The Food Programme

A refreshing mojito? Rum punch? Maybe just a simple rum and coke? Many of us might think no further about rum than how to mix it within a drink. But it actually has a unique story within our history through its links with slavery and the navy, where it was used as a currency and became an integral part of the maritime trade in people and sugar. Fast forward to today, and the popularity of rum is still rising. But amid the flavours, brands and a vast range of rum-based drinks, there is very little information about how it’s made and where it comes from. In this episode, Jaega Wise visits two British rum producers making it in very different ways. One, Goldstone Rum, is the latest addition to a new group of distillers making rum from scratch in the UK. The other, the BBC Food and Farming Award-winning Isle of Wight Distillery, is part of a long tradition of blending and spicing rum made in the Caribbean. But while rum has a sociable, sunny image thanks to its Caribbean heritage, not many people want to talk about its darker history and how it was once used as currency to buy enslaved Africans, who in turn worked on the sugar plantations that were the source of rum itself. Who better to hear about the history and culture of rum than global rum ambassador Ian Burrell, who meets Jaega at RumFest to explain more about its origins, the rum scene in the UK and mix a cocktail or two. Throughout this journey of rum, Dr Christy Pichichero, professor of history and expert in Black studies at George Mason University, explains why understanding the true story of rum is an important part of our shared history, and what it means to rum makers and drinkers today.Presented by Jaega Wise. Produced by Nina Pullman for BBC Audio in Bristol.

Dan Buettner believes that "when a ritual lasts for hundreds or thousands of years, like prayer before a meal, it serves some purpose". Dan is the best-selling author of and founder of The Blue Zones; five parts of the world where people tend to live much longer and healthier lives, many into their hundreds. In this programme, Leyla Kazim finds out more about the culinary aspects of his research, discovering what is eaten in the Blue Zones, what isn't being eaten, and some of the practices that exist around meal times. She also meets two academics whose work focuses on how to help people living in the UK live longer and more healthily. Liz Williams from the Healthy Lifespan Institute at the University of Sheffield explains that although the current life expectancy for people in the UK is just over 81 years - our average 'healthy life' expectancy is much lower, at around 63. Dr Oliver Shannon from The University of Newcastle explains how some of the Blue Zones observational findings are consistent with research they have been doing into the impact of the Mediterranean diet on brain health. The promise of a long healthy life is all well and good - but as we know the reality of diets is that they are impossibly hard to keep to. So could choosing to make a 'lifestyle' change be any easier to stick with? Leyla hears from Jean Newton who in her 70s has done just that. Presented by Leyla Kazim Produced by Natalie Donovan for BBC Audio in Bristol.

Sheila Dillon, Leyla Kazim, and Dan Saladino choose their favorite food books of 2023, discuss the rise of Korean cuisine, and explore the changing landscape of cookbooks. They also debate the impact of TikTok on recipe books and discuss the significance of food books in the digital era.

Sheila Dillon looks at what the current conflict in Gaza has done to food supplies in one of the most densely populated places on earth. After Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages, the Government of Israel responded with air strikes on Gaza, and launched a ground offensive. To date, more than 14,800 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run government. Hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced to the south of the territory, where vast numbers are living in make-shift camps. Aid agencies say hunger is spreading, as shops have been emptied of food, and a lack of fuel is restricting how much food can be distributed around. In this programme, recorded while the situation in Gaza is still changing on a daily basis, Sheila Dillon seeks to find out how people are feeding themselves and their families, how resilient the population is given the uncertainties they face, and what long abandoned food ways can they fall back on as supplies run low. Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Natalie Donovan

Jimi Famurewa talks to men learning or rediscovering cooking later in life, maybe due to a change of circumstance or loss of a partner, to hear how it's changing their lives.In the programme we meet the participants of the latest Man with a Pan cookery course, run by Community Chef at Lewes Community Kitchen, as well as a weekly class run by Age UK in north London. Jimi also chats to the team behind Men’s Pie Club, which uses food as a tool to help tackle loneliness and social isolation with men, getting them in a room once a week, to make a pie, connect and meet people.Presented by Jimi Famurewa and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.

Dan Saladino explores the Mexican spirit mezcal and the diverse world of agave spirits.Contents include: Gary Nabhan (Agave Spirits book): https://www.garynabhan.com/Agave Road Trip Podcast: https://agaveroadtrip.com/Sin Gusano: https://www.singusano.com/storyKol: https://kolrestaurant.com/El Pastore: https://www.tacoselpastor.co.uk/Produced and presented by Dan Saladino.

Sheila Dillon presents more winners from the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2023, including who was crowned Best Streetfood, Takeaway or Small Eatery and the winner of the Food Innovation Award. We also hear stories of the amazing finalists and winners in the Community Food and Young Countryside Champion Awards. Finally, the winner of this year's prestigious Derek Cooper Outstanding Achievement Award is revealed in recognition of their impact on the UK's food and farming.Presented by Sheila Dillon and produced by Nina Pullman for BBC Audio in Bristol.

This podcast episode celebrates the winners of the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2023 including Best Food Producer, Best Drinks Producer, and the new Digital Creator Award. Topics covered include the importance of food and farming, craftsmanship and design of chopping boards, regenerative farming practices, and the experiences of digital creators in the food industry.

This podcast explores the concept of prescribing fruits and vegetables as a new model for the NHS, prioritizing disease prevention and changing lifestyles. It discusses a pilot public health scheme in south east London that is prescribing fresh fruit & veg to people with chronic disease and mental health conditions. The episode highlights the success of prescribing fruit and vegetables for diet-related health conditions and proposes nationwide implementation of this model. It also focuses on community engagement, preventive care, and finding solutions for health services.

Chef and Arctic explorer Mike Keen and a group of British foragers embark on a wild food adventure and have their physical health and gut microbiomes analyzed. They discuss the impact of an Inuit diet on gut microbiome, surviving in extreme cold, impressive health improvements on a unique diet, and the positive impact of a specific diet on gut microbiome and health.