8 culinary podcasts that ate with their content
Nourish your mind and feed your curiosity with these podcasts that are here to serve.
Why is a noodle shaped the way it is? Is the stomach really our second brain? What’s the story behind Papa’s—yes, that 12-seater restaurant that plays hard to get with bookings? We may not have all the answers but these podcasts will reveal all this and more, including celebrity chats with Paul McCartney about the first time he tasted wine with John Lennon in Paris, and Tim Cook on spiced apple jams (pun not intended). Here are our top picks that stir up curiosity, serve flavour, and leave you hungry for more.
RUTHIE’S TABLE 4
In London, The River Café is known for reasons beyond its sea bass and almond tarts. This eatery has long served as a second home for legendary artists and celebrities—from David Beckham and Steve McQueen, to Lily Allen. And it is at this very spot that some of the most legendary names spill the beans on their epicurean adventures with host and chef, Ruthie Rogers. Don’t miss the Oscars Special episode featuring guests Elton John, Ralph Fiennes, and Zoe Saldaña, or the one with Salman Rushdie, where he talks about writing prose inspired by his Indian upbringing. The Beatles fans can hear Paul McCartney reminisce about wine escapades in London with John Lennon. For history tidbits like these, we’d tune in eight days a week!
SPEAK GREASY BY GAURI DEVIDAYAL
In this podcast, restaurateur, entrepreneur, and co-founder and CEO of Food Matters Group, Gauri Devidayal does what she does best: talk about all things food! With each episode, she brings a generous dose of trivia and insight to the table through candid conversations with key players in the hospitality industry. Get ready to discover how Nooresha Kably made Izumi happen and the challenges Sushant Dash, CEO of Tata Starbucks, faced when entering a tea-dominant market. These conversations are unfiltered, unscripted, and unmissable—with nothing off the menu.
BIG FOOD ENERGY BY SMITHA MENON
Former culinary editor Smitha Menon brings her decade of industry experience to the mic with a podcast rooted in seasoned storytelling. As the name suggests, this one’s all about the big questions you didn’t know you had—answered by the heavyweights themselves. Hear restaurateur Samyukta Nair reveal how Jamavar became London’s go-to for Indian fine dining or Chef Deepanker Khosla reflect on taking Bangkok’s sustainable Haoma to Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Chef’s kiss.
TABLE MANNERS WITH JESSIE AND LENNIE WARE
Live vicariously through Jessie Ware as she hosts intimate, unfiltered conversations with celebrities around her dinner table—making you feel like you’re right there with them. Oh and don’t miss cameos of her mother and celebrated homecook, Lennie Ware, as she casually whips up delectable dishes like prawn lasagne and borscht, on the side. Cyndi Lauper, Saoirse Ronan, Kate Winslet, Millie Bobby Brown, have all made an appearance on the podcast and it's only getting better.
DINNER SOS BY BON APPÉTIT
If 3:00 a.m. thoughts were made into a podcast for gourmands, then this would be it. Coming in hot straight from the kitchens at Bon Appétit, New York this podcast hosted by food director Chris Morocco, along with a rotating cast of culinary experts, dishes out details on the most relatable food subjects out there. Learn how to perfect the art of preparing a pot of rice, or mastering your meal prep, stocking up on freezers and elevating your salad game. Listeners are in for a real treat as the best in the businesses turn daily drudgeries in the kitchen into cakewalk!
CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL’S MILK STREET RADIO
Hosted by Christopher Kimball, founder of America's Test Kitchen TV, this podcast is a bit like blind tasting—you never quite know what you'll get! One episode might feature a scientist sharing his study on whether vegetables have souls while another dives into a journalist's investigation of the world’s 10 biggest food lies. In one of the episodes, a member of the waiting staff spills secrets from the not so fine side of fine dining in Paris. Expect stories from Madhur Jaffrey, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jamie Oliver, and the likes.
THE FOOD CHAIN BY THE BBC
What does it take to put food on your plate? This tell-all series by the BBC looks at the entrepreneurial, scientific, and cultural aspects of food. Expect expert-backed answers to all your culinary questions, from basic to brilliant. Gain insight into the process of choosing restaurant reviewers, the role of designing in food branding, a retrospective on the world’s oldest restaurants, the diet of Olympians, cafes for the specially abled and more! Equal parts educative and entertaining, this podcast is sure to satiate your appetite on culinary content.
FOR THE LOVE WITH JEN HATMAKER
New York Times bestselling author and seasoned podcaster Jen Hatmaker teams up with longtime friend Amy Hardin for this easygoing, banter-driven show that’s all heart and all things food. Whether it’s Mel Robbins talking about finding freedom or Stanley Tucci revisiting meals that shaped his most intimate memories, each episode blends warmth, wit, and a touch of nostalgia. For anyone who believes food and friendship go hand in hand, this one’s worth a listen.