The Menu
Interviews with top chefs, food innovators, and producers. Discover ingredients, trends, and stories shaping the world of food and drink.
Latest Episodes
‘Slow Food, Fast Cars’ and Eline restaurant
Monocle’s Isabella Jewell sits down with renowned Italian chef Massimo Bottura and his wife, Lara Gilmore, to discuss their new food-and-lifestyle book, ‘Slow Food, Fast Cars’. Also in the programme: Lucrezia Motta heads to Eline restaurant in east London to discover its take on festive French dining.
‘Vintage Crime: A Short History of Wine Fraud’, Copenhagen coffee culture and Jorg Zupan
We sit down with “master of wine” and author Rebecca Gibb to explore the tantalising world of wine fraud. Also in the programme: Monocle’s Copenhagen correspondent, Michael Booth, finds out why Denmark is emerging as a gourmet coffee destination. Plus: our man in the Balkans, Guy de Launey, meets the…
Kudu Collective, chestnut season in Portugal and San Francisco’s Thanksgiving traditions
We meet Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams, founders of Kudu Collective, a group of popular South African restaurants in London. Also in the programme: Monocle’s Lisbon correspondent, Gaia Lutz, discovers Portugal’s autumnal love affair with chestnuts, and Simon Marks finds out about San Francisco’s unusual Thanksgiving ingredient: Dungeness crab.
Hainan House, Ukrainian Borscht and La Marzocco Espresso Academy
We sit down with Sunny Wu and Irene Hua, the brains behind new London opening Hainan House. Julia Lasica is in the kitchen with her mother and journalist Roksolyanan Lasica to find out how to make her version of the beloved Ukrainian dish borscht. Plus: Ivan Carvalho heads to the…
How can we eat more sustainably?
We explore the world of sustainable eating and meet trailblazers in the environmentally conscious food industry. Restaurateur and ecological campaigner Malcolm Wood tells us about his fine-dining restaurant, The Aubrey. Also in the programme: Gregory Scruggs discovers St Jude Tuna in Seattle and Monica Lillis heads to Mildreds restaurant in…
Donna Hay, wines of Vidigueira and the World’s 50 Best Bars Awards
Chiara Rimella sits down with acclaimed Australian cookbook author Donna Hay to discuss her new cookbook, ‘Even More Basics to Brilliance’. Also in the programme, Monocle’s Milan correspondent, Ivan Carvalho, heads to Portugal to explore the lesser-known wine appellation, Vidigueira. Plus: Naomi Xu Elegant attends the World’s 50 Best Bars…
Finland’s mushroom-foraging craze, Ana Ros and Showerings Cider
Monocle’s Gaia Lutz sits down with renowned Slovenian chef Ana Ros in Lisbon. Also in the programme: Petri Burtsoff is in Finland to find out why mushroom foraging is becoming ever more popular in both home and restaurant cooking. Plus: Andrew Mueller speaks to Laura Suorsa of the Oulu 2026…
Japanese culinary soft power
We explore the world of Japanese cuisine and its role in boosting the nation’s profile around the globe. Monica Lillis sits down with London-based saké sommelier Erika Haigh and Monocle’s Copenhagen correspondent, Michael Booth, meets Mads Battefeld of Sushi Anaba. Plus: Gregory Scruggs visits Uwajimaya, an authentic Japanese grocery shop…
‘Bitter’, SWISS and Sonora Mexican
This week we sit down with Alexina Anatole to discuss her new cookbook, ‘Bitter’. Also in the programme, Myriam Zumbühl takes to the skies to try SWISS’s new in-flight menu, which was devised by Olivier Jean, executive chef of L’Atelier Robuchon and Le Jardinier restaurants at The Woodward Hotel in…
London Cocktail Week, Ukraine’s Trains and Coconut Club
This week, we welcome Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne, co-founders of London Cocktail week, into the studio to reflect on how the festival has evolved since it was founded 14 years ago. Also in the programme: Julia Lasica remembers her childhood train journeys through Ukraine, which often involved a signature…
