The Lemon Grove

As a five-year-old, food writer, editor, educator and mentor, Kāren Barnes remembers watching her mother peel an onion and thinking, "I'll never be able to do this". That fleeting moment shaped her learning to cook, and as a young teenager, she made Saturday night Flemish beef stew and lemon syllabub for pudding for her family. These are signs of the determination and hard work that thread through...

Recorded at Lebnani in Reigate, Surrey, this conversation explores Lebanese food as memory, culture, and daily ritual. The Lemon Grove host Bruce McMichael speaks with Jad Youssef, founder of Lebnani and author of the Lebnani cookbook, about his journey from Beirut to London, Hong Kong, and now Reigate. Jad shares how family, markets, butchers, and seasonal ingredients shapes his cooking to this d...

Bruce McMichael speaks with Ella Stewart, wellness and resilience coach, mental health first aider, and founder of Bake Well Being, about how baking can support mental well-being. Ella shares how a lifelong love of cooking, a family tradition around food, and her own experiences with anxiety shaped a project that blends creativity, connection, and mental health advocacy. In this episode, they expl...

Bruce McMichael speaks with food historian and writer Sam Bilton about how she moved from food writing to food history, the family recipe notebook that sparked her curiosity, and why food is such a powerful lens for understanding social change. They also discuss her books on gingerbread, saffron, chocolate, and Shakespeare, as well as the upcoming Serve It Forth conference on the Norman impact on...

In this episode of The Lemon Grove podcast, Bruce McMichael speaks with Shane Holland, executive chairman of Slow Food UK, about Terra Madre, biodiversity, regenerative farming, and the politics of food. Shane explains how the Slow Food movement began, why it has grown into a global network across 150 countries, and why its message of “good, clean, fair” food still matters today. The conversation...

Ramin Ganeshram, writer, journalist, chef, culinary historian, and executive director of the Westport Museum for History and Culture in Connecticut, USA, shares her life's work on the enslaved cook Hercules Posey and her research into the food around the time of the American Revolutionary War, which was fought 250 years ago and is widely celebrated this year. The conversation explores how foodways...

Lemon Grove Podcast - Claudio and Sardinian Pompia at World Travel Market This bonus episode is a short travel and food conversation centered on Claudio, a citrus grower from Sardinia, and the unusual fruit Pompia. It matters because the discussion connects local food culture, tourism, and how a small family producer is expanding into new ventures while keeping a traditional citrus alive. Bruce al...

How a childhood in Antakya, Ottoman markets and a fridge full of lemons became three cookbooks and a life teaching Turkish food culture and techniques around the world.

Anna Ansari’s Silk Roads: A Flavour Odyssey with Recipes from Baku to Beijing begins with a question that feels bigger than a cookbook: how do food, travel, and family history shape the way we see the world? In this episode, Anna shares how a teenage stay in Beijing, a meal with her father, and a lifetime of moving between cultures led her to write about the Silk Roads as more than trade routes. F...

Join us for a lively discussion exploring the vibrant citrus culture in Arizona, community gardening, and how the fruits of the land bring people together. This episode features Jesse Dart, a food anthropologist with deep roots in Arizona's citrus history, and Julie Bertoni, a local garden activist, sharing insights about living with and sharing citrus in an arid climate. In this episode: Jesse Da...

Adventures, Legacy, and Inspiration: Inside the World’s Toughest Row Discover the inspiring journey of four women who rowed across the Atlantic, challenging physical, mental, and emotional limits, while raising funds for vital charities. This episode highlights resilience, honesty, and the power of community in one of the most gruelling water-based adventures. Main Topics Covered: The origins and...

Discover the fascinating world of honey, bees, and pollinators with honey sommelier and advocate Sarah Wyndham Lewis. From the art of tasting honey to the importance of sustainable beekeeping, this episode dives deep into what makes honey truly special and how we can support bee populations globally. Main Topics: The role and perception of honey in today’s food industry The complexity of honey and...

Exploring French Food, Culture, and Gastronomy with Carolyn Boyd Join us in this episode as food and travel writer Carolyn Boyd shares her fascinating journey into French cuisine, travel, and culture. From growing up with a Francophile family to writing acclaimed books and working with the Roux Scholarship, Carolyn offers unique insights into France’s culinary landscape and her adventures in the n...

The Art and Science of Marmalade with Pam Corbin. Discover the joys of marmalade making with renowned expert Pam Corbin, as she shares her decades of experience, from traditional methods to innovative approaches. Whether you're a home enthusiast or interested in the history and global variations, this episode clears the fog around setting points, fruit selection, and the cultural significance of m...

Exploring the Sweet Lemon: A Conversation with Dr. Simi RezAria Ghassami (Note: Our conversation was recorded before the start of the US/Israel war started with Iran, and hence makes no mention of this conflict.) Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of regional citrus fruits—specifically the sweet lemon or "Limu Shirin"—with Dr Simi Rez-Aria Ghassami, a food ethnographer specialising in...

Exploring Lebanese Culture, Food, and Citrus Memories with Angela Zaher Discover the rich tapestry of Lebanese culture, identity, and cuisine through the eyes of food writer Angela Zaher. In this episode, Angela shares her powerful personal stories, insights on regional food traditions, and the significance of lemons and citrus in her life and Lebanese culinary heritage. Main Topics: The influence...

Discover how Rose Cottingham, Director of Innovation at FeverTree, leverages over 16 years of experience to craft high-quality mixers and ingredients that redefine premium beverages. This episode explores the journey of product development from sourcing and flavour profiling to global expansion, providing insight into the art of innovation within the beverage industry. In this episode: Rose shares...