The Go To Food Podcast

Today it's a joy to bring you the wonderful Aaron Potter who having spent years in the kitchen working under some of the greatest Michelin starred chefs in the country, notably Phil Howard and Adam Byatt, has now gone it alone and launched London's hottest new restaurant 'Wildflowers'. Fresh off a 5 Star review from the wonderful Grace Dent, Wildflowers owes much of its inspiration to a few key places; inspiration has, of course, been drawn from Trinity and Phil Howard’s Elystan Street, but the Mediterranean-inspired menu owes a lot to Bar Cañete in Barcelona and the extraordinary Asador-based menu at Porteño in Sydney. We get to sample some delicious food, uncover some wonderful stories and recommendations, so sit back, relax and book yourself a table on the appetite app!
---------
Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Today we're joined by one of the most important chefs to ever grace this earth in Ashley Palmer-Watts, who alongside Heston Blumenthal, completely reinvented the world of food during his 20 year tenure as Head Chef at the 3 Michelin Starred 'Fat Duck' & 2 Michelin Starred 'Dinner By Heston'. Today for the first time ever, Ashely opens up and reveals all the secrets, accidents and development work that went into changing the way we as humans think about, taste and appreciate food. He also reveals the genius mind of Heston Blumenthal and how he was the first man to break the barriers on fine dining  and hence why he will go down in the history book alongside the likes of Escoffier & co. 
-----------
Please subscribe and leave us a comment and share it with your friends!

Today we're joined by one of London's most in demand chefs in Anna Søgaard, recently Head Chef and creator of Bistro Freddie, to discuss her incredible culinary journey that's taken her from working at the best restaurants in Copenhagen, before ending up in London via the critically acclaimed Erst in Manchester. We discuss; how she managed to create one of London's most sought after restaurants, the joys of recreating fish and chips, the challenges of dealing with drunken customers, and why she left so suddenly, the joys of old Danish food, why we're experiencing the death of new nordic cuisine, the culinary secrets to implement during Thanksgiving, where the hottest places in Copenhagen are to visit, how her female led 'Suppher Club' is giving a voice back to females in hospitality, the dangers of giving power to customers to complain and much much more......
---------
Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Follow Anna here - https://www.instagram.com/annasogaard/?hl=en

Today we're joined by everybody's favourite chef and food creator and now cookbook author, the wonderfully charming & ridiculously talented Seema Pankania. We discuss her incredible journey from studying neuroscience at University to becoming a chef working for Gordon Ramsay to becoming one of the most followed and loved food creators online! We're also given a preview of her incredible new cookbook 'Craveable' which has the perfect edible anecdotes for any mood/situation you may find yourself in. We also debate a whole of host of ridiculous topics from; pack up lunches, to airplane food, to near death experiences, the risk of getting murdered at Midsommar and much much more.....
-------
Pre-Order Seema's wonderful cookbook here  now - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Craveable-want-flavours-every-mood/dp/1405957433

Today we're honoured to be joined by the owner and exec-chef of the Michelin starred 'The Ninth' restaurant in Fitzrovia to discuss a career that is almost unrivalled in terms of experience and success. Chef Jun has worked at eight Michelin star restaurants throughout his career (including his own) and has learnt from 3 of the 4 founding fathers of British Gastronomy in; Albert Roux, Nico Ladenis and of course Marco Pierre-White. He's also worked under the guidance of Michelin starred icons Phil Howard and Eric Chavot and in this episode he takes us through all the craziness he has witnessed throughout his years, the highs, lows, tears and sometimes regrets of working at the greatest restaurants this country has ever created. We were lucky enough to also sample a couple of dishes from his genius mediterranean inspired menu at 'The Ninth' and find out in terrifying detail about a fire a couple of years ago that very nearly put his business and career into extinction; plus much much more....
--------
Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Today we're joined by the wonderful Owen Barratt who was once co-owner & Exec Chef of London's famous foodie hangout 'Monty's' and is now running the incredibly successful 'Owens Sausages & Hams' down in Somerset. Monty's at its height was one of London's most sought after venues but after rapid expansion and the unforeseen arrival of Covid, it was forced to close its doors forevermore. Today we talk about the shocking emotional and physical impact the closure of Monty's had on Owen and how he's managed to fight back with his latest culinary offering. We also discuss how he went from being a signed musician to deciding to quit the industry to pursue his dream of being a restaurateur and how he managed to turn a market stool selling his food into 4 physical sites in London's most enticing post codes. Plus we hear stories about everything from Aziz Anazaris crazy house party in New York to Andy Samberg's favourite Deli and all the craziness you ca imagine in-between.....
----------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us. 

