Figs are one of the earliest if not our earliest cultivated plant.  Their reverence surely stems from their historic connection to our own agricultural journey and they are a symbol of abundance and important to ancient peoples, cultures, art, cookery and religions. They are symbols of fertility, wealth, youth and the brevity of life. This episode will look at the Greek etymology behind 'sycophancy' and the Roman Apicius' recipe for fegato. Artists discussed include Giovanna Garzoni, Albrecht Durer, Clara Peeters, Suzanne Valadon, Vivienne Westwood and Figs in Wigs.

Ep9 - Anyone Sycophancy a Fig?

A listen and a look at how food, history and art intersect. From food origins, food history and food art. How foods have traveled the world, been used by different people and how different artists have depicted them throughout time with an emphasis on women artists, under and mis-represented artists.

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Gimme a break, gimme a break - break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar - it’s the food history and food art of the Kit Kat. My next episode will be followed up with a much deeper look at cacao. This episode is a bit of a departure as it’s the first time I have featured a brand. It was inspired by my dear friend Michiru and her recent gift of a pack of assorted Japanese Kit Kats and will start with original Kit Kats. From the 18th century savoury pies they share their name with, to their 100 year journey to being the most influential confectionery bar of all time. Their world domination includes Japan and the hundreds of Kit Kat varietals of gentei limited edition culture but it must also include an honest look at Nestle and Corporate Social Responsibility. There’s the Kit Kat portraits of old from Sir Godfrey Kneller and the The New Kit-Cat Portraits by Gloria and Mike of In the Long Run Designs Kit Kat origami; a Kit Kat Coffee Table by design house den-Holm; a Chocnology exhibition and more.

Ep43 - Break Me Off a Piece of that Kit Kat...Pod

With this episode I’m going straight to my interview with today’s guest - Maddalena Ghezzi. Maddalena is a musician, singer, composer, artist and improviser. She has been working in the field of jazz, improvised and experimental music since moving to the UK in 2009 and her work draws inspiration from the natural world, literature, visual arts and the socio-political status of our world. Here we chat about her new release, Emeralds, which is a collaboration with synth player, composer, producer and pianist Maria Chiara Argirò. Emeralds is the latest in her Minerals series of EP releases done in collaboration with an other musicians. Maddie’s music is enigmatic, atmospheric and her compositions and voice will carry you to new places that feel both metaphysical and tangible at the same time. We chat about collaborations, composing, creativity, cuisine (new year baby polenta, chiavi della cucina, Dolomites and puzzone) and sci-fi!

Ep42 - Music, Minerals, Mangia! with Maddalena Ghezzi

I chat with one of my dearest friends, award-winning writer and artist Kurt Cole Eidsvig.  Kurt has been featured in The Boston Globe, The Improper Bostonian, NBC, CBS, and ABC and loads more prestigious places. We will talk about his new book OxyContin for Breakfast, his previous book Pop X Poetry, his visual art, inspirations and how food factors in to all of the above. We will chat about his connection to apple cider vinegar, mint jelly omelettes, analogue vampiric beef binkies, Sully's snapper dogs and more. The first minute of audio is a wee bit tinny as we get set up but it features our first of many nods to Nance…. This episode is dedicated to Kurt’s mom Nancy Cole Landon who passed away last May at the age of 85. You can listen to the podcast here, anywhere you get them or watch our interview on the Smy Goodness YouTube channel.

Ep41 - OxyContin for Breakfast with Kurt Cole Eidsvig

Vinegar depictions range from fanciful stories relating to it, appearances in still life paintings to the different stages of its production and enjoyment. Vinegar is a symbol of preservation, of hard work and longevity and being cleansed. It’s found in religious stories, fables, stories of love, war, money and death…basically all aspects of the human experience. Featuring artworks such as the Three Vinegar Tasters, Parody of the Vinegar Tasters, Elisabetta Sirani's painting Cleopatra and the story of Cleopatra's banquet, plague doctors' masks and Four Thief Vinegar, Tête Noire vinegar, Anne Vallayer-Coster's Still Life with Mackerel, Film Fawn/Merecedes and more.

Ep40 - As Art As Vinegar

Vinegar is a vital addition to popular dishes, condiments and beverages from around the world. It has as many uses outside of the kitchen as it does in it and is a staple ingredient of many natural or home remedies. There are countless health benefits that are associated with it and the varieties are endless - from bayberry, bamboo, black, brown and balsamic and one that is famously described as with the mother. Today it's all about the food history of vinegar - its important beginnings, fermentation, etymology, some of its many culinary and creative uses from all over the world. The next episode will be the accompanying, part 2 episode where I'll discuss the food art of vinegar and cider vinegar plus a special chat with artist and poet Kurt Eidsvig about his work and his new book POP X POETRY.

Ep9 - Anyone Sycophancy a Fig?

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