Lunchbox Envy

Lunchbox Envy•qi.com

From the makers of QI and No Such Thing As A Fish: Gastronomically-minded QI researchers Jack Chambers and Manu Henriot join chef and food writer Rosie MacKean to unpack the world of food and drink, one lunchbox at a time. Can you unboil an egg? Why would you milk a spider? How much Dairy Milk would it take to kill you? Dig in now to get answers to the questions you never knew you had.

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Episodes

9: Ice Cream

Why has space ice cream never been to space? What was the World War II substitute for ice cream? How did the Georgians make ice cream out of bread?

Apr 13, 2025•35 min•Ep. 9

8: Tomatoes

Why do tomatoes taste so much nicer on holiday? How is Napoleon responsible for tinned tomatoes? When do tomatoes scream?

Apr 06, 2025•34 min•Ep. 8

7: Pepper

Which peppercorn is good for popping at festivals? Who still pays rent in peppercorns? How do you make a pepper martini?

Mar 31, 2025•29 min•Ep. 7

6: Pasta

What went wrong with Beeton’s inedible macaroni? Why did Colgate once sell lasagna? Where does Bologna keep its mysterious Golden Tagliatella?

Mar 24, 2025•34 min•Ep. 6

5: Sausages

What makes sausages sausage-shaped? How can you win a duel armed only with a sausage? What is the worrying sausagey weakness in the UK’s nuclear deterrent?

Mar 17, 2025•25 min•Ep. 5

4: Chicken

WARNING - BROILERS AHEAD: How many chickens do you eat each year? What's the best way to shuck a chicken oyster? Who invented the frozen chicken?

Mar 10, 2025•26 min•Ep. 4

3: Milk

How do you milk a flying cow? Why is it so hard to milk a moose? How have we all been duped by Big Milk?

Mar 03, 2025•25 min•Ep. 3

2: Bananas

The hosts of Lunchbox Envy explore the multifaceted world of bananas, from their etymology and history to culinary uses and cultural significance. They discuss banana ripeness preferences, the Cavendish banana's dominance, and the potential of banana peels in cooking. The episode also covers the surprising fact that bananas might have been the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and ends with a discussion of favorite banana-based desserts.

Feb 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 2

1: Garlic

The hosts explore garlic's history, uses, and cultural impact, from its medicinal properties and use in wartime deception, to the best ways to prepare and consume it. They sample garlic-infused chocolate, debate parsley versus coriander in garlic bread, and discuss methods for neutralizing garlic breath, providing a mix of trivia and culinary insights.

Feb 24, 2025•27 min•Ep. 1

Trailer

Free sample anyone?

Feb 12, 2025•40 sec