Sameer Taneja has one of the most incredible stories we've ever come across; he was born into a working class family who were struggling to survive in Delhi in the 70s and had no connection nor interest in food, bar ensuring they could get enough on their plates to survive. However, Sameer fell in love with food and after finding a magazine with the legendary Pierre Koffmann on the cover, he vowed that'd he escape the country and move to London to become a classic french chef and eventually work for the great man. Well he was true to his word and after working for Chef Pascal Proyart at One-O-One he then moved to the iconic Waterside Inn by Alain Roux before eventually going to work for his hero Pierre Koffmann. However, not long after starting to work for Koffmann, the Chef approached Sameer and suggested that he stopped cooking French food and instead cooked the food of his Motherland, it made Sameer cry as all he wanted to do was impress Pierre; but this advise ended up changing his life and the London food scene forevermore.....
---------
Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Today we're joined by the hilarious Elliott Grover to take us through his incredible career which has taken him from escaping Cornwall as a 15 year old to work for Jeremy King to go onto become the Exec Chef at the best steak restaurant in the country  (The Cut @ 45 Park Lane) and also be in charge of the menu for The Oscars each year. Elliott landed a job working for Jeremy King at The Ivy followed by Le Caprice during it's heyday, before taking on a job at Scott's (London's Best Seafood Restaurant) where he worked his way up over 8 years of service. He then left to head up all of The Ned's 10 Restaurants, before going to oversee operations at Duck & Waffle. He was then head hunted by the infamous Michelin Starred mastermind Wolfgang Puck to run his restaurants at 45 Park Lane and also to oversee the food offering at The Oscars each year.

Elliott has got some of the most hilarious stories we've ever heard; from Robin Williams to Kate Moss to Lisa Vanderpamp to Lady Gaga he's seen it all and has worked at some of this countrys finest restaurant's; so sit back, relax and enjoy his incredible tales.
------------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us. 

If you live in London and ever feel low, then may I suggest taking the tube to St Johns Wood and visiting the most magical place in this city, in the wonderful; Panzers. A refuge of incredible food and mind bogglingly exquisite produce, and today we've the pleasure of sitting down with the owner David Josephs to find out the magic and secrets behind this great store that's been serving Londoners non stop since 1944. We get to sample a whole host of their delicious delicacies, unpack the greatest stories from this stores 80 year history, find out why every celebrity in the country shops here, discuss the challenges of running such an iconic store and then at the end we're entrusted with tasting their new exclusive product......so sit back, relax and enjoy.
-------------
Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Today we bring you something slightly different, as when I was uploading our interview with Melissa at the end of last week, we suddenly received a message from Pete Hewitt (Owner 'Everday People' Michelin Bib Gourmand/ Jay Rayners favourite Ramen shop) saying that we need to discuss the real issue that's killing our industry and forcing so many great restaurant's to close and that's the fact we've got the highest VAT in Europe. So I said, can you jump on call and rant at us for 5 minutes about how destructive it actually is and what you want to see changed, he luckily obliged and so that's the starting point of todays episode. We then move into our normal format where we're joined by the award winning writer and chef Melissa Thompson to discuss everything from; dehydrating kimchi to phallus shaped cappuccino's to the racism surrounding fried chicken and the fascinating stories behind some of Jamaica's most famous dishes..plus lots more......
-----------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us.

