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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
Ukraine
Food Waste
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes328Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith

Latest Episodes

This week, we're with travel and food writer, Sudi Pigott to Consider the Anchovy.

Part memoir, largely a travelogue, this is a deep dive into the story of a big hitting little fish. Stuffed with maverick, rakish characters, it's a passionate manife... more

This week, we're with Ella Risbridger and The Kitchen Book

Now, we know Ella intimately through her memoirs, Midnight Chicken and The Year of Miracles, both of which blended grief, joy, love and loss with food, gathering serious accolades and scoopi... more

This week, we're with three of the judges from this year’s World Food Photography Awards which took place earlier this week at The Mall Galleries in London.

The competition, first known as the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year, has pretty much... more

This week, we’re off to lunch with Chetna Makan, the Bake Off semi finalist who has become one of our national treasures with her massive YouTube channel, Food with Chetna. Her latest book 5 Ingredient Indian is yet another way of making Indian food ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Angela Nicholson
Founder of SheClicks, editor/judge
SheClicks
Episode: The World Food Photography Awards
Sal Henley
Food stylist and judge
Sal Henley (independent)
Episode: The World Food Photography Awards
Skye Trayler
Agency owner, At Trayler
At Trayler
Episode: The World Food Photography Awards
Chetna Makan
Bake Off Semi-Finalist, author of 5 Ingredient Indian, YouTube creator
Food with Chetna
Episode: Chetna Makan: 5 Ingredient Indian
Jago Rackham
Author of To Entertain: Instructions for a Dinner Party
Self-published / Publisher not specified
Episode: Jago Rackham: To Entertain
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

Host

Gilly Smith
Host of Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith

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 States6 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 Kingdom4 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 Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality conversations with diverse perspectives in food and books
Warm, insightful hosting that draws intimate, human stories from guests
Great pacing and a clear love of food culture that resonates with listeners

Top Arts Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The World Food Photography Awards
Q: Skye, what draws you to certain images beyond the immediate wow factor?
Skye highlights the importance of the creator's story, the potential for collaboration with brands, and how the narrative around the photographer and the process behind the image can influence commissioning and engagement.
The World Food Photography Awards
Q: What are you looking for as a food stylist when judging these photographs?
Sal explains he looks for instant visual impact followed by depth that reveals the story, stating that the best images trigger an immediate reaction but reward closer inspection for meaning and narrative.
The World Food Photography Awards
Q: Tell us a little bit about your particular practice, Angela.
Angela describes her background in testing cameras and lenses, her role as a technical editor and reviewer, and her ongoing work with SheClicks, emphasizing her eye for a good photo as a judge and her belief in the subjective nature of image interpretation.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall: High Fibre Heroes
Q: You've written several books encouraging people to eat more plants. Do you see fibre as the unifying lens for your work, and what sparked your focus on this topic?
Yes, fibre acts as a practical, everyday bridge between delicious food and health. My shift toward fibre is driven by evidence of gut wellness and the joy of cooking with accessible, plant-based ingredients that people actually want to eat.
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.

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 intersection of food, culture, and storytelling, this show uses four food moments from books to explore big ideas like sustainability, identity, and how narratives around meals shape our world. Episodes feature cookbook authors, journalists, and culinary thinkers who unpack craft, memory, and social issues, often weaving behind-the-scenes insights into publishing, judging, and food media. The format consistently centers on human stories and practical takeaways, making it appealing to foodies and readers who want meaningful conversations beyond recipes. A notable strength is the host's ability to surface personal motivations and broader cultural contexts, while maintaining approachable, warm dialogue that invites a wide audience... 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. The Food Programme
3. Homing
4. Dish
5. The Recipe

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

Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith launched 6 years ago and published 328 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. Angela Nicholson
2. Sal Henley
3. Skye Trayler
4. Chetna Makan
5. Jago Rackham
6. Tim Anderson
7. Marie Mitchell
8. Jad Youssef

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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