The Menu

This week, we get a taste of Polish cuisine. We sit down with Ren Behan to discuss her new book, ?The Sweet Polish Kitchen?. Also in the programme, Julia Lasica heads to the renowned Ognisko in London?s South Kensington to find out more about the historic restaurant. Plus: Mateusz Mazzini is in Warsaw to visit local wine bar Bra? and learn about the emerging Polish wine industry.

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Estonia?s capital, Tallinn, boasts a vibrant and rapidly evolving food scene. For many years, however, culinary talent has avoided the city?s medieval old town, which has been deemed too expensive and touristy. But now the trend is reversing and young chefs looking to make their mark have rediscovered the historical city centre. Monocle?s Petri Burtsoff met with restaurateur and sommelier Kristjan Peäske for a tour of his favourite drinking and dining spots in Tallinn?s Old Town.

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This week we get bookish with an episode dedicated to food in literature ? and literature about food. We sit down with food writer Felicity Cloake to hear her take on what makes great gastronomic prose. Also in the programme: Charlotte McDonald-Gibson delves into James Bond novels to find out how important food and drink is to their plot. Plus: We whip up a recipe from Nora Ephron?s acclaimed roman à clef, ?Heartburn?.

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Join Theo Randall, chef patron of Theo Randall at the InterContinental, as he takes us on a tour of Regent?s Park Road in the Primrose Hill area of London.

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?We sit down with Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, the founders of Frieze art fair?, to find out about their culinary ventures ? and the intersection between art and food?. Also in the programme: ?Monocle?s Helsinki correspondent, P?etri Burtsoff, meets with Finnair?s development chef, Sami Oksava,? to learn about the role of Finnish cuisine on board ?t?he airline?s flights?. Plus: Michael Booth heads to the fête du Diamant Noir in Provence to discover more about the art of truffle-hunting in the region.

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This week we?re in Ireland?s capital for the opening of the Dublin Coffee Festival. Sebastian Stephenson headed to the sold-out event, reusable cup in hand, to get a taste of how the Dublin scene is brewing and grab some recommendations from Ireland?s coffee masters. 

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We sit down with Colin Asare-Appiah and Mark Talbot Holmes, the founders of Africa?s first spirits and cocktail festival, Ajabu. Also in the programme: Ivan Carvalho is in the San Francisco Bay Area to meet Hannalee Pervan of One House Bakery. Plus: Myriam Zumbühl takes us to L?Apogée Courchevel hotel in the French Alps to taste crêpes Suzette as the winter season comes to a close.

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Monocle?s Ivan Carvalho is in Florence to discover the culinary treasures of a city that?s best known for its cultural offerings. Amid its wealth of Renaissance art and architecture, the Tuscan capital has its fair share of gastronomic outposts rooted in local traditions. It?s also a place where both new and old concepts find space to entertain people?s palates.

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This week, we meet Chicca Vancini in Turin at her restaurant, Ailime, to find out what she means when she says that her kitchen has an Italian ambience but a Japanese attitude. Also in the programme: we meet Marc Lotenberg of luxury restaurant-booking app Dorsia and Monocle?s Toronto correspondent, Tomos Lewis, is in Picton, Ontario, to meet chef Albert Ponzo of The Royal Hotel to learn about his farm-to-table approach to cooking.

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George Town is the vibrant capital of the Malaysian Island of Penang. The bustling city was once an important trading hub within the Straits of Malacca and over the years has been influenced by a variety of cultures, which have transformed George Town?s food scene into the eclectic culinary destination it is today. Here, Monocle?s Lilian Fawcett takes us on a gastronomic tour of the Unesco world heritage site. Take a listen.

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This week?s episode is dedicated to all things sugary. Monocle?s Paige Reynolds meets with maverick baker Lily Vanilli, whose creations have appeared everywhere from fashion-week events to Elton John?s birthday party. Also in the programme: Michael Booth visits one of Provence?s best-known nougatiers and Fernando Augusto Pacheco joins us in the studio for a biscuit-themed edition of ?The Global Countdown?.

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Monocle?s Hannah Lucinda Smith heads to Istanbul?s vibrant Aksaray district to discover the city?s lesser-known international food scene. Here, we wander Aksaray?s sprawling backstreets to taste everything from Uzbek to Senegalese cuisine.

