Desert Island Dishes

My guest today is Rachel Khoo Rachel is a British cook, writer and broadcaster. She rose to fame in 2012 when she published The Little Paris Kitchen. Later, The Little Paris Kitchen: Cooking with Rachel Khoo, was commissioned as her first TV series with the BBC. The book became a best seller, millions of people watched her on TV and the rest as they say, is history. Rachel has gone on to write many more books with her 6th book – The Little Swedish Kitchen having just come out. She has presented and created many more TV series and she is firmly on the map as a well known TV personality and chef. As if that weren’t enough, Rachel is also the founder and editor-in-chief of online lifestyle magazine Khoollect. Rachel describes herself as a ”food creative with a fresh approach to all things edible”. I hope you enjoy this episode, don't forget to come and say hello on Instagram @margienomura and visit the website www.desertislanddishes.co for lots of recipes and more info on the guests. Thank you so much for listening! Don't forget to leave a review and I will see you soon x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My  guest today is Laura Freeman. Laura is an art critic, a writer and an author. Her book which came out earlier this year called The Reading Cure is a very brave and thoughtful memoir about how reading about food helped her on her road to recovery from anorexia. Laura is a truly excellent writer – having gained a double first from Cambridge and her book has had an amazing reaction. A review in the independent said of her book : “The Reading Cure is the work of a true-blue bibliophile, and it's impossible not to be seduced by Freeman's love of prose. It's essential reading not just for those who love food, but words.” This was a different kind of chat in many ways – but one that I think it really important and really interesting. We do all have different relationships with food and I think its important to explore them and to talk about them and I learnt a lot from Laura plus there are some delicious goodies in here too. Food is so much more than just the food itself – which is what this podcast talks about a lot -  I for one - remember my life through the meals I’ve eaten and the best moments with friends, or celebrating happy occasions or holidays are often centred around meals, around food and it’s such a central character in the story of so many of our lives. However, it’s wrong to think that everyone’s relationship with food is straight forwards and obviously everyone is different – there is no completely shared experience.  Laura has struggled with her appetite for food but her appetite for reading never went away and ultimately it was this that saved her and that makes for an incredibly interesting read and a very different outlook on food which I hope you will enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is Jenny Dawson Costa Jenny founded Rubies in the Rubble back in 2011 which started out as a stall in Borough Market and now her products are stocked in Waitrose, Selfridges, Harrods and many many more places. Jenny studied maths at university before working for a hedge fund in the City for two years. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her degree, but knew she wanted to start something of her own and do something she was passionate about. After coming across the fact that half of all the food we produce is never used and yet billions of people don’t have enough to eat, Rubies in the Rubble was born. Desert Island Dish Japanese feast from Eat Tokyo Cheese Platter with condiments All sorts of ice cream I first came across Jenny and her amazing business years ago now and genuinely just thought it was the best idea ever for a business and it’s been so inspiring to see her go from strength to strength. I just love speaking to these amazing entrepreneurs and hearing how they got to where they are – I find it so inspiring and I know you will enjoy hearing from Jenny – the condiment queen. That’s not her official title, but I’m going to go with it. I mean, isn’t it a cool business? I love how the power of a word – from chutney to relish can change a business. You hear that kind of thing all the time – I mean I guess it’s the whole premise behind marketing but it’s kind of fun when you hear about it in action. I can vouch for the deliciousness of the spicy tomato chutney which is genuinely amazing – so so good in a sandwich, and with just about anything. It’s so fresh and well it’s just great. I almost edited out her recommendation of Eat Tokyo which happens to be one of my favourites but I like you all so wouldn’t deprive you of an excellent recommendation like that! Thank you for listening, don’t forget to subscribe and do leave a review as it really helps more listeners to find the podcast. Thank you! Margie x Come and find me on Instagram @margienomura and check out the website at www.desertislanddishes.