The Menu

We’re back on familiar soil this week as we head to the East London neighbourhood of Dalston. This vibrant slice of the capital is renowned for its hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, high-end wine bars and some of London’s most exciting restaurants. Here, Monocle’s Hanna Pham shows us her favourite spots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We flick through culinary magazines and newspapers for an episode entirely dedicated to food in print. First up, we speak to Joseph de Klee, founder of ‘The Pass’, a paper highlighting the best of London’s gastronomic scene. Then: we’re heading to the Finnish newsstands to meet the editor in chief of a long-standing food magazine, ‘Glorian ruoka & vilni’. Plus: Fernando Augusto Pacheco, host of ‘The Stack’ on Monocle Radio, picks out the best in food publishing from around the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head to the ancient city of Cusco in the Peruvian Andes to wander its breathtaking (literally) cobblestone streets, and taste both its traditional delicacies and contemporary cuisine. Here, Monocle’s Elna Schutz takes us on a gastronomic tour of what is considered the oldest living city in the Americas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we sit down with Mike Davies, the chef at the helm of one of London’s most celebrated gastropubs, The Camberwell Arms, to leaf through his new seasonal cookbook, ‘Cooking for People’. Then, Petri Burtsoff heads to a Luscher & Matiesen winery on the Estonian island of Muhu to taste some of the nation’s unique tipples. Plus: Monocle’s Monica Lillis is in Somerset to learn more about the hotel and country estate that’s committed to the land and local culinary traditions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head to Sweden, the home of cinnamon buns, or ‘kanelbullar’, to meet award winning home-cook Lina Walstrom. Monocle’s Tamara Thiessen heads to meet her in Vaxholm to learn how to make this staple Swedish treat. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We leaf through a new cookbook by Tim Anderson dedicated to the cuisine of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Also in the programme, George Ruskin meets chef Ben Slater to learn about the art of food styling and our in-house wine expert, Chloé Lake, crowns her wine of the month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Norway’s capital is not to be overlooked if you want a taste of the best that the Nordics have to offer. Much like its people, Oslo’s culinary scene is not brash or showy, so its most notable restaurants and bars can be easy to miss. Here, Monocle’s resident Norwegian, Gunnar Gronlid, helps us uncover some of the city’s best spots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode is dedicated entirely to umami. First up, we sit down with Christopher Beckman, whose new book dives into the history and potency of anchovies. Also on the programme: Monocle’s Canberra correspondent, Aarti Betigeri, tastes Australia’s divisive spread, Vegemite. Plus: we unearth the bountiful possibilities of cooking with fungi with Sam White, executive chef at Fortnum & Mason. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We swap city life for the hilltop town of Taormina in Sicily to soak up the last of the season’s sun. George Ruskin takes us on a tour of this elegant destination’s best culinary spots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we delve into the pleasure of ice cream whatever the season with founder of Happy Endings, Terri Mercieca. Also in the programme, Monocle’s Copenhagen correspondent Michael Booth meets chef and butcher, Michael Museth, at his restaurant and shop, Butcheria, dedicated to delivering high-quality-meat products to the city. Plus: Mae-Li Evans visits a new exhibition at Japan House London, ‘Looks Delicious!’, all about the art of hyper-realistic food replicas in Japan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we’re heading upstream to Hudson, a leafy town north of New York, to sample its culinary delights. Monocle’s Anita Riotta takes us on a tour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we welcome chef Santiago Lastra back to the studio to discuss his new London opening, Fonda, inspired by Mexico’s laidback eateries. Also in the programme: Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff meets Finnish chef Sami Tallberg to learn about the transformative flavours of fresh-foraged herbs. Plus: Monica Lillis heads to Lulu's, a South London neighbourhood restaurant taking the area’s culinary reputation to the next level. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we’re heading to France’s oldest city, Marseille. Known for its sunshine, sea and saffron, this melting pot of a port town seamlessly blends French, Italian, Mediterranean and North African cooking traditions and rituals. Here, Sarah Grice takes us on a tour of her favourite spots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we whip out jars and bottles for an episode entirely dedicated to condiments. First up, we sit down with the authority on the subject, author Claire Dinhut – also known as Condiment Claire – to talk about her new book. Also in the programme: Monocle’s Gregory Scruggs meets the founders of KariKari Chilli Crisp in Seattle to learn about the global craze for spicy sauces. Plus: Sebastian Stephenson heads to Highbank Orchards to taste its award-winning cider vinegar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Monocle’s Monica Lillis heads to the leafy suburb of Herne Hill in South London to sample its artisanal bakeries and cafés, sit down at some of the area’s best restaurants and tour its stalwart Sunday market. Take a listen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we sit down with Alice Lascelles to flick through her new book, ‘The Martini’, and learn why she’s so passionate about this classic cocktail. Also in the programme: Hannah Pham meets with Rebecca Ghim, founder of The Ferm, a London-based fermentary that turns waste products into kimchi. Plus, our wine expert, Chloé Lake, crowns her wine of the month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Balearic isle of Ibiza the summer season is beginning to wind down. The legions of leisure seekers won’t officially dwindle until mid-October, when many of the island’s restaurants head off on their half-year hiatus. Moored in Ibiza Town, Monocle correspondent Liam Aldous has been tucking into the changing face of the port city’s food scene, which is seeing a growing number of restaurants turn into perennial offerings – a development that’s pleasing residents just as much as the tourists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet Ed McIlory to find out about his new Iberia-inspired opening, Tollington’s, in north London. Also on the programme: Marisa Mazria Katz meets the founders of Ziba, a US-based company that aims to bring the distinctive taste of Afghan fruit and nuts to the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the leaves beginning to turn golden brown in the Northern Hemisphere, Monocle’s Sana Jumani takes us on a tour of Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, an area renowned for its autumnal fare as well as its varied culinary scene. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet Dan Anton of London’s Lahpet to learn more about his most recent opening, Lahpet Larder, and talk about the appetite for Burmese cuisine. Also on the programme: we’re in Finland to meet the founder of Do Good Brew Co, who tells us about his mission to pair beer with fine dining. Plus: Monocle’s Tomos Lewis heads to Archestratus Books and Foods in Brooklyn, New York. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.