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We sit down with Jean-Philippe Blondet, the executive chef at London?s Alain Ducasse at the Dorchester, to ask what it takes to cook at the highest possible level. Plus: Petri Burtsoff explains why rye holds such cultural significance in Finland and Ivan Carvalho heads to the Valle Isarco in the foothills of the Italian Alps to find out why the region is becoming increasingly popular for wine.

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The southern French city of Avignon is internationally known for its annual summer cultural festival. For more than half of the 14th century, it was also home to the Roman Catholic papacy. Its culinary reputation, however, is often overshadowed by two neighbouring cities: Lyon and Marseille. In this episode, Monocle?s Michael Booth visits the Provençal city to unearth some of its specialties, which range from unique pastries and archeological cheeses to a delicious lamb recipe.

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We sit down with Dutch baker Issa Niemeijer-Brown, who tells us about his new book, ?A Book about Bread?. Also in the programme: Monocle?s Tomos Lewis visits Clyde?s Fine Diner in Des Moines, Iowa, and finds out more about the city?s growing culinary scene. Plus: Michael Booth heads to the Rhône valley to meet UK winemaker Kate McKinlay.

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Taiwan might be a small island but its culinary staples, such as beef noodle soup and bao buns, are soaring in popularity worldwide. And there?s a rich diversity of regional cuisines that have yet to travel beyond its shores. Monocle?s Naomi Xu Elegant takes a trip to the southern city of Tainan to explore its unique food and drink scene.

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We sit down with Struan Grant Ralph of Glenfiddich to savour the past and future of the heritage whiskey brand. Plus: Monocle?s Christopher Cermak joins us in the studio to discuss the world?s most exclusive gastronomic circle: the Club des Chefs des Chefs.

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While the cool folk of Berlin can be found in all corners of the German capital, there?s one particular boulevard where they are known to congregate. Weserstrasse, in the heart of the Neukölln district, is a street where the food and drink offerings have stepped up to the city?s demands. Monocle?s Paige Reynolds takes us on a tour.

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We sit down with acclaimed chef Daniel Humm, of Eleven Madison Park in New York, to hear more about his new food-and-art book, ?Eat More Plants?, released with publishing icon Gerhard Steidl. Plus: we sample new Vietnamese opening L? Qu?y Singapore and hit the slopes of St Moritz to find out how the hallowed resort tempts discerning palates in winter.

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From sweet and spongy cinnamon buns with strong cups of coffee to fresh local seafood, there is no shortage of culinary delights in Oslo. Here, Nora Hoel wanders the popular neighbourhood of Sankthanshaugen to show us the best her hometown has to offer. Take a listen.

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We are staying close to our studios in London this week for a tour of a neighbourhood that keeps evolving in culinary matters. Shoreditch in east London has long been a great place to eat. Its refined restaurants often set the pace for the rest of the city ? and beyond.

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We head to the Côte d?Or in Central France, which is known as the epicentre of the nation?s fine wine production. Its offerings, however, extend well beyond just wine. From triple-cream cheeses and truffles to honey and ham, there is no shortage of culinary delights to be enjoyed in the region. Monocle?s Liv Kessler takes us on a winding roadtrip from the Côte de Nuits to the Côte de Beaune. 

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We sit down with Mathew Carver and Patrick McGuigan, authors of ?The Cheese Life?, to discuss the obsession with the ingredient and try some delicious British cheeses. Plus: Monocle Radio?s Mariella Bevan speaks to scientist David Nutt, co-founder of Sentia spirits, an alcohol-free alternative designed to capture the relaxation that comes with drinking without the alcohol, and Alexei Korolyov looks back at the surprising history of soybeans in Austria. 

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This week we head to Rebellious Wine Club in London, an ongoing series of wine tastings hosted by some of the most exciting women working in the UK wine industry. Its aim? To debunk some of the more common wine myths and rules, while keeping things relaxed ? and maybe even a little bit mischievous. Monocle?s Mae-Li Evans went along to Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings in Clerkenwell to find out more.

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For a second week, Monocle?s Chiara Rimella looks back on a delicious 2023.

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Many Italian immigrants settled in North America in the 19th and early-20th centuries, establishing Little Italy enclaves wherever they went. Today the largest in the US can be found in San Diego, where nearly 50 blocks brim with food and drink from the ?bel paese?. Monocle?s Gregory Scruggs tucks in for lunch and takes us on a tour.