Today we're joined by one of the hottest chefs in the city in Chet Sharma who's in charge of the critically acclaimed Bibi, which last year won the best restaurant in London. In this wide ranging interview we cover everything from; the story behind the incredible food at Bibi, the highs and lows of working in Michelin Starred classical kitchens, being hospitalised for a terrifying condition bought on by overworking and stress and why he's now fighting against that culture, working at the most controversial restaurant in the world, the terrifying physical impact stress can have on the body, redefining working hours and conditions, why it's impossible to find good waiters anymore, sleeping in the kitchen and taking Mise En Place home in order to survive, the best places to eat Indian food in the city, why some older chefs need to stop complaining and get with the times, his plans for future openings, handing over staff meals to AI and much much more.....
----------
Please make sure you leave us a rating and comment - it really helps other people find the podcast and allows us to continue to grow.

Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Today we bring you a very silly yet entertaining hour with the wonderful 'What Willy Cook' aka William Hughes to discuss his incredible rise to fame over the last couple of years. We discuss; the fallout he's experienced since launching his homeware company 'Pleasant Home', his near death experience working in a professional kitchen as a teenager, a terrifying coked up old Head Chef he used to work for, why Paris is a very disappointing foodie city to visit, pranking Pierre Koffmann in the kitchen, arguing with the rudest Maître d' on the planet, how his sisters hospitalisation inspired him to start cooking, working with the MLB and sampling the greatest sandwich in America, abusive DM's, the secret to viral success and much much more.....
---------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us.

Today we bring you the fascinating story behind London's Best Rated Italian Restaurant 'Ida', as we're joined by owner Simonetta Wenkert. She's a writer by profession, who 20 years ago fell in love with the idea of having her own Italian restaurant and convinced her engineer husband Avi, to risk it all and open up their dream place in Queens Park.

She takes us through the incredible challenges they've battled through from; criminal chefs they've employed, to the financial crisis which forced them to sell their house to keep the place alive, to getting ripped off by their corrupt property agents to almost having to close the business forever during Covid!

However they've also had such wonderful times through; bringing their families recipes to life for the city to enjoy, becoming Prince Harry & Meghans favourite restaurant, serving U2 for a whole week straight, becoming the best rated Italian in London and much much more...
---------
Please make sure you leave us a rating and comment - it really helps other people find the podcast and allows us to continue to grow.

Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Buy Simonetta's Incredible Book - Ida At My Table Here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1835011098

They don't come greater than Michel Roux JR. and so for our 50th Episode we're delighted to be able to bring you such a treat. Michel is on incredible form as he takes us through; his greatest memories of running the 2 Michelin Starred Le Gavroche, what he's missing most from working in the kitchen, what he cooked for the Queen for her 90th Birthday, who the greatest chef he ever worked with was and what made them so impressive, the great hurdles of running a restaurant post covid, how he managed to leave national service in France to go and cook for the French presidents at the Élysée Palace, why French markets are the greatest place to buy produce in the world, why Paris's reputation as a gastronomical capital is quickly dying out, the biggest nightmare days he ever had to face at work, his favourite places to eat in London and the one thing that makes cooking the greatest job in the world plus much much more....
----------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us.

Today we're at the world famous Dorchester Grill, where we're joined by the Executive Chef the wonderful Tom Booton,to celebrate his incredible career to date; which has taken him from being one of the youngest Michelin starred Head Chefs of all time to now running one of the most famous restaurants. Tom started cooking professionally at just 16 years old and has since worked in some of the finest restaurants in the world from London to New York to Reykjavík. Today we hear about; what it was like working full time as a 16 year old in some brual old school kitchens, the pressures of running a Michelin Starred restaurant at just 24, the shocking abuse he got from fellow chefs upon getting his job at The Dorchester, how he's set about modernising and democratising his offering, his greatest life lessons, his favourite places to eat in London, how to tackle the Chef talent shortage, why he's fallen out of love with multi-course fine dining offerings and much much more....
-----------
Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Today we're joined by one of the most followed food creators in the world in Alfie Steiner to discuss his meteoric rise which has taken him from almost being fired as a waiter at a high street restaurant for ruining a couples anniversary to boasting more followers than there are Croatians on this planet! We hear about; how discovering a mouldy beetroot in his fridge changed his life, the shocking death threats he gets online and why London is the greatest food city in the world and where to go plus much more.....
----------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us.

