Food FM

In partnership with Peter’s Yard petersyard.com - This week on A Slice of Cheese we explore the microbial ‘starter cultures’ which play a key part in cheesemaking. As their names suggests they are used at the start of the cheesemaking process. Bronwen Percival, cheese buyer for Neal’s Yard Dairy and co-author of Reinventing the Wheel, shares her insights into their role. Giles Barber of Barber’s Cheddar Cheese tells the story of his family’s role in preserving Britain’s traditional cheese starter cultures.

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In partnership with Peter’s Yard petersyard.com - A look at how cheese is shaped by the place in which it is made. Rupert Linton of Brindisa takes us on a journey to Spain, Alison Elliott of the Ham and Cheese Company shares insights on Italy’s cheese landscape and Andy Swinscoe of the Courtyard Dairy talks about cheese and place in Britain, a subject close to his heart.

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In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David chats to global rum ambassador Ian Burrell - a regular face on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch - about rum, its history, what makes a great example, its role in cocktail culture and why he decided to co-create his own brand, Equiano.

Rums featured:

Equiano Rum (gold)

Cutwater Spirits Bali Hai Tiki Dark Rum (gold)

Bacardi Rum 10 YO Gran Reserva Diez Rum (gold)

Elixir Distillers Black Tot Master Blender's Reserve Rum 2021 (gold)

House of Rum 16 YO XO Reserve Rum (silver)

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Drinking Well is brought to you by Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant. For this Christmas podcast special, Barbara Drew MW is joined by Account Manager Amy Johnson and Commercial Manager Martyn Rolph to discover which red and white wines to open this Christmas. The episode covers both classic and more unusual whites to serve to a crowd, the Bordeaux wines which are perfect for turkey, and why large formats win every time at Christmas. If you’d like to hear more episodes or learn more about fine wine from the experts, visit bbr.com/podcast.

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Food and mental health is a fast growing area of interest - Caroline Kenyon talks to Lauren Lovatt, founder, Plant Academy, about her beautiful and fascinating new book with health-giving recipes, Mind Food.

In partnership with Peter’s Yard petersyard.com. There is an innovative energy to Britain’s cheese scene. This week on A Slice of Cheese I talk to cheesemaker Julianna Sedli of The Old Dairy who’s creating new cheeses using Jersey milk, cheese advocate Sam Wilkin about two exciting cheese and cider projects he’s involved in and to Edward Hancock, founder of Cheese Geek, the online cheese shop which caught the imagination of the Dragons Den investors.

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. David talks to veteran wine writer Margaret Rand, editor of Hugh Johnson’s much-loved Pocket Wine Book about the latest edition, released this month - and also reflects on her many years of wine writing and criticism.

Wines featured: 

Famille Carabello-Baum Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2019 (gold)

Weingut Karl Schaefer Dürkheimer Michelsberg Riesling Trocken 2015 (gold)

Tenuta Casenuove 2018 Chianti Classico (gold)

Bodegas Regina Viarum Mencía 2021 (gold)

Aldi, Vieille Étoile 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape (gold)

We head down to meet chefs of Relais and Châteaux at the incredible Lympstone Manor in Devon, a 5 star hotel and home to the Relais & Châteaux Delegate for the UK & Ireland and chef/patron of Lympstone Manor, Michael Canes.

They are championing a campaign that goes far beyond just fine dining in the most decadent hotels. The initiative is called, Food For Change (in alliance with Slow Food and the Ark of Taste).

We talk to Shane Holland, Executive Director of Slow Food in the UK before being treated to a 5-course gastronomic experience which saw 5 chefs take to the pass and serve up delicious dishes curated using ingredients from the Ark of Taste. Those chefs were Luke Matthews of Chewton Glen, Simon Crannage of Grantley Hall, Tom Scade of The Vineyard, Stephen Hayes of Cashel Palace and Michael Caines of Lympstone Manor.

In partnership with the International Wine and Spirit Competition www.iwsc.net - using the best in the world to judge the best in the world. With sustainability currently on everyone’s mind, David is joined by expert and author, Nick Breeze, and Mafalda Vasques, winemaker at Herdade dos Grous, to learn more about how one of Portugal’s biggest regions has focused on its environmental impact with ‘the Wines of Alentejo Sustainability Programme’. 

Wines featured:

Barros Colheita 1974 - from Sogevinus Fine Wines (gold) 

Justino's Madeira Wines Single Cask Sercial Dry 2005 (gold and trophy)

Casa da Passarella Abanico Reserva 2020 (silver)

Herdade Do Peso Reserva 2018 (silver)

Adega de Borba Castelo de Borba Antão Vaz 2021 (silver)

Angela Hui, author of acclaimed book Takeaway talks to Caroline Kenyon about her childhood growing up in her parents' Chinese takeaway business in deepest Wales, while Khalil Radwan tells the tale of moving from the city aged 9 when his parents changed course from academia to starting the UK's first organic halal farm