The History Hour cover image

The History Hour

Pad Thai, kiwis and the chef Ken Hom

Dec 30, 2023
52:10

Max Pearson presents a collection of this week’s Witness History episodes from the BBC World Service.

This week, we look at the disputed history of pad Thai with food writer Chawadee Nualkhair.

We also hear from former fruit exporter Don Turner on why his family changed the name of the Chinese gooseberry to the kiwi fruit.

Our expert guest is food historian, Prof Katarzyna Cwiertka, who highlights other moments in history when food and politics combined.

We also have an interview with Thomas Chatenier, the president of Nutella, about the origins of the chocolate hazelnut spread.

Plus, we talk about the Flavr Savr tomato - the world's first genetically-engineered food.

And finally we hear from Ken Hom, the chef who introduced Chinese cookery to TV audiences.

Contributors: Chawadee Nualkhair – Thai food writer. Don Turner – former chief executive of kiwi exporter, Turners and Growers. Katarzyna Cwiertka - food historian and Professor of Modern Japan Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Thomas Chatenier - the president of Nutella. Roger Salquist – former CEO of the biotech company which was responsible for the Flavr Savr tomato. Ken Hom – Chinese-American chef and author.

(Photo: Pad Thai. Credit: Getty Images)

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode