The Menu - podcast cover

The Menu

Monoclemonocle.com
Our guide to the world of food, drink and entertaining, The Menu serves up interviews with the world’s most creative chefs, introduces the makers behind the scenes and the ingredients that will soon be landing on your restaurant table.

Episodes

Food Neighbourhoods #435: Ialysos, Rhodes

Lars Bevanger heads to the town of Ialysos on Rhodes to delight in the island’s rich food and drink culture, which is coloured by its Italian history and proximity to the Levant.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20, 202511 min

Supper clubs, wild garlic and Wein Goutte

Xanthe Ross tells us about her new book,  Stay for Supper . Then: we explore the world of wild garlic and meet the founder of German wine collective, Wein Goutte. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 16, 202530 min

Food Neighbourhoods #434: Bethnal Green, London

Recently, London's Bethnal Green has blossomed , with chic wine bars and coffee roasters cropping up to sit alongside the typical East-end pubs and pie shops. Here, Valentina Venelli takes us on a tour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 13, 20256 min

Three-course feast

We’re serving up a three-course feast as we delve into the nostalgic pull of the prawn cocktail. Then, we tuck into a steaming bowl of pasta and lay on something sweet from Indonesia to finish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 09, 202526 min

Food Neighbourhoods #433: Somerset, England

Somerset is known for its idyllic countryside and rolling hills. In recent years, however, the English county has become a culinary hotspot. Here, Monica Lillis takes us to the best outposts, old and new.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 06, 20257 min

Food Neighbourhoods #432: Surry Hills, Sydney

City-nudging Surry Hills was once the industrial hub of Sydney’s rag trade but now it’s home to flotillas of cafés, restaurants, wine bars and hotels. Tamara Thiessen takes us on a tour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 29, 20258 min

Food Neighbourhoods #431: Colonia Roma, Mexico City

Originally a European-inspired enclave for the upper and middle classes, Mexico City’s tree-lined Colonia Roma district has survived earthquakes and been reinvented through artistic movements. Today it offers a diverse range of culinary experiences showcasing the best that the nation has to offer, from blue-corn quesadillas to specialist Mexican coffee. Verity de Cala meets the people behind the area’s street-food shops and cafés. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Apr 22, 202510 min

Chocolate special

It’s the beginning of the Easter weekend for those who celebrate, so what better time to indulge in an episode dedicated to chocolate. We speak to the founder of Knoops, the brand championing hot chocolate as an everyday drink. Then: Monocle’s Michael Booth meets award-winning Danish chocolatier Mikkel Friis-Holm. Plus: we unwrap the latest Easter-egg trends with Monocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 18, 202530 min

Food Neighbourhoods #430: Val d’Orcia, Italy

We’re heading to the rolling hills of southern Tuscany, where regenerative food and wine practices are flourishing among ancient landscapes. Monocle contributor Issabella Orlando takes us on a tour of Val d’Orcia, where heritage crops are cultivated with a deep respect for tradition, biodiversity and the land itself. Here, she meets the stewards of a region whose roots run deep and whose yields speak for themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 15, 202512 min

Coffee

We meet Noma’s Carolyne Lane to hear about the Copenhagen institution’s new bean-roasting venture, Noma Kaffe. Then: we sit down with acclaimed barista Celeste Wong to find out why there are dozens of recipes to try when you’re after the perfect cup.  Plus: we check in at Man Met Bril Koffie Hotel in Rotterdam. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 11, 202531 min

Food Neighbourhoods #429: Harlem, New York

We’re looking at a slice of history this week in the shape of Lee Lee’s Baked Goods, which has been serving New Yorkers for nearly 40 years. It’s the story of Alvin Lee Smalls, known as Lee Lee, and the changing face of the iconic Harlem neighbourhood. Lee Lee joins Charlie Bell to speak about his life’s work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 08, 202510 min

Bahraini cuisine, Finland’s heritage ale and are New York’s diners the community hub that they once were?

We sample a morsel of Bahrain’s mouthwatering cuisine with Noor Murad as we flick through her new book, ‘Lugma’. Also in the programme: Poppy Damon heads to the Little Purity diner in Brooklyn to unpack whether the spaces still hold the same community spirit. Plus: Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff sips on some sahti, Finland’s oldest ale.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 04, 202532 min

Food Neighbourhoods #428: Winemaking in Yunnan Province, China

China’s far southwestern province of Yunnan is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the country’s finest wine producers, though its winemaking history goes back more than a hundred years. Monocle’s Tom Webb visited the recently opened Songtsam Cizhong Lodge, where the region’s viticulture began, to find out how its history is being preserved and shared with the world.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Apr 01, 20256 min

All things green

We’re very much in spring mode this week for an episode dedicated to a specific slice of the colour wheel: green. We meet author and food writer Samuel Goldsmith to discuss his new title, ‘The Frozen Peas Cookbook’. Then: we trace the growing popularity of matcha around the world with Twiggy Yeung. Plus: we crown our ‘verde’ Wine of the Month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 28, 202531 min

Food Neighbourhoods #427: Aix-en-Provence

The southern French city of Aix-en-Provence is swamped by tourists in the summer, and is visited by art enthusiasts year-round thanks to its connection to Cezanne. But what about food lovers? With the help of local food guide Thomas Garcin, our correspondent Michael Booth takes us to the spots that you won’t want to miss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 25, 202512 min

What is Caribbean cuisine? Plus: Syria’s best shawarma and ‘An A-Z of Chinese Food’

We island-hop in the Caribbean with author Keshia Sakarah to learn all about her new book, ‘Caribe: A Caribbean Cookbook with History’, and the specificity of the region’s cuisine. Also in the programme: Hannah Lucinda Smith is in Damascus to taste some of the city’s renowned shawarma. Plus: Monocle’s Mae-Li Evans meets Jenny Lau to get ‘An A-Z of Chinese Food: (Recipes Not Included)’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 21, 202533 min

Food Neighbourhoods #426: Binondo, Manila

We’re heading to Manila’s Chinatown, Binondo, a chaotic enclave of the city that’s as renowned for its vibrant cultural heritage as its delicious food. Hanna Pham takes us on a tour to try out the best Chinese-Filipino fare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 18, 20255 min

Dairy

We delve into the world of dairy – the creamiest, most delicious of food groups. First, we look into the revived popularity of cow’s milk, then Emma Nelson visits France’s first museum dedicated to cheese. Plus: Aarti Betigeri samples Australian butter brand Pepe Saya. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 14, 202533 min

Food Neighbourhoods #425: Töölö, Helsinki

Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff takes us on a tour of Helsinki’s Töölö neighbourhood, home to traditional neighbourhood bistros frequented by local families, as well as new eateries, where ambitious young chefs seek to leave their mark on the city’s vibrant dining scene. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 11, 20256 min

Listening to your food, Filipino barbecue and our wine of the month

We’re starting off in South London with Rex De Guzman, the founder of Filipino barbecue spot Turo Turo. Also in the programme: Monocle contributor Lucy Hyslop heads to Burdock & Co in Vancouver to find out how the team are transforming their produce’s bioelectric charge into a dinner soundtrack. Plus: Monocle sub-editor and in-house wine expert, Chloé Lake, picks her wine of the month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 07, 202532 min

Food Neighbourhoods #424: Tromsø, Norway

We’re northbound to the arctic city of Tromsø in Norway. Here, Monocle’s Oslo correspondent, Lars Bevanger, takes us on a culinary journey which, despite its snow and far-flung location, offers up a selection of international eateries as well as traditional fare. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 04, 202512 min

Richard Hart and Peter Pihel on pioneering New Nordic cuisine

We sit down with Richard Hart, one of the world’s most celebrated bakers, to find out about the true joy of making the perfect loaf. Also on the programme: Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff sits down with pioneer of New Nordic cuisine, Peeter Pihel, in Tallinn. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 03, 202528 min

Food Neighbourhoods #423: Chifa Town, Madrid

We’re heading to Madrid to wander through one of the Spanish capital’s most delectable open secrets. Hidden in the plain sight of the city centre, the Mostenses Municipal Market has been overlooked by local authorities for years. But this has created a ripe opportunity for diaspora communities from Asia and Latin America to eagerly snap up once-ailing stalls. Mixing entrepreneurial flair with a melting pot of exotic ingredients, the market is now a sizzling array of mini-eateries fea...

Feb 25, 202515 min

Legacies in food and drink

We speak to restaurateur Amy Poon about the legacy of her parents’ iconic Chinese eatery, Poon’s Wontoneria, in London. Also on the programme: we head to Finland to investigate how increasing global prices are affecting the nation’s claim to drinking the most cups of coffee per capita. Plus: Chloé Lake speaks to wine expert Sunny Hodge about his new book encouraging us to look at wine from a more scientific angle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Feb 21, 202530 min

Food Neighbourhoods #422: South Kensington, London

We’re staying local today and heading to London’s charming South Kensington. From quaint coffee shops, steaming bowls of pho and vibrant farmers’ markets, this corner of west London provides some of the city’s best culinary offerings. Monocle’s Hassan Anderson takes us on a tour.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 18, 20258 min

The cuisine surrounding the Danube and the absinthe revival

We journey down the banks of the Danube to get a taste of Eastern European cuisine with Romanian food writer Irina Georgescu. Plus: Paige Reynolds heads to Leydi, a new Turkish opening in London and Maisie Ringer explores the revival of absinthe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 14, 202534 min

Food Neighbourhoods #421: Thessaloniki, Greece

We’re heading to Greece’s second city, Thessaloniki. This offbeat metropolis on the Aegean coast has a rich gastronomic identity thanks to its diverse history at the crossroads of east and west. In 2021, its culinary prowess was recognised by Unesco as a “City of Gastronomy” within its Creative Cities Network. Join Monocle’s Claudia Jacob on a tour of this colourful and compact city that’s sure to slake your appetite. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Feb 11, 20256 min

Taking it slow

This week we’re appreciating the effects that time has on some of our favourite dishes and ingredients. We sit down with Ryan Walker, head of fermentation at zero-waste restaurant Silo, in London. Then: Angelica Jopson leaves things to simmer and explores the timeless appeal of soup. Plus: our in-house wine expert, Chloé Lake, picks her well-aged wine of the month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 07, 202534 min
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