This week on The Go-To Food Podcast, we sit down with Luke Farrell — the modern godfather of Southeast Asian cuisine in London. From the neon-lit Speedboat Bar to his innovative Thai greenhouses in Dorset, Luke unpacks what it takes to run four award-winning restaurants rooted in authentic Southeast Asian flavours: Speedboat Bar (Thai-Chinese), Plaza Khao Gaeng (Southern Thai), Bebek! Bebek! (Indonesian), and Viet Populaire (Vietnamese).

Expect stories of late-night noodle runs in Bangkok, frozen Thai beer slushies, and the surprisingly spicy secrets of Southern Thai cuisine. Luke reflects on cultural appropriation in food, the grind of growing tropical produce in the English countryside, and what makes a truly unforgettable dish — including the time he fainted after eating a raw blood delicacy in Chiang Mai.

Finally, Luke takes us on his ultimate foodie weekend in Bangkok — from rice soup at dawn to cocktails at Dua and deep-fried fish buoyancy sacks in Chinatown.

If you’re into bold flavours, Southeast Asian restaurants, or are drawn to the idea of growing ingredients that seem impossible in British climes — this one’s for you.

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Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

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This week on The Go-To Food Podcast, we sit down with legendary chef Theo Randall to talk about his incredible journey through the world of food. From starting as a kitchen porter at just 14, to working his way up through some of the most influential kitchens in the world, Theo shares how a transformative stint at Chez Panisse shaped his approach to ingredients and how 17 years at the River Cafe saw him rise to head chef and win a Michelin star.

He had a front-row seat to the beginning of Jamie Oliver’s meteoric early success and later worked with Jamie’s 15 charity, mentoring young chefs while it was still running. Now at the helm of his own restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel, Theo takes us inside his cooking philosophy, the importance of fresh, seasonal ingredients, and why he’s still passionate about training the next generation of chefs.

Plus, he reveals his dream foodie weekend in Verona—where the streets are paved with marble, trattorias serve the finest local cheeses and salumi, and risotto is king. From delicate seasonal ingredients like Bruscandoli to rich Amarone-infused rice, Theo paints a mouthwatering picture of why this northern Italian city is a must-visit for food lovers.

A must-listen for anyone obsessed with Italian food, kitchen culture, and what it takes to reach the top of the culinary world.

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If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.

Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.

Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

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Welcome back to Mise en Place, where this week we sit down with Taco Manny at his spot Guacamoles. Manny is a Mexican refugee who fled death threats for a cartel and rebuilt his life in London—one taco at a time. 

With just £70, he launched a pop-up that made £3,000 in 15 days, all of which he donated to his church. Now, his tacos are celebrated as the best in London, with both The Financial Times and The Infatuation crowning his food as the city’s finest Mexican offering.

Manny shares how his family’s culinary heritage shaped his approach and why authenticity is at the heart of everything he makes. He talks about the struggle to source proper ingredients in the UK, his mission to recreate true barbacoa, the 17 spices that make his birria taste exactly like home and his ongoing quest to find intestines for the tripe tacos he misses from home. He also reflects on his spiritual awakening, overcoming addiction and loss, and how his faith has guided his journey.

His reputation skyrocketed after Jonathan Nunn put Guacamoles on the map not long after it opened, and since then, he’s cooked for everyone from actors to the Mexican ambassador in the UK. Now, as demand for his tacos continues to soar, he’s setting his sights on expansion.

From cartel threats to culinary success, this is a story of resilience, faith, and the power of truly great food. Don’t miss it.

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Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

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Today we’re delighted to be joined by a chef who was once the youngest 2 Michelin star female chef in the world and after working in 4 Michelin Starred restaurants around Europe and then working for Gordon Ramsay, she casually became the first woman to ever win the Great British Menu main course, in over 20 years of the shows history!

Kate opens up about; why she decided to leave the restaurant industry and become a private chef rather than try and open her own restaurant, the struggles emotionally of being a Head Chef, the brutality of 19 hour days working in Michelin Star kitchens, the greatest way to tackle sexism and inequality, the delights of Copenhagen's dining scene, her secrets to becoming the first female in history to win the Great British Menu's main course, the unglamorous truths of working for Gordon Ramsay, the selfishness you need to be a successful chef and so much more...

It's a truly fascinating listen and Kate is a wonderful orator, so sit back, relax and enjoy!

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Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.

If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.

Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.

Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

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Welcome back to Mise en Place where this week we take a deep dive into the mind of Ramael Scully, the powerhouse behind London’s critically acclaimed Scully. From his early days grafting in Australian kitchens to learning from Ottolenghi and carving out his own culinary empire, Scully’s journey is packed with inspiration, grit, and game-changing ideas. Expect no-nonsense insights, jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes stories, and a masterclass in creative cooking.

He opens up about what it’s really like to be mentored by one of the world’s most influential chefs and how those early lessons shaped his fearless approach to food. His Malaysian-Australian heritage and obsession with street food have fuelled a completely unique cooking style, blending bold, unexpected flavours into dishes that Londoners can’t get enough of. But running a top restaurant isn’t just about the food—it’s about survival. Scully reveals the brutal highs and lows of the industry, from impossible customers to the relentless pursuit of perfection.

And then there’s the future of food. Fermentation, zero waste, multi-layered flavour explosions—Scully is rewriting the rulebook on how we cook, eat, and think about ingredients. For food lovers, ambitious chefs, and anyone obsessed with the art of eating well, this episode is an absolute must-listen. Download now and get stuck in.

