Episodes

  • From Failed Business to Cookbook Success: John Gregory-Smith on Travelling The World For New Flavour

    From Failed Business to Cookbook Success: John Gregory-Smith on Travelling The World For New Flavour
    Mar 20 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant John Gregory-Smith, a chef, best-selling author, and prolific content creator whose cooking is all about big flavour and food that brings people together. From launching his own spice company to traveling the world in search of the best dishes, John has built a career making global cooking accessible for the home cook. Whether he is filming three new recipes a week on his phone or researching his next cookbook, John’s journey is a testament to the power of "feeding the beast" of social media while staying rooted in authentic, bold flavours . John prepares his beloved Butter Chicken Tray-Bake, a clever, "stripped-back" twist on the North Indian Punjabi classic he first learned in Amritsar. Using chicken thighs poached in a rich sauce of ginger, garlic, Kashmiri chili, and garam masala, and finished with cream, butter, and the all-important "takeaway vibe" of scrunched fenugreek leaves, this dish beautifully encapsulates John’s cooking philosophy of maximum flavour with minimum effort. It is a recipe designed to be easy enough for a Wednesday night but delicious enough to serve to guests on the weekend . Throughout the episode, John shares his remarkable journey from his early days in London, where his sister’s drunken encounter in a bar led to a job at Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road, to the "nightmare" logistics of running his own spice brand during a recession . He discusses the "Q-Mafia" traditions of his large, close-knit family and their legendary Sunday night curries, explaining how being the shortest and youngest cousin originally motivated him to start cooking so he could get to the food first . He also opens up about "fleeing his problems" to travel across Asia and the Middle East, a trip fuelled by a "complete lie" about book research that eventually became his very first publication . John also explores his obsession with "hanging out with old ladies" to learn intuitive, traditional recipes in places like Azerbaijan and Lebanon, contrasting these deep culinary dives with the reality of writing a tray-bake book in a high-pressure three-month sprint . From shocking Theo with his refusal to salt his pasta water to admitting his love for watching Below Deck when he’s too tired to cook, John offers a refreshingly honest look at the life of a modern food creator . You can find John’s full Butter Chicken Tray-Bake recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to check out his latest book, The Greatest Tray-Bake Cookbook Ever, for more inspiring, easy dinners. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    32 mins
  • How a Track Athlete Became a Top London Chef: Kerth Gumbs on Caribbean Cuisine & His Mother's Legacy

    How a Track Athlete Became a Top London Chef: Kerth Gumbs on Caribbean Cuisine & His Mother's Legacy
    Mar 13 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Kerth Gumbs, Chef de Cuisine at Fenchurch in the Sky Garden and one of the most exciting voices in modern Caribbean cuisine. From his humble beginnings in Anguilla watching his mother Daphine cater weddings and funerals to mastering French technique under legends like Joël Robuchon and Tom Aikens, Kerth’s journey is a testament to the power of heritage, discipline, and cooking with purpose. After representing the UK at the World Championships in track and field, studying at Le Cordon Bleu, and working his way through Michelin kitchens across London and Singapore with Jason Atherton, Kerth is now championing bold Caribbean flavours whilst honouring the traditions of his island home. Kerth prepares his beloved Jerk Steam Sea Bream with Escovitch Vegetables and Coconut Dumplings, a deeply personal Easter dish that beautifully encapsulates his cooking philosophy. Using whole sea bream seasoned with aromatic jerk paste, garlic salt, and sazon complete, sweet julienned peppers and onions sautéed with thyme and finished with Chardonnay vinegar for that classic escovitch tang, and fluffy coconut dumplings made with coconut milk powder for richness and body. Steamed en papillote with knobs of butter to sweeten and round the spices, this is humble Caribbean home cooking elevated with French technique, celebrating the incredible seafood and bold flavours of the islands whilst remaining accessible, affordable, and deeply comforting. Throughout the episode, Kerth shares his remarkable journey from chasing wild goats in the Anguillan bush to fund his travels to becoming captain of his island's track team and earning a scholarship to train in Jamaica, why his mother's ability to cook rice and peas to perfection in massive Dutch pots remains a skill he's never mastered, and how his coach suspended his athletic scholarship for six months which ultimately led him to cooking. He discusses the importance of learning to count from one to one hundred in French to secure his job at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, why working double the hours for free meant gaining double the knowledge, the brutal but transformative years in Michelin kitchens where his diploma meant nothing until he earned his stripes, and why managing yourself is just as important as managing others. Kerth also opens up about his mission to give back to Anguilla through mentorship at the island's first hotel Malliouhana, why Johnny cakes with barbecue is his death row meal, and how being relentless and making yourself an asset to yourself has shaped everything he does. You can find Kerth’s full Jerk Steam Sea Bream recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to visit Fenchurch at the Sky Garden to experience his modern Caribbean cuisine for yourself. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    40 mins
  • The Recipe That Changed Everything: Meera Sodha on Mental Health & Rediscovering the Love of Food

