What the Food?

OUR FINAL EPISODE IS HERE! And we're going out with a bang! In our final ever episode of What the Food?, we explore the strange, symbolic, and sometimes darkly funny world of famous last meals. From the elaborate feasts of Roman emperors to the fast-food cravings of modern serial killers, the final meal is a fascinating window into the human psyche. We'll uncover the superstitious origins...

In the final part of this 2 part series, the boys continue their adventure uncovering the fascinating history of sushi! From the ban of outdoor food stalls in Japan, to Dom's awful pronunciations, all the way to the rise of the California Roll in the conveyor belt restaurants of America, this episode has it all. Join us as we conclude the epic tale of how this seemingly simple but complex food cap...

In part 1 of this 2 part series, the boys travels back to the stinking banks of the Mekong River to uncover sushi's dirty little secret: it began as a way to preserve fish in fermented rice that was so foul, they threw all the rice away every time... Join us as we follow this acquired taste on its journey to Japan, where street-food visionary Hanaya Yohe’e turned it into the world's first...

We're docking our ship, resupplying, and then heading back out onto the seven seas in the second and final part of our series uncovering the mysteries of pirate food and drink! We've begun our epic voyage uncovering the hows and whys, as well as some of the disgusting food aboard a pirate ship... but now it's time to dig a little deeper. Expect more grim facts, questionable recipes, an...

Forget the lavish banquets and endless rum of Hollywood's depiction of pirates... In part 1 of this 2 part series, Andy, Dom, and Miles uncover the often disgusting, sometimes desperate, and surprisingly democratic world of pirate food and drink. From weevil-infested ship biscuits and suspiciously slimy water, to Dom's beheading of his mum's favourite ornament. Expect grim facts, quest...

It's the explosive finale of our series Wartime Tables & Tyrants' Tummies! In part 3, we brace ourselves for Benito Mussolini's infamous raw garlic salads, his surprising war on pasta, and his own rebellious stomach. Then, we journey to Imperial Japan for Hideki Tojo's extreme austerity and iron discipline that defined his wartime plate. Don't miss the final course of WW2&#...

Ready for another helping of history's most horrifying hors d'oeuvres? In part 2, we brave Joseph Stalin's "Sinister Suppers", marathon vodka-drenched banquets where fear was the main course. Then, it's off to Franklin D. Roosevelt's White House for some truly crap snacks, proving that even the leader of the free world couldn't escape a culinary crisis. From letha...

Welcome to Wartime Tables & Tyrants' Tummies, the series that lifts the lid on what WW2's bigwigs were really eating! In part 1, it's Churchill vs. Hitler: one fuelled by champagne, cigars, and colossal dinners; the other by... well, rabbit food, raging paranoia, and rumours of epic wind. We're serving up history with a side of shocking (and hilarious) dietary details. Join the...

Part 2 is here! In this week’s episode of What the Food?, we tuck back into history’s most deranged cult diets... We're talking Aum Shinrikyo and the Mormons! Join us as we rank the worst of the worst in a roundtable food fight no one asked for, and uncover why the road to salvation is often paved with beige, boiled suffering. Trigger warning: This episode contains dark themes including starva...

Ever fancied a spiritual journey that involves applesauce, powdered milk, and starvation so severe you hallucinate a raisin? In this week’s episode of What The Food, we tuck into history’s most deranged cult diets,  from the jungle gruel of Jonestown, to Heaven’s Gate’s death-by-pudding, to the one-grain-a-day enlightenment plan of Aum Shinrikyo. How do cults use food to control people? Why are so...

Once upon a time, New York was built on oysters, literally. From the Lenape shell heaps to 19th-century oyster saloons (and the dodgy brothels hiding behind them), oysters were everywhere. They fed the rich, the poor, and even fuelled a secret stop on the Underground Railroad. In this episode, we dive into the briny, bizarre history of New York’s oyster craze. How the city went mad for molluscs, a...

*We encountered a couple of audio issues while recording this episode. Before you stamp on your headphones or throw your phone or PC out the window, any glitchy sounds you hear are in our recording! Apologies!* Peking Duck isn’t just food, it’s a legend. From its humble origins as a street snack in 13th-century China to becoming an imperial delicacy and a diplomatic power move, this crispy, carame...

Step into the roar of the Colosseum! 🏛️ This week’s podcast takes you on a sensory journey through ancient Rome, exploring what it was like to attend the gladiatorial games. From securing your Tessera to feasting on honey cakes and sizzling sausages, discover how food, spectacle, and power collided in history’s most iconic arena. Don’t miss this epic culinary and cultural deep dive! If you enjoyed...

What’s more than bread, pickles, and pork? A story of resilience, rebellion, and reinvention. In this episode, we trace the journey of the Bánh Mì. From its colonial roots in French-occupied Vietnam to its status as a global street food icon. We discover how Saigon’s street vendors transformed a foreign baguette into a distinctly Vietnamese masterpiece, and how refugees carried it across oceans, t...

Step aboard the Hindenburg, where high-altitude dining was once an opulent affair with fine porcelain, crystal glasses, and multi-course feasts—even as disaster loomed... In this episode, we explore the luxurious, meticulously crafted meals served on the world's most famous airship, the challenges of cooking at 1,000 feet, and the dramatic, final moments that transformed the Hindenburg from a symb...

Step into the vibrant world of Ital living, where food isn’t just fuel, it’s a spiritual practice, a cultural statement, and an act of resistance! In this episode, we uncover the history of the Ital Diet, born from Rastafarian principles of purity, connection to nature, and rejection of Babylon’s industrial influence. Discover how Bob Marley, the global icon of reggae and Rastafarian faith, embodi...

Season 3 is here, and we’re diving into how French cuisine became the gold standard of fine dining! In our new format, we uncover the rich and often outrageous history behind France’s culinary world dominance. From medieval feasts and royal decadence at Versailles to the invention of the Michelin star and the rise of culinary tourism, we trace the centuries-long journey that elevated French food t...

Season 2 finale is here and it's time to pop the lid on the world of Caviar! This luxurious delicacy has graced the tables of tsars, aristocrats, and celebrity chefs alike—but how did it go from a humble fish roe to a symbol of opulence and indulgence? In this episode, we explore the fascinating journey of caviar, from its ancient Persian roots to its place at the pinnacle of haute cuisine. We’ll...

Time to crack open the mystery of the Scotch Egg! This iconic British snack has seen it all—from posh London department stores to wartime rations, and even a gourmet revival in the trendiest gastropubs. But where did it really come from, and how did it go from being a travel snack for the upper crust to a staple of the British picnic? In this episode, we dig into the murky origins of the Scotch Eg...

It’s time to stir things up with the saucy saga of Chop Suey! In this episode, we’re diving into the deliciously complicated history of the iconic dish that’s as much a part of American takeaways as it is Chinese cuisine. We kick things off by exploring the legendary origins of Chop Suey, from the streets of San Francisco’s Chinatown to the imperial kitchens of Qing Dynasty China. Was it the resul...

It's time to unwrap the foiled sugary saga of Pop-Tarts! The iconic breakfast pastries that have toasted their way into the hearts of millions. From their crispy, frosted beginnings in the 1960s to their status as a pop culture phenomenon, we're exploring how Pop-Tarts became a toasted favourite.  We head back in time to the post-war drive for convenience that led to their invention, touching on t...

In this episode, we're uncorking the story of the Austrian Wine Scandal of 1985—a vintage tale of deceit, drama, and diethylene glycol. Imagine the picturesque vineyards of Austria, where a few unscrupulous winemakers decided to give their wines an illicit boost with a sweet but toxic twist. Join us as we swirl through the details of this scandal that rocked the wine world. We'll explore how a han...

We’re unwrapping the story of a beloved culinary staple—the sandwich! This versatile delight has traveled through time, evolving from ancient creations to a global favorite. We’ll dive into its rich history, starting with Hillel the Elder’s Passover creation, then moving to medieval Europe’s trencher plates, and finally, the 18th-century gaming tables of the Earl of Sandwich. Discover how the Indu...

In this episode we’re stirring up the rich, aromatic history of Plov, Uzbekistan's national dish! Plov isn’t just food; it’s a celebration, a symbol of community and hospitality that has been feeding hearts and souls for centuries. For Miles, he thinks it's all fake and this is one big April fools joke... We travel back in time to uncover Plov’s Persian origins, explore its evolution along the Sil...

In this episode, we're diving knife-first into the polarizing pot of Marmite, the yeasty spread that splits opinions as sharply as Brexit, blue steak or having a poo at work. Love it or hate it, Marmite’s rich history and distinctive flavor make it a British icon worth exploring. From its inception in the breweries of Burton-upon-Trent to becoming a staple in wartime rations, Marmite's journey is...