Calvin Pearson, head of wine at Borough Wines, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a few of his favourite festive bottles and chat about perfect pairings with a Christmas dinner, the meaning of orange wine, natural wine and ‘pet nat’, and why kegs and refillable bottles are growing in popularity.

Coles Loomis of Jumi Cheese and Jon Thrupp of Mons Cheesemongers are two of Borough Market’s most engaging cheese experts. They join Giulia Crouch to share some of their favourite winter products and chat about the artistry of small-scale cheesemakers, the ideal Christmas selection, and why blue cheeses are the haute couture of dairy.

Jack Applebee is part of the family that runs the Applebee’s Fish seafood restaurant. Raf Rundell is the manager of the Richard Haward’s Oysters stand. Together, they join Giulia Crouch to taste some of the fruits of the sea and chat about cooking turbot at Christmas, the terroir of shellfish, and how buying from a fishmonger takes the terror out of fish shopping.  

Usman Shah of Date Sultan imports premium dates while using his company’s influence to improve the pay and conditions of workers in his supply chain. He joins Giulia Crouch to taste a diverse selection of date varieties and chat about the unique qualities of this Middle Eastern fruit, going viral on social media, and his battle to combat modern slavery.

Borough Talks returns with four more podcast episodes exploring the colourful produce and personalities of Borough Market. Host Giulia Crouch sits down to share food, drink and conversation with traders whose expertise covers some of the most enticing flavours of the festive season: dates, seafood, cheese and wine.

In the Borough Market Kitchen, Salina Khairunnisa of Joli shares the cuisine of Malaysia’s Peranakan community, while Urvesh Parvais of Gujarati Rasoi cooks food rooted in the Indian state of Gujarat. They joined Giulia Crouch to taste some dishes and chat about cultural authenticity, the importance of quality ingredients and the enduring appeal of street food. 

Philip Crouch of The Parma Ham and Mozzarella Stand and Patrick Martinez of The Tinned Fish Market source spectacular products from Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. They joined Giulia Crouch to taste some of those products and chat about their relationships with producers, the importance of sharing knowledge, and their drive to find the highest-quality versions of familiar foods.

Dawn Smith of Pimento Hill has been selling her handmade sauces, seasonings and jellies at Borough Market for 14 years. She sat down with Giulia Crouch over some spicy chicken wings to discuss the adventurousness of market shoppers, the role of food in Caribbean culture, and why peanut butter with scotch bonnet chilli jam is the best thing ever. 

David Carter of Oma and Agora and Rob Dann of Bedales Wine Bar are long-time friends as well as the owners of neighbouring businesses at Borough Market. They sat down with Giulia Crouch over a glass of Calabrian rosé to discuss sources of inspiration, the impact of restaurant architecture, and the elemental pleasure of breaking bread.

Run by the McCourt family, Northfield Farm has traded at Borough since the 1990s, selling high-quality meat from its East Midlands farm. To kick off our new season of podcasts, the stand’s manager Dom McCourt sits down with Giulia Crouch to share a steak and chat about the butcher’s craft, the importance of sustainable farming, and the art of cooking meat on a barbecue.