Aspirational kitchens are an integral part of our food media, but where did they come from? And what does it mean for those who can never attain a beautiful, cookbook-worthy kitchen? Design historian Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan explores what came before the fitted kitchen, and how the room itself has shape-shifted drastically over the 20th century. And food writer and author Ruby Tandoh considers the aspirational kitchen in food writing.

Episode 1 of Kitchens, a podcast series by Lecker about the most important room in the home.

You can find a full transcript for this episode on the Lecker website.

Lecker is written and produced by Lucy Dearlove.

Thanks to the contributors on this episode, Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan and Ruby Tandoh.

There’s also a print zine featuring original essays and illustrations about kitchens released alongside this audio series. Buy a copy now at leckerpodcast.com

Original theme music was composed for the series by Jeremy Warmsley, with additional music also by Jeremy, and by Blue Dot Sessions

Research and production assistance from Nadia Mehdi.

Additional guest research by Sarah Woolley.

Cover collage by Stephanie Hartman

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