Top 10 best food podcasts

In this day and age, you’d be hard-pressed not to have come across some sort of podcast. They seem to be everywhere these days, with anyone seemingly jumping on the podcast bandwagon.

Food is a great conversation starter, so it’s no surprise that food podcasts in particular have become very popular, with chefs, restaurateurs, cookbook authors, food writers and even comedians coming together to discuss anything food related – whether it’s educational, light-hearted or delving into more serious issues in the food industry.

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a cook, or if you’re a self-proclaimed foodie, or you just really love to eat, take a look at our top picks of best food podcasts.

1. Table Manners with Jessie Ware

Singer-songwriter Jessie Ware and her mum Lennie are the hosts of this super popular podcast. Each episode features different celebrity guests who drop by for a meal and a chin wag. Past guests have included Joe Lycett, Dua Lipa, John Legend, Jamie Oliver and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Expect tons of witty remarks, oversharing and discussions on everything from family life and politics, to culture and music. There are currently nine seasons of the show, so there’s plenty to sink your teeth into!

2. The Food Seen

For those of you with a keen interest in art and design as well as food, then The Food Seen is the perfect podcast for you. Host Michael Harlan Turkell is an award-winning photographer and cookbook author. He chats with photographers, food stylists, restaurateurs, and industrial and interior designers to explore how food, art and design intersect. Whether it’s conversations about culinary techniques like shaping pasta or slicing fish, or the variety of materials that chefs use, it’s a great way to take a fresh look on how chefs and artists use food as their muse.

3. Bon Appetit Foodcast

Bon Appetit Magazine is a monthly food and entertainment magazine which features recipes, restaurant recommendations, wine reviews and stories. Basically, everything you want and need to know about food! So, it’s no surprise that they have a podcast too. There are currently almost 300 episodes, with new ones released every Wednesday. The podcasts cover pretty much everything about food – whether it’s a behind-the-scenes peek at the Bon Appetit writers and editors, or interviews with the world’s best chefs. Although the content is primarily American, don’t let this deter you – there is plenty of entertaining content.

4. The Splendid Table

The Splendid Table is one of the pioneers of the best food podcasts. Hosted by award-winning food journalist Francis Lam, the podcast has been around for over two decades. There are currently over 700 episodes (plenty to get stuck into!) which explore topics like different cultures and cuisines, our society’s drinking culture, and personal stories related to the world of food. The Splendid Table frequently features test cooks from America’s Test Kitchen to talk about recipes, ingredients, techniques and kitchen equipment. 

5. Home Cooking

This best food podcast from Samin Nosrat (chef and author of the cookbook Salt Fat Acid Heat) and Hrishikesh Hirway (creator and host of the podcast Song Exploder) is a brand-new mini-series born out of lockdown. Dedicated to helping aspiring home cooks utilise their pantry ingredients, the show covers recipes, kitchen tools and interviews with experts. The podcast also tackles the topic of anxiety, which is pretty relevant, especially with everything going on in the world. Listeners are also encouraged to submit their own stories and questions.

6. Racist Sandwich

From the name alone, you can tell that this isn’t your average best food podcast. Originally hosted by Soleil Ho and Zahir Janmohamed, the podcast is now hosted by Stephanie Kuo and Juan Diego Ramírez. The two tackle topics which aren’t commonly discussed in the food industry, such as race, class, gender and sexuality. Whether it’s discussions about racism in food photography, to interviews with chefs of colour, the podcast explores these topics with humour, grace and realness.

7. Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble

Comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble are united by their love of food in this weekly food podcast. Each episode features celebrities and foodies who are invited into James and Ed’s make-believe restaurant. Guests are asked to choose their dream starter, main course, side dish, dessert and drink, which leads to discussion about the evocative (and oftentimes uproarious) memories that they associate with these meals. Past guests have included Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge, Louis Theroux and Krishnan Guru-Murthy.

8. The Sporkful

With many awards under its belt, The Sporkful is a weekly food podcast hosted by Dan Pashman that explores different conversations associated with food. With the tagline ‘it’s not for foodies, it’s for eaters’, the podcast delves into issues like race, culture and body image, using food to learn more about people and different ways of life. Each episode discusses our relationship with a certain kind of food, whether it’s a common ingredient or something a little less conventional.

9. Gastropod

Describing this best food podcast as ‘food through the lens of science and history’ may make it sound tedious, but Gastropod is far from that – hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley explore fascinating stories in the world of food, with everything from aquaculture to ancient feasts, to cutlery and chilli peppers. The podcast includes interviews with experts, lab and field visits, and archaeological digs to discover new ways to understand the world through food. If you enjoy watching shows like Food Network’s ‘Unwrapped’, then you’ll love this podcast.

10. Spilled Milk

If you’re looking for something humorous and light-hearted, then Spilled Milk doesn’t disappoint. This long-running show hosted by writers and comedians Molly Wizenberg and Matthew Amster-Burton discuss whatever comes to mind on a random assortment of food-related topics, with a healthy dose of humour. It’s an easy-listening kind of podcast that doesn’t require too much concentration.

Don’t forget to check out our other blog articles and recipes.