

The Menu
Monocle
Our guide to the world of food, drink and entertaining, The Menu serves up interviews with the world’s most creative chefs, introduces the makers behind the scenes and the ingredients that will soon be landing on your restaurant table.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 28, 2025 • 31min
All things green
We’re very much in spring mode this week for an episode dedicated to a specific slice of the colour wheel: green. We meet author and food writer Samuel Goldsmith to discuss his new title, ‘The Frozen Peas Cookbook’. Then: we trace the growing popularity of matcha around the world with Twiggy Yeung. Plus: we crown our ‘verde’ Wine of the Month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 25, 2025 • 12min
Food Neighbourhoods #427: Aix-en-Provence
The southern French city of Aix-en-Provence is swamped by tourists in the summer, and is visited by art enthusiasts year-round thanks to its connection to Cezanne. But what about food lovers? With the help of local food guide Thomas Garcin, our correspondent Michael Booth takes us to the spots that you won’t want to miss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 21, 2025 • 33min
What is Caribbean cuisine? Plus: Syria’s best shawarma and ‘An A-Z of Chinese Food’
We island-hop in the Caribbean with author Keshia Sakarah to learn all about her new book, ‘Caribe: A Caribbean Cookbook with History’, and the specificity of the region’s cuisine. Also in the programme: Hannah Lucinda Smith is in Damascus to taste some of the city’s renowned shawarma. Plus: Monocle’s Mae-Li Evans meets Jenny Lau to get ‘An A-Z of Chinese Food: (Recipes Not Included)’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 18, 2025 • 5min
Food Neighbourhoods #426: Binondo, Manila
We’re heading to Manila’s Chinatown, Binondo, a chaotic enclave of the city that’s as renowned for its vibrant cultural heritage as its delicious food. Hanna Pham takes us on a tour to try out the best Chinese-Filipino fare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 14, 2025 • 33min
Dairy
We delve into the world of dairy – the creamiest, most delicious of food groups. First, we look into the revived popularity of cow’s milk, then Emma Nelson visits France’s first museum dedicated to cheese. Plus: Aarti Betigeri samples Australian butter brand Pepe Saya.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 11, 2025 • 6min
Food Neighbourhoods #425: Töölö, Helsinki
Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff takes us on a tour of Helsinki’s Töölö neighbourhood, home to traditional neighbourhood bistros frequented by local families, as well as new eateries, where ambitious young chefs seek to leave their mark on the city’s vibrant dining scene.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 7, 2025 • 32min
Listening to your food, Filipino barbecue and our wine of the month
We’re starting off in South London with Rex De Guzman, the founder of Filipino barbecue spot Turo Turo. Also in the programme: Monocle contributor Lucy Hyslop heads to Burdock & Co in Vancouver to find out how the team are transforming their produce’s bioelectric charge into a dinner soundtrack. Plus: Monocle sub-editor and in-house wine expert, Chloé Lake, picks her wine of the month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 4, 2025 • 12min
Food Neighbourhoods #424: Tromsø, Norway
We’re northbound to the arctic city of Tromsø in Norway. Here, Monocle’s Oslo correspondent, Lars Bevanger, takes us on a culinary journey which, despite its snow and far-flung location, offers up a selection of international eateries as well as traditional fare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 3, 2025 • 28min
Richard Hart and Peter Pihel on pioneering New Nordic cuisine
We sit down with Richard Hart, one of the world’s most celebrated bakers, to find out about the true joy of making the perfect loaf. Also on the programme: Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff sits down with pioneer of New Nordic cuisine, Peeter Pihel, in Tallinn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 25, 2025 • 15min
Food Neighbourhoods #423: Chifa Town, Madrid
We’re heading to Madrid to wander through one of the Spanish capital’s most delectable open secrets. Hidden in the plain sight of the city centre, the Mostenses Municipal Market has been overlooked by local authorities for years. But this has created a ripe opportunity for diaspora communities from Asia and Latin America to eagerly snap up once-ailing stalls. Mixing entrepreneurial flair with a melting pot of exotic ingredients, the market is now a sizzling array of mini-eateries featuring flavours from Peru, Ecuador and China. Our man in Madrid, Liam Aldous, introduces us to the gastronomic fusion known as “Chifa”, a heady mix that has turned the surrounding area into Europe’s first, albeit unofficial, “Chifa Town”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.