The FoodTalk Show

There are now so many media channels to choose from that it's really hard to work out where to get the most bang for your buck. Media expert Emma Liddiard of Global explains how to plan a media campaign and Henry Jeffreys the food writer tells Susie and AJ how to get your press release noticed.

Using AJ's knowledge of PR and marketing and Robyn Simms experience at Square Root Soda, Susie wants to understand the pros and cons of using a brand ambassador to promote your foodie product. Should you use a brand ambassador such as Donald Trump, Gary Lineker or Wallace and Gromit or hire an influencer?

Susie always does it, but AJ doesn't always have the time. Yes, we're talking about the importance of breakfast and why you must top up your protein every day. But can good nutritious snacking help your gym session or sporting performance? Scott Chassels of Fuel10k and Susan Gafsen of Pep & Lekker are on hand to give us some advice.

Susie and AJ go paleo and tuck into pork scratchings and beef jerky. Founders Nick Coleman of Snaffling Pig and Will Yates of Billy Franks explain how they make the traditional high protein meaty snacks and discover that pork scratchings are quite possibly the oldest snack on earth.

Philli Armitage-Mattin is a Masterchef finalist and famous for her love of Asian flavours. She invited Susie and AJ to her new pop up venture at the Intercontinental in London's poshest address, Park Lane, right in the middle of Mayfair. We also revisit Susie's interview with the lovely Anna Haugh of Myrtle restaurant in Chelsea who is about to take over from Monica Galetti on MasterChef: The Prof...

Susie and AJ don't really know what a B Corp is, but they know that more and more consumers want to know where their food comes from and that it is being sourced and made responsibly. Enter Guy Tullberg of Tracklements and Jonathan Parker of Foodari who can both demonstrate why sustainability and good ethical practices make good business sense.

Is the microwave a relic from the 1970s or can it still be used to create a nutritious meal for the whole family? Nicci Clark of Re:Nourish explains to Susie and AJ how she has embraced the much maligned 'convenience' sector to create one of the most convenient products yet invented.

You might have a fabulous brand, a great venue or the best tasting product in the world, but how do you cut through the social media noise to get heard and be seen? AJ and Jon Mills explain to Susie the use of 'experiential' marketing and how it helps to win customers and build a community of ambassadors.

"Eat cake now" proclaim AJ and Susie. If you just look at the beautiful creations hand-made by Eloise Hale you would not be able to resist tucking in either. She explains how she makes her beautiful creations and is joined by Darren Little of Cocoba who talks about hot drinking chocolate. We're not talking Nesquik here, it's the soothing, cocoa based heaven for grown ups. Should we have marshmallo...

We are very lucky to have Ellie Webb in the studio today with her incredibly popular non-alcoholic drink Caleño. We also have Matt from Lixir, which is just as well as he mixes some fabulous non-alcoholic cocktails with Ellie for AJ and Susie to taste. Did you know you can use a pineapple spike as a garnish? Nor did we and what is the thing about having too much ice? You really can get that cockta...

Farming is a science, coupled with some trial and error and a good deal of experimentation. Naturally the weather plays a big part too. AJ and Susie talk to two farmers who both happen to be called James and have generations of experience behind them. They want to know how today's farmers play a part in the local community. How they are so important for preserving and caring for our landscapes and...

Dog ice cream is a thing apparently. Just so you don't get confused we mean ice cream for dogs. You have to be careful to make sure the ingredients can be consumed by pooches obviously but they can be eaten by humans too. Enter Sally Newall of the multiple award winning Simply Ice Cream company who has just launched her first doggie ice cream. Susie and AJ have a taste and give it the thumbs up. T...

Susie and AJ are joined by Lisa Marley who pretty much knows everything there is to know about plant-based cooking. Her inspirational recipes have been featured in ELLE magazine, Women's Health, Time Out and Take a Break, to name a few and Cosmopolitan magazine regularly teams up with Lisa to offer their readers virtual plant-based masterclasses. As well as writing magazine articles, she does inte...