    The Recipe That Changed Everything: Meera Sodha on Mental Health & Rediscovering the Love of Food
    Mar 6 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by Meera Sodha, best-selling author, Guardian columnist, and one of the most influential voices in modern plant-based cooking. With four acclaimed cookbooks to her name and a weekly Guardian column that has transformed the way Britain thinks about vegetables, Meera's journey from growing up as the only Indian family in a Lincolnshire village to becoming a celebrated food writer is a testament to the power of heritage, resilience, and cooking with purpose. From her early entrepreneurial ventures including the ahead-of-its-time dating site Fancy an Indian to working at Innocent Drinks and eventually finding her calling in food writing, Meera represents a new generation of cooks who celebrate tradition whilst embracing creativity and global influences. Meera prepares her beloved Malaysian Dal Curry, a deeply personal dish that helped her reconnect with cooking after months away from the kitchen during a difficult period in her life. Using red lentils, aromatic lemongrass, fragrant curry leaves, warming spices including cumin and coriander, creamy coconut milk, sweet carrots, and a finishing touch of tangy tamarind paste, this comforting dal is inspired by a memorable meal she shared with her husband in Singapore. This recipe beautifully encapsulates Meera's cooking philosophy - food that brings pleasure, comfort, and connection, rooted in tradition but open to experimentation and the joy of cooking what you truly love to eat. Throughout the episode, Meera shares her remarkable journey from watching her mother cook in their family kitchen to collecting recipes that became her first book, the significance of the wooden spoon her mother gifted her on her 30th birthday, and why tasting ingredients before, during, and after cooking remains the best advice she's ever received. Meera also opens up about her breakdown and how this simple dal helped her find her way back to the kitchen, the influence of her Ugandan heritage and Swahili words in her family's cooking, and why financial security through education was so important to her immigrant parents. You can find Meera's full Malaysian Dal Curry recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to check out her cookbooks including her latest, Dinner, for more inspiring plant-based recipes that celebrate pleasure and comfort. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    30 mins
  • The Truth About British Seafood: Jack Stein on Taking Over the Family Restaurant Empire

    The Truth About British Seafood: Jack Stein on Taking Over the Family Restaurant Empire
    Feb 27 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Jack Stein, chef director of the Rick Stein Group and a passionate advocate for sustainable seafood. Growing up in Padstow surrounded by fishing boats, fresh crab, and his father's legendary seafood restaurant, Jack's journey has taken him from the kitchens of Michel Bras in France to building a thriving restaurant empire across Cornwall whilst championing British fish and sustainable fishing practices. With deep roots in Cornwall's fishing community and a commitment to preserving culinary traditions, Jack represents the next generation of the Stein legacy. Jack prepares his beloved Cornish Crab Linguine, his mum Jill's favourite dish and a modern twist on a classic Italian recipe. Using sweet Cornish crab meat from local fishermen in Padstow, a simple base of shallots, garlic, tomatoes, lemon juice, and quality olive oil, with a clever addition of gochujang for warmth and depth, and squid fish sauce for that umami punch reminiscent of ancient Roman garum. This dish beautifully encapsulates Jack's cooking philosophy - simple, ingredient-led food that respects tradition whilst embracing global influences and celebrates the incredible seafood landed on Cornwall's shores every day. You can find Jack's full Cornish Crab Linguine recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to visit one of the Rick Stein restaurants to experience their commitment to sustainable British seafood. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    45 mins
  • The Secret to Perfect Pho: Chef Thuy Pham on Vietnamese Traditions & Making Food Your Love Language

