The Food Programme

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**The Food Programme**

Investigating every aspect of the food we eat

Latest Episodes:

Food Clubs Feb 20, 2012

Show notes

Sheila Dillon looks at how people are clubbing together to buy budget and luxury food.

Producer: Maggie Ayre.

Comfort Food Feb 13, 2012

Show notes

In these uncomfortable times, Sheila Dillon asks what role does food play in giving comfort?

Producer: Sara Parker.

Adventures in Vegetarian Cuisine Feb 06, 2012

Show notes

Meat-free cooking is in the spotlight. High-profile food writers are devoting books to delicious meatless food, and there are established restaurants, street-food vendors and new eateries offering vegetarian and vegan fare to diners of all stripes. Is it time for all restaurants and cafes to offer fantastic vegetarian food that doesn't feel like an 'add-on' to the menu?

In this edition of the Food Programme, Sheila Dillon asks if the British public are increasingly opening their minds to the possibilities of a complete plate of food with no meat?

The Food Programme's Carnivore-in-Chief Tim Hayward embarks on a mission to experience what vegetable, pulse and grain can offer.

Along the way meet Yotam Ottolenghi, Denis Cotter and encounter a flower-strewn van, some perplexed football fans and 'pasta' made from radishes.

Producer: Rich Ward.

The Trouble with Chocolate Jan 30, 2012

Show notes

The trouble with chocolate. Sheila Dillon explains why supplies of cocoa around the world are facing a challenging future.

Producer: Maggie Ayre.

Generation Food Jan 23, 2012

Show notes

Generation Food. The Food Programme hears from the people coming up with new ideas and fresh thinking about how and where we produce food for the UK's future.

From computer programmers creating networks for people trading food locally through to community supported market gardens, Sheila Dillon finds out how a new generation is coming up with radical models for growing, buying and selling food.

Producer: Dan Saladino.

London 2012, Coke and McDonalds Jan 16, 2012

Show notes

Food and the Olympics. Guest presenter John Inverdale looks ahead to London 2012 and explores the history of food and athletics from the first London Games of 1948.

Presenter: John Inverdale Producer: Maggie Ayre.

Food Stories: What Happened Next? Jan 09, 2012

Show notes

Sheila Dillon reports on the major developments in the big food stories of 2011.

Producer: Rich Ward.

New Year's Food Quiz Jan 01, 2012

Show notes

Tim Hayward and The Food Quiz team juggle more food history, trivia and recipe knowledge in pursuit of fun and gastronomic curiosity.

Recorded in front of a live audience at The Abergavenny Food Festival this special edition of the Radio 4 Food Quiz features panellists comedian Chris Neill, food writer Richard Johnson, television presenter Gizzi Erskine and restaurant insider Thomas Blythe.

This week's quiz categories include, "beer or racehorse" and "what's cookin'" as well as more from inside "the museum of brands".

Producer: Dan Saladino.

The Food Quiz Dec 25, 2011

Show notes

Nowhere else will you find a programme that juggles Elvis Presley's culinary history, questions over the origins of a 1970's crisp brand, references to Elizabeth David and some of the world's most unusual food sounds.

Food writer Tim Hayward performs this feat in a special Christmas Day edition of The Food Quiz. Panellists Allegra McEvady, Richard Johnson and Chris Neill pit their gastronomic knowledge, grasp of food trivia and culinary history against each other.

Categories include the devious "Into the Museum of Brands", a cult cookbook round as well as "What's Cookin'?" in which the teams have to identify a classic dish from the archives.

Producer: Dan Saladino.

Gin and Botanicals Dec 19, 2011

Show notes

Dan Saladino explores the past, present and future of the most British of drinks, gin. And hears how a new generation of distillers is testing the boundaries of an old and familiar flavour.

For decades vodka was the spirit of choice, not just for James Bond, but also for bartenders and mixologists (a recent term for the people who develop new drink recipes and cocktails). But more recently people have been reaching out for more interesting and complex flavours to replace the neutral taste of vodka. Gin was perfect.

From as far back as the 12th century apothecaries had used juniper and its coniferous flavours in spirits to heal and revive. By the 17th century the Dutch had given us Geneva or Holland Gin, a rough, whisky like spirit with juniper at its base. As distilling techniques developed in the 19th century it became the refined gin we know today with juniper flavours being delicately mixed with botanicals like coriander, cinnamon, ginger and Orris.

It's the challenge of blending and experimenting with these flavours that has attracted a new generation of gin distillers. Dan Saladino explains the history that has made this 21st century gin craze possible and finds out what is now drawing people to what was once Britain's most notorious drink.

Producer: Dan Saladino.

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