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Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith

Gilly Smith
Food Writing
Food Culture
Cooking
Mental Health
Community
Food Identity
Nutrition
Cultural Identity
Beans
Food Sustainability
Roman Cuisine
American Cuisine
Culinary Traditions
Gut Health
Mediterranean Diet
Food Waste
Ukraine
Healthy Eating
Jamie Oliver
Testaccio

Cooking the Books is about all of life through the prism of food, from climate change to culture and politics to people. It's for foodie book lovers who want to hear something more profound about the way we live, making the link between delicious food and the impact of food production on the land, all through four food moments from the books of our favourite food writers.

Cooking the Books with Gi... more

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Artwork for Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith

Latest Episodes

This week we’re with the prince of plants, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his High Fibre Heroes.

Hugh and Gilly have been talking about the national diet for years on this show and before it was even born. They both campaign with the Food Foundatio... more

This week, we’re back at Patio in Brighton for Cooking the Books Live with Tim Anderson and his latest book, JapanEasy Kitchen

In front of a live audience, we find out about the nine magical Japanese pantry staples which Tim says can transform anythi... more

This week, we’re looking in depth at the shortlists in the food categories at the Fortnum and Mason Awards with Marie Mitchell, one of the judges and last year’s award winner for her debut cookery book, Kin.

... more

This week, we’re off to Lebanon via Reigate with the man behind Comptoir Libanais and Yalla Yalla, Jad Youssef.

Lebnani is Jad’s debut cookbook that's all about the Lebanon of his childhood, the rituals and traditions of the food from his homeland t... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Tim Anderson
Author of Japanesey Kitchen
Episode: Tim Anderson: JapanEasy Kitchen
Marie Mitchell
Last year's award winner for her debut Kin
Episode: Judging The Fortnum and Mason Awards
Jad Youssef
Behind Comptoir Lébonnais and Yalla Yalla, author of Lebnani
Comptoir Lébonnais / Yalla Yalla
Episode: Jad Youssef: Lebnani
Ranie Saidi
Author of The Malay Cook; Lawyer Comes Supper Club host at Soho House and Curry Club London
Author of The Malay Cook; Soho House; Curry Club London
Episode: Ranie Saidi: The Malay Cook
Shivi Ramoutar
Caribbean cookbook author and TV presenter
Shivi Ramoutar
Episode: Shivi Ramoutar: Recipes from the Rum Islands
Madeeha Qureshi
Author and chef, debut cookbook The Red Sea
Author, The Red Sea
Episode: Madeeha Qureshi : The Red Sea
Ali Honour
Chef and food systems agitator, author of Beans and other works
Author, chef, campaigner for beans and sustainable food systems
Episode: Cooking the Books Live: Ali Honour
Nicola Lando
Founder of Sous Chef, judge
Sous Chef
Episode: The Jane Grigson Trust Sous Chef Awards Shortlist
Jeremy Lee
Chef and judge
Restaurant Chef
Episode: The Jane Grigson Trust Sous Chef Awards Shortlist

Host

Gilly Smith
Host of Cooking the Books, guiding interviews and exploring four food moments from guests' books

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 114 ratings
  • Am

    I love this podcast. Amazing guests and informative. I have one criticism which is the host falls into a whisper. Need to stop that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bananas for muffins
    United States5 months ago
  • A favorite

    One of my favorite podcasts! Gilly does a fantastic job of getting to the heart of inspiration with the world’s latest cookbook authors.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cami2224
    United States2 years ago
  • Wonderful podcast

    Gilly is so knowledgeable and engaging and brings out really warm intimate stories from her guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wenamaroo
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Love this podcast

    I have learned so much from Gilly’s podcast, which is simultaneously entertaining and insightful. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ceeceebee31
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Great listening

    Such a great podcast for foodies and non-foodies alike. I learn something new every time. Gilly has a wonderful open approach and the conversations flow really well. I love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JennyAtherton
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Warm, insightful host with a knack for drawing out intimate stories from guests.
Guests are consistently well-chosen, with rich, book-centered discussions.
High-quality conversations that weave food, culture, and memory into compelling narratives.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tim Anderson: JapanEasy Kitchen
Q: What should a gluten-free reader substitute for soy in these recipes?
Substitute tamari with care, as it is less salty and more flavorful; start with small amounts, balance with sake, and adjust salt separately; gluten-free options for breadcrumbs exist but may be limited.
Tim Anderson: JapanEasy Kitchen
Q: How are you received in Japan as a Western author?
Tim notes that reception in Japan can be limited, but his Hokkaido book was well received, and some Japanese readers appreciate seeing regional dishes and indigenous perspectives; overall, Western authors may have a mixed reception, but individual works can still resonate.
Abby Allen: The Farm Kitchen
Q: Spill the beans. What's happening with Piper's Farm and Piper's Co?
Abby explains that they parted ways with the previous company, decided to rebuild from scratch, and launched Piper's and Co to preserve control, expand a local supplier network, and focus on fair contracts and community impact.
Madeeha Qureshi : The Red Sea
Q: Tell us about the Mutabak moment and why it mattered.
Mutabak served as a deeply personal start to the book's food moments, rooted in childhood and the loss of the author's father; the dish became a vehicle to share grief, memory, and the broader story of Saudi food's evolution on national television.
Cooking the Books Live: Ali Honour
Q: What role does a cookbook play in changing conversations about food?
Honour describes cookbooks as a personal, persuasive tool that can back up activism with delicious recipes and a clear manifesto, sparking conversations and inspiring listeners to adopt plant-based practices and support systemic change.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith

What is Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful conversations-focused show where host Gilly Smith guides conversations with prominent cookbook authors, food writers, and culinary historians through four “food moments” from each guest's latest work. Episodes explore how food intersects with culture, identity, memory, sustainability, and everyday life, often weaving in travel, migration, and regional cuisines. The tone is warm and collaborative, with guests ranging from memoirists to scholars, and the host frequently draws on storytelling to connect recipes to broader social and environmental themes. A standout aspect is the way book-focused discussions are anchored in personal narratives and cultural context, helping listeners see food writing as a lens on life, identity, and... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith:

1. Good Food
2. Ruthie's Table 4
3. The Food Programme
4. grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends
5. The Travel Diaries

How many episodes of Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith are there?

Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith launched 6 years ago and published 322 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith?

Recent guests on Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith include:

1. Tim Anderson
2. Marie Mitchell
3. Jad Youssef
4. Ranie Saidi
5. Shivi Ramoutar
6. Madeeha Qureshi
7. Ali Honour
8. Nicola Lando

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