Home Cooking podcast

words by Lizzi Richards

I discovered Home Cooking after watching Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Netflix and absolutely falling in love with Samin Nosrat and her approach to food. The podcast started during lockdown when we all had to stop eating out and had a bit of extra time on our hands to spend in the kitchen. Samin and her co-host, Hrishikesh Hirway (of the wonderful Song Exploder podcast), asked listeners to send in voice notes explaining their culinary queries, which the hosts would do their best to answer.

During lockdown our kitchen cupboards and fridges were…weird to say the least. Whether you avoided shopping, hoarded whatever you could get, or battled for a booking slot for a supermarket delivery, everyone was just trying to make the best of whatever they had. This is where┬áHome Cooking┬ácame to the rescue. Listeners called in to find out things like: how can I make a dessert without an oven? What do I cook for my girlfriend that wonÔÇÖt eat tomatoes? What can I eat that has textures I can enjoy now that IÔÇÖve lost my taste and smell to covid? I panic-bought too much cheese / flour/ sardines ÔÇô what can I make to use it up?

More than just recipes however,┬áHome Cooking┬áprovided us listeners with a sense of connection and community during the height of the pandemic. The dynamic between Samin and Hrishi is one of genuine friendship, which shines through their absolute support and ridicule for each other. HrishiÔÇÖs terrible puns and SaminÔÇÖs infectious laugh were sure to bring a smile to your face, even on the toughest of lockdown days.

Post-lockdown episodes have been released on an infrequent basis but IÔÇÖm just glad they are still making them and I look forward to the next one, whenever that will be. Although we are no longer stuck indoors, I highly recommend listening to their back-catalogue to get inspired to try new recipes and get confident with your own home cooking.

Master Chef India

words by Chahat Gandhi

Being from India, my most favourite food TV show growing up has undoubtedly been Master Chef India. It is a competitive cooking reality show based on Master Chef Australia. The show began in 2010 and is currently running its seventh season. Hosted by some of the most well renowned chefs in India, the show has stood stronger with every season.

India is a land full of rich art and culture, so it is no surprise that Indian food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. Home chefs from across the country compete in the show to find out who would be the Master Chef of the season!

ThereÔÇÖs a connection like no other when it comes to homemade food. No matter how fancy you eat, nothing gives you comfort like, as we say in India, ÔÇ£Ghar ka KhanaÔÇØ and that is my favourite part about the show.

Contestants get unbelievably creative with food while sticking to their regional cultural roots. Experimenting with dishes and methods theyÔÇÖve learned while growing up, they take the most simplest of ingredients and curate the most fancy dishes. In the end, itÔÇÖs the simplicity that matters!

So, if you ever want to speak to an Indian but are hesitant about breaking the ice, talk about food and Master Chef and I can almost guarantee the rest will be history.

Table Manners podcast

words by Eve Davies

Hosted by Jessie Ware with help from her chef extraordinaire mum Lennie Ware, Table Manners is a podcast about food, family, and the beautiful art of having a chat over the dinner table.

Each week Jessy hosts guests from the worlds of music, culture, and politics at her very own home, delivering delicious eats and good chat about eating habits, foodie memories, favourite places to eat out, and last supper choices. The hilarious mother-daughter duo never fail to get a warm yet comic conversation out of their guests.

With over 200 episodes to choose from with guests as big as Ed Sheeran, will.i.am, and Dolly Parton, youÔÇÖre sure to find one with a favourite celebrity. I began listening to the podcast during lockdown when the dinner chats took place over zoom, and it is still one of my regular listens. Some of my favourite episodes of Table Manners include those with Tom Jones, Jenna Coleman, and Sam Fender.

Food is a global talking-point and Table Manners celebrates the incredible potential of dining to unite people.