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Anna Jones Anna is a cook, a food writer and a food stylist. She decided to quit her day job after reading an article about following your passion in the newspaper. Within weeks, she was signed up on Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen apprentice programme. She went on to be part of Jamie’s food team has cooked for royalty and politicians. She has written not one, not two but three best selling books and has been hailed The Queen of Greens. Her food has been described as “ cosmopolitan, strengthening the passion for international cuisine but with a twist as all her recipes are exclusively vegetarian". Anna is defintiely the woman of the moment, the cookery writer everyone is talking about and who I have been dying to meet and to get on the show. Anna was every bit as wonderful as I thought she would be and we sat in her lovely garden on a hot Summer's day talking all things desert island dishes and it was dreamy. I also having stopped thinking about the pizza oven in her garden and now I know I NEED one! Desert Island Dish: South Indian Thali with brown sugar meringies with cherries and whipped yoghurt Cookbook to add to the Desert Island Dishes hall of Fame: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat, Violet Bakery Cookbook by Claire Ptak, and The Kitchen Diaries by Nigel Slater If you’re listening and you haven't yet left a review please do – it only takes a few seconds – and I know im always banging on about it but it genuinely is very much appreciated and I read them all. Thank you so much for listening Don’t forget to go to the website www.desertislanddishes.co for the full list of episodes plus the recipes I’ve created inspired by each episode, Come and say on Instagram @madebymargie and other than that, Thanks so much for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Annabel Karmel, Annabel is the best-selling children's food author and television personality She has written a whopping 41 books which have sold millions of copies worldwide. She has also created supermarket food ranges, weaning equipment and smartphone apps. With her app being the number 1 food app in Britain. Annabel was awarded an MBE in June 2006 in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her work in the field of child nutrition. She has been described as the undisputed category queen in baby food and It’s not for nothing that Annabel is known as the Princess of the Purees. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Martha Ortiz Martha is a chef and cookbook author who is famous for her imaginative approach to food and her historical research into Mexican food traditions. Having written 8 cookbooks she is passionate about food that shows Mexico’s spirit and sense of identity. She recently opened her restaurant Ella Canta in London after the success of her restaurant in Mexico City which is regularly listed in Latin America’s top 50 restaurants. It really comes as no surprise that Martha is one of Mexico’s most famous celebrity chefs and has a starring role on Top Chef México, when she says such brilliant things as.. ‘Chilli is like a lover — you really need to feel its presence” Thanks for listening! Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe as it really does make all the difference. And head to the website www.desertislanddishes.co for lots more recipes. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter, @madebymargie. See you next time! x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Melissa Hemsley Melissa is described as a kitchen pioneer, and she is one half of Hemsley and Hemsley – the bestselling cookbook authors who had their own TV series on Channel 4 and have their own café in London’s Selfridges.  She has released her first solo cookbook this year, Eat Happy, which focuses on 30 minute feel-good food.   Melissa is a proud supporter of lots of different charities including the Prince’s Trust and Cook for Syria. Marie Claire has described Melissa as “the Queen of the kitchen.” Desert Island Dishes: 1.    prawns dipped in vinegar. Or anything Filipino – Chicken tonola2.    Stephanie’s tomato sauce or scrambled eggs3.    Cambodian fish ammok curry4.    Egg mayo or classic cucumber or New York Reuben5.    Roast chicken and all the chicken leftovers6.    Watermelon salad Desert Island Dish: Pan of bolognaise with chicken livers and lots of red wine Luxury item: really amazing olive oil Most treasured cook book: anything by Madhur Jaffrey Thanks so much for listening. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe and tell your friends about Desert Island Dishes. See you next week and in the meantime come and say hi on Instagram @madebymargie and check out the latest Desert Island Dishes inspired recipe on www.desertislanddishes.co x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest today is Ruth Rogers. Ruth is the Chef and co founder of the River Café . She is without doubt, one of the most respected and celebrated chefs in the world. In 1987, Ruth, along with her friend and business partner, Rose Grey opened the River Café in what was then a fairly unfashionable part of London in what used to be a warehouse on the bank of the River Thames. The pair became famous for simple, authentic Italian food and 30 years later the River Café has grown to be one of the most famous restaurants in the world. Quite an achievement for two friends who weren’t trained chefs, and who started out with a space big enough for just 9 tables. To mark 30 years of the river café, Ruth has brought out a new book. River café 30. Of the book Ruth writes: ‘Change is timeless. A good restaurant is alive. It lives, It grows and so do its recipes. We have grown. We have a new vision, but the same conclusion: with good ingredients and a strong tradition change and recipes can be timeless. “ Desert Island Dish: Chocolate nemesis cakeLuxury item: Olive oilCookbook: Marcella Hazan’s first book Don’t forget to go to the website www.desertislanddishes.co for the full list of episodes plus the recipes I’ve created inspired by each episode. Come and say on Instagram @madebymargie. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review us on itunes as it really does make a difference! Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*This was recorded back in December but it's one of my favourites so I wanted to share it with you again for anyone that missed it. Forgive the Christmassey references at the beginning, I hope it doesnt make you feel too discombobulated but Levi is a superstar, and I didnt want you to have missed out by not hearing it. My castaway this week is Levi Roots. Levi was born Keith Valentine Graham in Jamaica. After his parents moved to the UK when he was 4, he was brought up by his grandparents until he eventually moved to Britain at the age of 11. He shot to fame in 2007 by appearing on Dragon’s Den with his famous Reggae Reggae sauce. He wowed the dragon’s and managed to secure a £50,000 investment from Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh. Within 4 weeks his Reggae Reggae sauces were outselling Heinze tomato ketchup in Sainsbury’s and since then his business has gone from strength to strength. He now has so many products ranging from sauces, to snacks, to seasonings and ready meals. He’s written 7 books, released 4 albums and opened a successful restaurant. He does a lot of work with the Prince’s Trust and is a key figure in the Brixton community. We recorded this at Levi’s restaurant in Westfield Stratford so you can hear a little of the hustle and bustle of the restaurant in the background which I kind of like. Levi has a whole host of delicious Desert Island Dishes in his selection and oh my goodness – Levi’s final desert island dish sounds like complete heaven. I love the sound of the porridge his grandmother used to make, and his choice of sandwich was not what I was expecting at all. I think Levi’s story is really inspiring, and he talks so eloquently about his time in prison and how to worked to turn his life around with huge success. I just thought there were so many interesting and inspiring nuggets in there. Hope you enjoyed listening to Levi. Desert Island Dish: Jerk chicken, rice and peas with coleslaw and plantain Luxury item: guitar Don’t forget to check out the website www.desertislanddishes.co to see which recipe has been inspired by Levi’s desert island dishes and I will see you next time for another exciting episode In the meantime come and say hello on Instagram, you can find me @madebymargie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guests today are The Hairy Bikers, whose real names are Dave Myers and Simon King. Dave previously worked as a make-up artist, for the BBC where he specialised in prosthetics. Si worked for many years as an Assistant Director and Locations Manager for film and television, including the Harry Potter films. The pair met on the set of a TV drama 23 years ago and discovered that they found they shared a love of riding motorbikes, cooking – and eating. Since then their popularly has soared, they have gone on to have countess TV shows and they have written more than 20 successful cookbooks which is pretty impressive! Desert island dish: starter: Italian Salumi Main Tournedos Rossini Pudding: banana crème brulee and cheese board Luxury item: Dave: motorbikeSi: Sharp knives I definitely had a little fan girl moment trying to invite myself to supper – pretty sure I wanted to nominate myself to be the 3rd hairy biker – but I don’t quite have the beard for it… Don’t forget to come and find me on Instagram. I’m @madebymargie where I share recipes, more desert island dishes inspired food and I’d love to see you there. Thanks for listening! Bye! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.