    The Secret to Perfect Pho: Chef Thuy Pham on Vietnamese Traditions & Making Food Your Love Language
    Feb 20 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Thuy Diem Pham, chef, author, and one of the leading voices in Vietnamese cuisine. Born in a rural village in southern Vietnam and raised in the UK, Thuy's journey is a testament to the power of heritage, family, and cooking with love. From opening her own Vietnamese restaurant to becoming a consultant for Baxter Storey and writing three cookbooks, Thuy is championing authentic Vietnamese cooking whilst making it accessible and inspiring for home cooks everywhere. Thuy prepares her beloved Bun Ga Hue, a traditional chicken noodle soup from the Midlands of Vietnam - a regional twist on Vietnam's national dish, pho. Using corn-fed chicken gently poached for clarity, charred onions and ginger for depth, aromatic lemongrass and star anise, fresh pineapple for natural sweetness, and a punchy lemongrass chili oil made with crispy shallots, garlic, and annatto seeds, this dish beautifully encapsulates the five essential tastes of Vietnamese cuisine - hot, sour, sweet, aromatic, and pungent. Finished with rice noodles, vibrant herbs including Thai basil and morning glory (water spinach), and a generous squeeze of lime, this recipe is comfort food at its finest whilst being naturally healthy and nourishing. Throughout the episode, Thuy shares her remarkable journey from growing up as a rice farmer's daughter in rural Vietnam to moving to the UK at seven and a half without speaking a word of English, her father's insistence on preserving their Vietnamese heritage through language and food, and why clarity in broth-making is an art form that requires patience and love. She discusses the regional differences in Vietnamese cuisine from north to south, the French influence on dishes like pho and Vietnamese stew, why her grandmother would stand for 15 hours making noodles as her way of saying "I love you," and the importance of using natural ingredients like pineapple and coconut water to tenderise meat and add sweetness. Thuy also opens up about her mission to preserve Vietnamese recipes for the next generation, her role as a consultant chef, and why shrimp paste is the most underrated umami ingredient in her kitchen. You can find Thuy's full Bun Ga Hue recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to check out her three cookbooks for more inspiring Vietnamese recipes. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    40 mins
  • Why You Should Stop Wasting Food: Max La Manna's Guide to Using Every Part of the Ingredient

    Why You Should Stop Wasting Food: Max La Manna's Guide to Using Every Part of the Ingredient
    Feb 13 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Max La Manna, chef, best-selling author, and sustainability advocate who is pushing the boundaries of what low-waste plant-based cooking can be. With over a billion views across his recipe videos, Max is a leading voice in the movement to make delicious food with less waste. From his early days growing up in his father's quick-service restaurants to discovering the shocking reality of food waste at an Australian farmer's market, Max's journey is a testament to the power of creativity, frugality, and cooking with purpose. Max prepares his ingenious Broccoli Stem Tartare, a dish that transforms one of the most wasted ingredients in our kitchens into something spectacular. Using every component of the broccoli stem - peeled, pickled, diced, dehydrated into powder, and even blowtorched - alongside a punchy tartare sauce made with Dijon mustard, white miso, capers, shallots, and quality olive oil, all finished with crispy sourdough breadcrumbs. This recipe beautifully encapsulates Max's cooking philosophy - taking humble, overlooked ingredients and making them the star of the plate whilst celebrating bold flavours, varied textures, and zero waste. Throughout the episode, Max shares his remarkable journey from working in hospitality in all shapes and forms to becoming a social media sensation with his "Taste Not Waste" movement. He discusses the shocking reality that we waste 20 million slices of bread a day in the UK, why planning your meals and taking a photo of your fridge before shopping can save money and reduce waste, the importance of using your freezer as a powerful tool, and why cooking seasonally is not just better for flavour but also for your wallet. Max also opens up about his passion for teaching the next generation, visiting regenerative farms in Gloucestershire, making homemade kombucha, and why "perfectly imperfect" is his mantra for life and cooking. You can find Max's full Broccoli Stem Tartare recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to check out his best-selling cookbook You Can Cook This for more inspiring low-waste recipes. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    39 mins
  • How to Get Protein on a Vegan Diet: Chef & Nutritionist Gigi Grassia on Vegan Italian Cooking