AJ and Susie meet Katy Cox and Floortje Hoette (Flo for short) this week where they discuss the merits of rescued food. Flo describes the wonderful FoodLoop app, which is a sort of Tinder for the food sector. It connects food left on the shelf with someone who is looking to cherish it and let it shine. So those businesses who have unwanted goods can connect with those who want to turn it into some...

We have a new presenter today, taste expert, AJ Sharp, and two wonderful guests. They have both managed to take their inspiration from another country and skilfully combined that with the best their home county can produce. Maria Bradford is a classically trained French chef and now makes the most incredible juices and sauces inspired by her family background in Sierra Leone. Susie knows nothing a...

Susie and Jane admit that they don't really know anything about salt, except our bodies need it but not too much. Is there any difference between common old table salt and seasalt or rocksalt? How is it 'made'? Luckily they have Gregorie Marshall of Blackthorn Salt on hand to explain how they make this amazing stuff up in Ayr. The story of salt is truly fascinating.

Susie and Jane get to talk to the inspirational James Lawrence in this week's episode. He explains why Folkestone is now so hot, with the Harbour Arm a hugely popular food, drink, art and music destination. Think greek food (served in a blue and white double decker bus), street food from Argentina, artisan hot dogs, seafood shacks, a champagne bar in a lighthouse, tacos, tapas and tequilas. He goe...

Sue has changed her name, no longer is she Sue Nelson but is now Susie Warran-Smith. Something to do with getting married apparently. Anyhow Jane and Susie have two wonderful guests this week - AJ Sharp and Stu MacDonald. AJ is a seasoned judge for the Great Taste Awards and explains how the judging works and exactly what constitutes the star ratings they give. That's just as well, as Stu is our o...

Sue travels to Margate to meet the lovely people at Speciality Breads, the artisan bakers. Neil, the development chef explains the range of products they make, then Sue goes for a tour around the factory to watch them make a huge batch of teacakes. Meanwhile, Neil can't help himself and cooks up a real treat for Sue's lunch which is waiting for her when she gets back to meet Simon the managing dir...

Hari Ghotra joins Sue as a guest presenter this week and the subject is black pudding. The first mention of this interesting delicacy can be found way back in Homer’s Odyssey. The family business of our studio guest, Colette Twomey, doesn’t go back quite that far, but Clonakilty Blackpudding Company certainly has an impressive history. Founded in the 1880s and still family run, the company produce...

Sue explains coelic disease, and why, if you are unfortunate enough to have this life changing condition, eating out is a nightmare. Kerry Clare and Sarah Wren are committed to providing gluten free food that tastes incredible. Kerry owns a completely GF bakery and Sarah a GF restaurant, while Jane lists the best GF drinks to go for. On top of that, Kerry has brought a whole range of gluten free b...

Sue and Jane admit to being a bit piggy on the programme today. They are joined by the marvellous James Golding of the hotel and restaurant chain 'The Pig'. He brings along some delicious food he has prepared for the occasion and they just can't help themselves. James extols the virtues of sourcing from local producers and we can't help wonder why everyone doesn't support the local guys. 

Jane and Sue are bowled over by the taste of some lovely Kentish rapeseed oil. They discover it contains the lowest saturated fat content of any oil, with less than half that of Olive oil AND it contains 10 times more Omega 3 than Olive oil too. In addition it produces large amounts of nectar, particularly loved by honeybees. Well, why aren't we all using this beautiful #British made stuff? Later...

Sue and Jane are truly honoured to have the legendary  Mitch Tonks , restaurateur, food writer, TV star and expert on all things fish in the studio this week. Sue whips out her 15 year old copy of Mitch's book and explains why she has used it nearly every week since she bought it. Mitch explains his upbringing and why the sea and fish are simply in his blood. He also introduces the new concept of ...

Sue goes to Copper Rivet Distillery to see how gin is made, from the grain being delivered all the way through to blending the botanicals. She then has a tutored tasting with author of The Philosophy of Gin , her fellow presenter Jane Peyton. They taste their way through five gins and Jane explains the origins of Navy Strength. Which brand do they think is best to drink neat, and best with a dash...