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Monocle?s Chiara Rimella looks back on a delicious 2023.

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We sit down with Martin Dibben, head of champagne at Searcys, to learn the best way to enjoy our bubbles this festive season. Also in the programme: Myriam Zumbühl tells us where to find the best hot chocolate in Zürich and Hannah Lucinda Smith tastes traditional Boza in Istanbul.

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Join Monocle?s Ivan Carvalho as he explores Milan?s vibrant food scene in the Porta Venezia neighbourhood, which is home to a wide array of offerings, including pizzas, Japanese izakayas and contemporary bistros. 

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We take a deep dive into some classic culinary Christmas traditions. Chiara Rimella and Fernando Augusto Pacheco sit down in the studio for a battle of the panettones. Plus: Monica Lillis sings the praises of Christmas pudding and Nina dos Santos tells us why cod will be on her table this year.

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Tom Webb, Monocle?s deputy head of radio, guides us through the delicious drinks offering at the London leg of The Monocle Christmas Market.

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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.

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Join Monocle?s deputy head of radio, Tom Webb, as he takes us on a whistle-stop tour of this year?s Monocle Christmas Market in Zürich. 

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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 award-winning Slovenian chef Jorg Zupan.

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Borneo conjures images of wild jungle canopies and tropical fauna. But there is more to the world?s third-largest island than rainforests and orangutans. Monocle?s Lilian Fawcett visits Kuching in Malaysian Borneo, which was named a ?creative city of gastronomy? by Unesco for its diverse culinary offering.

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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. 

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We head to Paris?s Rue des Martyrs, a street in the vibrant 9th arrondissement, which is brimming with dedicated food retailers that have been honing their craft for decades. Monocle?s Claudia Jacob takes us through the addresses preserving France?s traditional cuisine, as well as those going against the grain. 

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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 outskirts of Florence to visit  the La Marzocco Espresso Academy.

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Join Theo Clench, executive chef of the Michelin-starred Cycene, as he takes us on a tour of his favourite spots in the east London neighbourhood of Shoreditch.

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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 London?s Soho.

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Lisbon?s Príncipe Real district is filled with regal 19th-century architecture, leafy gardens, independent retailers and a host of quaint restaurants and bars. Monocle?s Chloé Lake takes us on a tour.

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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 attend the World?s 50 Best Bars Awards in Singapore.

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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 Arctic Food Lab at the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík and Monica Lillis ventures to southwest England to try a brand-new luxury cider brand, Showerings.

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The dish-washing area of a restaurant is usually kept behind closed doors. During the Paris Internationale art fair, however, which wrapped up on Sunday, this was not the case. As part of a pop-up collaboration between the culinary group, We Are Ona, and creative practice, Crosby Studios, the restaurant on the top floor of the exhibition space included stainless-steel worktables and an impressive fountain made out of professional sinks. Monocle?s Robert Bound caught up with the Michelin-starred chef, Dalad Kambhu, whose contemporary interpretation of traditional Thai gastronomy took centre stage. 

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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 in Seattle, and Guy de Launey explores how Japanese tea-making is brewing bilateral relationships in Slovenia.

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This week, we sample the strange and surprising culinary delights that Venice has to offer. Sarah Grice navigates us through the winding streets and canals of the floating city in search of its hidden treasures and plenty of spritzes.

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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 Geneva. Plus: Nora Hoel speaks to Michelle Salazar de la Rocha and Sam Napier, founders of London?s Sonora Taqueria.

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This week we explore Seattle in the Pacific Northwest. Pike Place Market is the oldest and largest continuously running farmers? market in the US. And to many, it?s even considered the soul of Seattle. From the fresh seafood that lines the stalls to the home of the first Starbucks store, Pike Place Market is a must-visit for both locals and visitors alike. Our guide to the market is Monocle?s Sheena Rossiter.

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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 packed lunch and Naomi Xu Elegant speaks to Daniel Sia of the Coconut Club in Singapore.

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The Chinese diaspora can be found across the globe, populating Chinatowns from Manila to Manchester. One of the most storied lies in Vancouver, Canada?s West Coast metropolis perched on the Pacific Rim. Monocle?s Gregory Scruggs takes us for a tour.

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