    How to Get Protein on a Vegan Diet: Chef & Nutritionist Gigi Grassia on Vegan Italian Cooking
    Feb 6 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Gigi Grassia, chef, nutritional coach, and a leading voice in modern plant-based cooking. With a thriving online community and her debut cookbook Plant Protein, Gigi is championing high-protein vegan dishes that are comforting, colourful, and full of heart. From her small village in Verona to studying in Hong Kong, running ultramarathons, and building a devoted following online, Gigi's journey is a testament to the power of creativity, curiosity, and cooking with love. Gigi prepares her beloved Hearty Pasta e Fagioli, a traditional dish from the Cucina Popolare passed down from her Nonna Paola in Naples. Using simple, wholesome ingredients including borlotti beans, a classic sofrito of onion, carrot, and celery, fresh rosemary, a touch of chilli, spinach, and quality durum wheat pasta cooked directly in the broth, this one-pan wonder is comfort food at its finest. Finished with a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for added protein and that irresistible cheesy flavour, this recipe beautifully encapsulates Gigi's cooking philosophy - plant-based food that's nourishing, accessible, and rooted in tradition whilst embracing global influences. Throughout the episode, Gigi shares her remarkable journey from leaving Italy at 19 to studying in Germany and Hong Kong, her transformative decision to go vegan four years ago, and how she's successfully combined her passions for fitness, nutrition, and cooking. She discusses the importance of whole food plant proteins, the misconceptions around vegan diets and protein intake, her experience running ultramarathons on a plant-based diet and why food education and creativity are essential to building a healthy relationship with what we eat. Gigi also opens up about her Italian heritage, the influence of both her Northern and Southern Italian family traditions, taking cooking classes whilst travelling, and why making food fun and flavourful is the key to inspiring others. You can find Gigi's full Hearty Pasta e Fagioli recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to check out her debut cookbook Plant Protein for more vibrant, high-protein vegan recipes. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    34 mins
  • How Sorted Food Changed Home Cooking: Ben Ebbrell on Zero Waste, Meal Planning & Making Food Fun

    How Sorted Food Changed Home Cooking: Ben Ebbrell on Zero Waste, Meal Planning & Making Food Fun
    Jan 30 2026
    In this episode, Theo is joined by the brilliant Ben Ebbrell, classically trained chef and co-founder of Sorted Food, one of the world's biggest online food communities with over 2.9 million subscribers. From his humble beginnings washing pots in a pub kitchen at 16 to building a global platform that's changed the way millions cook at home, Ben's journey is a testament to the power of making cooking fun, creative, and inclusive. Ben prepares his beloved Classic Fish Pie, the very first dish he ever cooked for his family at age 12 - a hearty bowl of nostalgia that's stayed with him for 25 years. Using a generous combination of cod, smoked haddock, and prawns, loads of wilted spinach, soft-boiled eggs, and a rich creamy sauce made with a classic sofrito base, bay leaf, mustard, lemon zest, and fresh parsley, all topped with buttery mashed potato crisped to golden perfection. This is comfort food at its finest - simple, accessible, and designed to bring people together around the table. Throughout the episode, Ben shares his remarkable journey from studying Culinary Arts Management to launching Sorted Food with university friends, his passion for sustainability and zero-waste cooking, and why food education matters now more than ever. He discusses the importance of seasonal cooking, how to make the most of your fridge to avoid waste, the launch of Sorted Kids to help children build better relationships with food, and the revolutionary meal planning app Sidekick that's helping home cooks save money whilst eating brilliantly. Ben also opens up about cooking for Andrew Lloyd Webber, growing vegetables on his allotment during lockdown, and why feeding people is one of life's greatest gifts. You can find Ben's full Fish Pie recipe on the Filippo Berio website at www.filippoberio.co.uk/theo, and be sure to subscribe to Sorted Food on YouTube and check out the Sorted Foundation to learn more about their mission to drive positive change through food education. The Recipe podcast is hosted by Theo Randall, Chef Patron at the Theo Randall Cucina Italiana. In each episode we meet a special guest who loves food, and they'll tell us all about their favourite recipe as we celebrate the stories behind the dishes that define us. Please do subscribe, follow, and share the podcast wherever you listen so you never miss an episode; and for more delicious stories and inspiring dishes. Follow The Recipe with Theo Randall: /therecipe.podcast (https://www.instagram.com/therecipe.podcast/) Follow Filippo Berio: /filippoberio_uk (https://www.instagram.com/filippoberio_uk/) Follow Theo Randall: /theo.randall (https://www.instagram.com/theo.randall/) The Recipe with Theo Randall is a Listen To This Production for Filippo Berio.
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    32 mins