Food Busker's Cult Food Stories

Global•www.heart.co.uk

There is a unique collection of dishes in the world that illicit a fervent following from their devotees. Producing almost religious veneration in their preparation and consumption, Cult Foods generate queues, make restaurants and crash Instagram. John Quilter aka Food Busker will take us on a journey to uncover the history of theses dishes. We’ll hear him speaking to friends, experts and fans to find out the whys, the wheres and the hows in an attempt to unpick the secrets to creating Cult Food. John will also attempt to make the dish himself, sharing any pitfalls, funny mistakes and successes along the way.

Last refreshed: July 15th, 2025 at 7:39 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Order No. 8: Beef Wellington

It might seem like a simple pie on the outside, but slice into this Cult Food and you’ll discover the inside is as tricky as its history! John dives into the complexities of this dinner-party classic with the guidance of pastry expert, Executive Chef Calum Franklin. Can John please the Master of the Beef Wellington with his version of the dish, or has he bitten off more than he can chew? Making a Beef Wellington is tricky, trust me, I know. So here’s my video breaking down all the different step...

Aug 07, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Order No. 7: Cheeseburger

Is there anything better and more indulgent than classic 80’s cheeseburger? Nope! Put down your Rubik’s cube, get your neon spandex out and join John on his mission to find the perfect patty and suss out a secret sauce. Can he build the ultimate 80’s cheeseburger and transport the Cult Food experts back to their childhood? See more of my trip to Rudy’s in Toronto, Canada, to track down the perfect classic cheeseburger: https://youtu.be/5TnFzf3pqwg And if you’re after a step by step guide on how ...

Jul 24, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Order No. 6: Lasagna

The series wouldn’t be complete without this classic Cult Food! John discovers the many layers (pun intended) of this heart-warming, family dish… but who knew there were different versions?! John travels to Italy to find the best of the best, gets advice from a family that’s been making it for generations and serves up his attempt at Lasagna di Carnevale to an Italian chef. Not too much pressure then! Want to check out the Lasagna ingredients, recipe and how to layer your Lasagna like a pro? The...

Jul 10, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Order No. 5: Bacon

John’s not happy when he discovers harmful nitrates are being added to bacon. Nobody messes with his beloved bacon! This news sets him on a mission to dry-cure and smoke his own bacon, which involves a trip to River Cottage, a filing cabinet and a well-travelled piece of pork. Watch my full Bacon series on the Food Busker YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/nqNQ1IUIP2Y And if you want to try some of my smoked and unsmoked Food Busker bacon, you can get you hands on it from my store: https://www.fo...

Jun 26, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Order No. 4: Katsu Sandwich

This Japanese spin on the beloved sarnie has exploded onto the cult food scene. But what secrets are hidden between the two slices of bread? John’s deconstructs this quirky cutlet snack and tells you how to serve up your own version that’s bursting with flavour and sure to be a brunch-time banger! If fancy giving the Katsu Sandwich a crack, all the ingredients and a step by step video of how to make it are on my Food Busker channel, here: https://youtu.be/uCEi9E1Ua-I Make it, post it, share it, ...

Jun 12, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Order No. 3: Steak

A simple, sizzling, succulent steak never fails to get the mouth watering. But nailing the perfect steak isn’t just in the cooking. It starts with the meat. John speaks to award-winning chefs Richard Turner (Hawksmoor), Mark Hix (Tramshed) and beef guru Peter Hannan to get the lowdown on dry ageing his own meat. Can John replicate Peter’s ground-breaking technique in his own kitchen, to serve up a Cult Food worthy T-bone to the best in the business? Plus, John shares the secrets to cooking a per...

May 29, 2019•35 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Order No. 2: Pizza

This Cult Food classic is easy, right? Wrong! John is schooled in the techniques of how to craft a traditional Margherita by James Elliot, Co-Founder of Pizza Pilgrims in London. Can John lift the lid on the secret to the perfect dough? Can he deliver the perfect Cult Food pizza? Plus, John’s got some top tips to help you craft your own traditional Margherita pizza, from scratch, at home. See me attempt to make a pizza with James at Pizza Pilgrims: https://youtu.be/y4ovVDTmp6c And if you’re up f...

May 15, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Order No. 1: Ramen

John seeks advice from some of the best Ramen chefs in the world. But even that doesn’t prepare him for the extent of this Cult Food challenge. John’s culinary expertise is pushed to the limits as he attempts to recreate this classic Japanese dish. Will he succeed, or could this deceptively simple Cult Food get the better of him? See more about my Ramen journey here: https://youtu.be/JV0Lp4HlChg Watch a breakdown of all the ingredients and a step by step video of how to make your own Ramen: http...

Apr 30, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Entrée: Preview

Apr 18, 2019•37 sec

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android