royal origins to its role in the famous Chronicles of Narnia, where Edmund couldn't resist its enchanting allure. Join us as we explore how this si…
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Absinthe: The Green Fairy's Haunting Legacy
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1:11:00In this episode, we're venturing into the mystique-laden world of absinthe, the storied spirit known as the Green Fairy. Tracing its roots back to the 18th century, absinthe has bewitched artists and intellectuals with its complex character and rumoured hallucinogenic properties. From its birth in Switzerland to the banquets of Parisian cafés and i…
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Ketchup's Journey from Ancient Fish Sauce to Modern Condiment
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1:04:55In this episode, we're squeezing out the thick and rich history of ketchup! From its unexpected beginnings as a fermented fish sauce in ancient China, to its transformation into the tomato-based staple on dinner tables around the world, ketchup has a surprisingly tangy past. Join us as we spread the story of how this beloved condiment became a symb…
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Pancakes: A Timeless Journey Through Sweet and Savoury Traditions
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1:00:51In this syrup-soaked episode we're diving into the fluffy world of pancakes. From their humble beginnings as a Stone Age staple to becoming a breakfast favourite across the globe, pancakes have a surprisingly rich history. Join us as we flip through time to uncover how this simple mix of flour, eggs, and milk has evolved into the many varieties we …
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And just like that, the What the Food? boys are back! To make this a momentous occasion, we're about to unravel the layers (pun absolutely intended) of a British staple. The Cornish Pasty. From its medieval origins to the latest pasty-related shenanigans, hold onto your hats - and your appetites, as we kick things back off with a meat-filled bang! …
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