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Welcome back to The Go To Food Podcast! Today, we’re joined by the country's most famous food critic and journalist, and perhaps once the angriest man in Britain, Giles Coren. Giles has been the restaurant critic for The Times since 2002, following stints as a critic for Tatler and The Independent on Sunday. He’s also hosted over 30 TV shows in both the UK and US, landing his big break in 2005 with Gordon Ramsay’s F-Word.

Known for never shying away from controversy, Giles has found himself at the center of numerous scandals over the years—many of which, as he reveals, have led to pay raises instead of sackings. A brilliant writer and orator, he’s also made a few enemies with his notorious Twitter rants and his sensitivity to public opinion. In today’s episode, for the first time ever, Giles opens up about his most memorable controversies, shares his regrets (including his greatest regret over his comments about Dawn Foster after her passing), and explains why he thinks Jonathan Nunn is the biggest "C***" in the world—though it may not be as harsh as it sounds.

We also dive into his professional journey to the top of the journalism world, explore why he believes the role of food critic is nearly extinct, uncover why he had a complicated relationship with AA Gill, and hear about the most disgusting food he’s ever eaten. Plus, find out how he got a famous restaurant chain shut down, his thoughts on the Notting Hill dining scene, how he discovered he had cancer, and much more.

This is definitely one of our most entertaining—and possibly controversial—interviews yet. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

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Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.

If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.

Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.

Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

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Welcome back to the podcast whereby his week, we’re joined by Danny Winer, the man behind one of the most talked-about cookware brands in the game: HexClad.

From aspiring actor to cookware kingpin, Danny’s journey is anything but ordinary. He opens up about his early missteps, including the juicing business that collapsed overnight, and how he kept the faith when things looked bleak. He shares how HexClad was built on sheer graft—begging, borrowing, and (not-quite) stealing their way through the early days—and how they turned the chaos of the pandemic into a business advantage by hiring an entire freelance sales team when everyone else was making cuts.

And then there’s the Gordon Ramsay moment—a chance DM that snowballed into one of the most successful chef partnerships in recent memory.

It’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and a fair bit of hustle. Tune in for an episode packed with lessons on business, belief, and the fine art of the sales pitch.

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Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.

If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.

Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.

Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

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Today we’re joined by arguably the most iconic female chef in the country in the legendary Sally Clarke, who's been the owner and chef patron at Clarke's in Kensington for over 41 years. Sally ironically failed her O level in cookery and yet has gone on to become one of the most successful chef and restaurant owners in the country. Clarke's is a London institution and the restaurant is the favourite of everyone from Mick Jagger to Bono - David Hockney to Paul Smith and all in between. In only her 2nd ever audio interview, Sally reveals how she fell in love with food through the books of Elizabeth David and her travels across France as a child. However it was when she headed to study at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in the early 70s when she knew that this was going to be her life. Having worked at 3 of the most famous restaurants in the City she came back to London to work alongside Pru Leith at her cookery school, but within a year found herself moving to live in California to work at some of the greatest new age restaurants. It was here she met and fell in love with Alice Waters and Chez Panisse, and was inspired 5 years later in 1983 to return to London and set up Clarke's following in the same farm to table ethos and daily changing set menu as her culinary hero and friend. However, setting up a restaurant as a female head chef and owner wasn't easy in the early 1980s and we hear about; the disastrous problems she encountered, and rude sexist male customers and suppliers she had to deal with. We also hear about her friendship with Lucian Freud who used to eat breakfast and lunch at the restaurant everyday and how she had the privilege of being the last person ever to sit for him. Also, alongside the restaurant Sally runs an incredibly successful commercial bakery that sells over 90,000 handmade Mince Pies each year and beat all her Parisian competition to provide the pastries for the Eurostar. Sally very kindly also shares her secrets to success including; how to create the ultimate menu, the 'Art Of The Table, how to treat your customers and why she never ever gives her customers the bill.

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Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.

If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.

Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.

Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

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Welcome to The Go-To Weekend, your ultimate guide to making the most of your days off. Hosted by Sunday Times deputy food editor Hannah Evans and Foodism deputy editor Molly Codyre, we’re here delivering the hottest tips on where to go, what to eat, and what not to miss this weekend, all with a sharp eye, a raised glass, and zero tolerance for nonsense.

This week, we’re taking in the scent of Tom Straker’s candle—does it whisper ‘buttery bliss’ or just smell like burning cash? And speaking of money, we’re tackling International Women’s Day, the gender pay gap, and why letting your partner pick up the tab might just be a sleeper act of economic rebalancing.

Meanwhile, we reminisce about the golden age of Big Mamma Group restaurant launches - back when treating yourself didn’t require financial planning and leaving a restaurant launch in an ambulance wasn’t quite the faux par it might be today.

Then, with St Patrick’s Day looming, we get stuck into the internet boxing match of the year, Ellis vs Corcoran, before we brace for the inevitable onslaught of Guinness brosplaining while making the case for Beamish as the superior pint. Plus, in a twist that defies all logic, we investigate Guinness as a health food—its surprising role in weight loss and post-pregnancy recovery.

Click here to listen and follow the show; https://linktr.ee/gotoweekend

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Today we’re joined by a man Giles Coren described as ‘a hippy genius’ who recently received a Michelin Star having just opened the doors to his restaurant AngloThai merely 3 months before the awards, the wonderful John Chantarasak. Although it's been a long road from him touring the world as a professional drummer to moving to Bangkok to train at Le Corden Bleu followed by working under the stewardship of arguably the most famous Thai inspired chef in the world in David Thompson to doing almost 10 years of pop ups and false starts before opening his beautiful 44 cover restaurant in Marylebone, the wait has been worth it. His food his beyond incredible and his stories of his unlikely struggle to the top match his flavours note for note, so sit back, relax and enjoy the only Michelin starred Thai chef in the country.

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Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.

If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.

Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.

Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.