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My guests Robert and Elaine are both in their early 80s. They are both active, strong, and young at heart. The secret to their good health seems to be their diet and lifestyle- growing up in the countryside, where the air was fresh and the food was homegrown.  Robert and Elaine share their food memories and very surprising and eclectic culinary traditions and the dishes that their family cooked in rural Cumbria.  The coastal town where Robert and Elaine grew up, was cosmopolitan, which shaped their culinary tastes and preferences. 

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In this episode I discuss family with my guest Lydia.  Leading a busy life working as a medical doctor means that weekends are a time to relax, and catch up with family. Sunday is a time for family and feasting. Lydia’s parents invite their children and grandchildren to their house for a sumptuous meal cooked by her father. Many traditions have been created in Lydia’s family through food. Both her father and husband have taken on the role of cooking for their family. Lydia’s diet has also switched to considerably plant-based, inspired by her son who is a vegan. 

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My guest Mina moved from Tehran to Manchester in the late 1980s. She brought the rich, modern, and evocative urban culture and wonderful memories of her homeland, which she celebrates through food and festivals with her family. Being Iranian to Mina means closeness to family, cooking Persian food, and celebrating the ancient Persian festivals that pre-date Islam such as Nawrus - the Persian New Year. 

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It was a delight to have Becky, a former student of mine as a guest on my podcast. Becky is proud of her Welsh and English heritage. Having spent much of her childhood in Rhodes, Becky feels deeply connected to the Greek culture. She has a comprehensive understanding of the history and background of Greek cuisine. She cooks Greek food and observes Greek traditions and festivals as a way of identifying and belonging to the culture. 

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Nadine works as a pharmacist. She was born and raised in Syria and came to Britain in the early 2000s. Ramadan in Syria was one of the festivals Nadine missed the most.  She enjoyed suhur  - the meal before fasting in the company of her close relatives. In the UK she discovered Chinese, Indian, and Nigerian cuisine which she has come to love and has mastered cooking. In addition to being on a culinary adventure, Nadine overcame homesickness by cooking Syrian dishes that she grew up eating.  Nadine shares her thoughts and experiences of food, identity, and belonging. She also shares the culinary hacks she has mastered which enables her to make speedy and delicious midweek meals for her family after work.

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Ana Maria is a language teacher. She was born and raised in Columbia and has lived in Ecuador, the United States, and Oman. She first came to Britain in the 1980s as a postgraduate student, and after living abroad, Britain has finally become home. Ana Maria’s culinary traditions are a blend of British and Columbian dishes. British roast dinners along with traditional Columbian Arepas are enjoyed in Ana Maria’s household. Her family observes the Columbian tradition of starting Christmas festivities on the 16th of December followed by a traditional British Christmas dinner on the 25th and finally observing the Columbian tradition of celebrating the Epiphany on the 27th.  

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My guest this week is May. She shares her rich and evocative life story and interests through food.  May’s culinary interests stem from all the wonderful places she has lived. She is the daughter of a diplomat and has resided in different countries where her father was posted including Venezuela, Argentina, Kenya and Spain. She has also spent time in Iraq- the country of her heritage and Morocco. In the 1990s May moved to the UK after getting married. May brings her cosmopolitan experiences into her kitchen. Her tastes and interests make her feel like a global citizen.