Today we sit down in the holy grail of pubs in The Devonshire where we're joined by the most famous publican in the world in Oisin Rogers to unveil his secrets behind turning this place into the most popular Pub in the world. We discuss; the secrets behind what makes his Guinness taste so good, what it's like creating an award winning menu with Ex Fat Duck Head Chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, the importance of having an in house bakery and butchers, his favourite pubs to eat in, where are the best places in Soho to party, the crazy lockins he's had with A List celebs, his crazy career which has taken him from rural Ireland to becoming the most famous publican in the world, the premier league footballer he had to ban from his previous pub, why San Sebastian is the greatest food city in the world and why the smoking ban wouldn't 'mean fuck all' for business...plus much more.....
------------
Download The Appetite app now and track your fav spots or places that you're dying to check out and book them easily all through the app - download it now. https://shorturl.at/yFXyK

Today we’re joined by a chef who’s had such a huge impact on London’s food scene it’s almost immeasurable, especially with the creation of The Dairy - a restaurant that defined the Nordic-flecked, produce-focused fine dining movement that has become commonplace in London today. He’s worked for the best chefs in the industry from Marco Pierre White to Raymond Blanc to René Redzepi & is now championing the next generation under his own stewardship. Today he takes us through his incredible career starting out in the most toxic kitchen imaginable in Dublin via Marco Pierre White's in London and then off to Napoli to work at the 2 starred Don Alfonso an experience which changed his perception on seasonality and the importance of farm to table eating. This was strengthened by his time cooking from the garden at Le Manoir and reaffirmed beyond belief when he went to work at Noma. Robin shares with us the highs and lows of opening one of London's most iconic restaurants from the critical acclaim to the physical abuse from drunk customers and all in between. We also celebrate his latest genius outlet in Darbys, which is everyones favourite place to eat Sunday Lunch, a revelation which actually angers Robin! Listen in to find out why.............
----------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us.

Today we're joined by multi-award winning photographer David Loftus who's worked with everyone from Jamie Oliver to Nigella Lawson and everyone in between and is the most in demand food photographer in the world. He's also shot some of the biggest celebrities, musicians and models and in this no hold barred interview reveals all the craziest sights he's witnessed in his career so far. From A Listers ripping up priceless books to snort cocaine with, to getting nearly killed in New Orleans by a gang who mistook him for someone else, to witnessing Gordon Ramsay's horrendous abuse first hand when he photographed in his kitchen, to getting used and abused and going unpaid by some of the most famous 'instagram chefs' around and much much more.....
David is such a wonderful orator and has so many brilliant stories that you're all in for such a treat over the next 45 minutes......
------------
DELLI is a food platform, from the team behind Depop, that sells the best independent food and drink products that other shops don’t really know about.
Head to www.delli.market and discover the thousands of creative products dropping daily and use the code GOTODELLI for 25% off everything from us.

Today we pay Ben Marks a visit at his neighbourhood restaurant Perilla in Newington Green, sadly it was closed for Lunch on the day so we couldn't sample any of his creations, but we did get to hear about his incredible career so far. As a young boy, Ben Marks loved food and enjoyed cooking with his father in London. At 13 years old, he was already working in professional kitchens. and at 15, on the advice of his bosses, he moved to Sweden to become commis chef at the Michelin-starred Operakällaren in Stockholm. A year later he was back in the UK, at a formal apprenticeship with the Academy of Culinary Arts, which landed him at Claridge's, followed by working at Noma for over a year and then rounding off this incredible hattrick of establishments by becoming Phil Howards right hand man at The Square. Ben now co-owns & is head chef at both the award winning Perilla & Morchella.