Borough Talks

Bill Oglethorpe, founder of Kappacasein, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of his Bermondsey-made Alpine cheeses and chat about becoming a “qualified peasant” in Switzerland, why the cheesemaker’s craft is about guiding rather than mastering, and how he invented a toastie so good it made Phil Rosenthal propose to him.

Monika Linton, founder of the highly influential Brindisa shop and restaurant, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of Iberian products and tapas dishes and discuss her passion for Spanish cuisine, the gradual evolution of the British palate, and the joy found in unheralded foods like pulses and vinegars.

Thea Wunderer, founder of Alpine Deli, imports products from South Tyrol, a mountainous province in the far north of Italy. She joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of cured meats and discuss the unique food culture of her home region, her enduring love of market trading, and her advice for anyone starting a specialist food business.

Neal’s Yard Dairy’s director Bronwen Percival and young cheesemonger Cián Ó Cinnéide join Giulia Crouch to discuss the magic of a slow make, the art of the monger, and the existential threat faced by traditional regional cheeses.

Elliot Hashtroudi, head chef at Camille, joins Giulia Crouch to share a plate of chicken hearts and chat about his love of French regional cuisine, how the shifting seasons inspire creativity in the kitchen, and the beauty he finds in underappreciated British ingredients.

Claudia Boyer, co-founder of Jenki, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of the matcha bar’s signature drinks and chat about the heritage and craft of Japanese matcha production, the factors that determine its quality, and how its slow release of caffeine is meeting a cultural moment.

Joel Ferrer, founder of La Pepiá, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of his stall’s Venezuelan salsas. They chat about sourcing produce from his fellow traders, the ethics of avocado consumption, and how his inventive approach to arepas – the traditional South American cornbread – has helped broaden their appeal.

Andy Oliver, chef and co-owner of Thai bar and grill Kolae, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some the restaurant’s vibrantly flavoured dishes. They chat about the complexity of southern Thai cuisine, balancing authenticity with local sourcing, and accommodating spice-averse palates without compromising on heat.

Ewa Weremij, owner of Bianca Mora, joins Giulia Crouch to taste products from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and chat about two-hour lunch breaks, the Slow Food movement, and how time is an essential ingredient of the very best parmesan and balsamic vinegar.

Tim Siadatan, chef-owner of Padella, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of the restaurant’s signature dishes and chat about our universal love of pasta, his perspective on Italian ‘rules’, and how a simple plate of Tuscan tomatoes shaped his life.

Eduardo Florez, founder of The Colombian Coffee Company social enterprise, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some different beans and chat about the stunning diversity of coffee varieties, the unfairness of global markets, and how a focus on quality can help transform Colombian communities.

Worawan Kamann, founder of both the Khanom Krok street food stand and Raya , Borough’s southeast Asian grocery, joins Giulia Crouch to share her signature dishes and chat about sourcing great ingredients, helping curious shoppers discover new flavours, and how Thai people live to eat.

Stephanie Slater, founder of the School Food Matters charity, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a soup recipe created by local children and chat about transforming school dinners, the vital importance of learning about food, and the impact of Borough’s Young Marketeers programme.

Nick Fitzgerald, founder of Padre, joins Giulia Crouch to share some of his street food stand’s signature dishes and chat about his life-changing stint as a chef in Mexico, the regionality of the country’s cuisine, and the essential elements of a perfect taco.    

Flip Dunning, founder of Pâté Moi, joins Giulia Crouch to taste her famous mushroom pâté and chat about the strange alchemy of simple ingredients, the challenges of running a business and raising a child, and the friendships she’s forged across two decades of trading.

Calvin Pearson, head of wine at Borough Wines, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a few of his favourite festive bottles and chat about perfect pairings with a Christmas dinner, the meaning of orange wine, natural wine and ‘pet nat’, and why kegs and refillable bottles are growing in popularity.

Coles Loomis of Jumi Cheese and Jon Thrupp of Mons Cheesemongers are two of Borough Market’s most engaging cheese experts. They join Giulia Crouch to share some of their favourite winter products and chat about the artistry of small-scale cheesemakers, the ideal Christmas selection, and why blue cheeses are the haute couture of dairy.

Jack Applebee is part of the family that runs the Applebee’s Fish seafood restaurant. Raf Rundell is the manager of the Richard Haward’s Oysters stand. Together, they join Giulia Crouch to taste some of the fruits of the sea and chat about cooking turbot at Christmas, the terroir of shellfish, and how buying from a fishmonger takes the terror out of fish shopping.  

Usman Shah of Date Sultan imports premium dates while using his company’s influence to improve the pay and conditions of workers in his supply chain. He joins Giulia Crouch to taste a diverse selection of date varieties and chat about the unique qualities of this Middle Eastern fruit, going viral on social media, and his battle to combat modern slavery.

Borough Talks returns with four more podcast episodes exploring the colourful produce and personalities of Borough Market. Host Giulia Crouch sits down to share food, drink and conversation with traders whose expertise covers some of the most enticing flavours of the festive season: dates, seafood, cheese and wine.

In the Borough Market Kitchen, Salina Khairunnisa of Joli shares the cuisine of Malaysia’s Peranakan community, while Urvesh Parvais of Gujarati Rasoi cooks food rooted in the Indian state of Gujarat. They joined Giulia Crouch to taste some dishes and chat about cultural authenticity, the importance of quality ingredients and the enduring appeal of street food.   

Philip Crouch of The Parma Ham and Mozzarella Stand and Patrick Martinez of The Tinned Fish Market source spectacular products from Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. They joined Giulia Crouch to taste some of those products and chat about their relationships with producers, the importance of sharing knowledge, and their drive to find the highest-quality versions of familiar foods.

Dawn Smith of Pimento Hill has been selling her handmade sauces, seasonings and jellies at Borough Market for 14 years. She sat down with Giulia Crouch over some spicy chicken wings to discuss the adventurousness of market shoppers, the role of food in Caribbean culture, and why peanut butter with scotch bonnet chilli jam is the best thing ever. 

David Carter of Oma and Agora and Rob Dann of Bedales Wine Bar are long-time friends as well as the owners of neighbouring businesses at Borough Market. They sat down with Giulia Crouch over a glass of Calabrian rosé to discuss sources of inspiration, the impact of restaurant architecture, and the elemental pleasure of breaking bread.

Run by the McCourt family, Northfield Farm has traded at Borough since the 1990s, selling high-quality meat from its East Midlands farm. To kick off our new season of podcasts, the stand’s manager Dom McCourt sits down with Giulia Crouch to share a steak and chat about the butcher’s craft, the importance of sustainable farming, and the art of cooking meat on a barbecue.