Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith

Charles Clover: Rewilding the Sea

29 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Charles Clover, author of Rewilding the Sea to dive deep into the world behind our fish.Charles is a seasoned environmental j...

Karen Newby: The Natural Menopause Method

22 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with nutritionist, Karen Newby hot on the heels of an Instagram live with the Queen of the Menopause, Davina Mcall, on her new boo...

Michel Roux Junior: At Home

15 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with one of the main players in the story of modern British food, Michel Roux JuniorHis Mayfair restaurant, le Gavroche is a Londo...

Ashia Ismail-Singer: Ashia's Table

08 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Ashia Ismail- Singer to talk food identity and how food culture travels across borders. Her books Ashia’s Table and Sa...

Dina Macki: Bahari

01 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with the word on Omani food, Dina Macki.Her first book, Bahari: Recipes from an Omani Kitchen and Beyond is out today, but it’s ...

Gemma Ogston: The Healing Cookbook

25 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, as part of a new season for the New Year on how to live, be and do better, Gilly is with plant-based chef and author, Gemma Ogston to talk ...

Lynn Cassells: Our Wild Farming Life

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Lynn Cassells who with her partner Sandra Baer are two of the most inspiring women you’re likely to hear on Cooking the Boo...

Nik Sharma: Veg Table

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with food writer and photographer, molecular biologist, multiple James Beard award-winner, Nik Sharma. His latest book Veg-Table i...

The Official 2024 Veganuary Cookbook with Toni Vernelli

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To kick off a brand new year of life through the prism of food, Gilly is with the Head of Communications and Marketing at Veganuary, Toni Vernell...

Alex Jackson: Frontières

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Alex Jackson, Noble Rot chef, former restaurateur at Sardine and author of Frontieres.He talks about his long love affair wit...

Kevin Geddes: Keep Calm and Fanny On

22 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly's with a man after her own heart. There are very few people who write about TV chefs and their place in British food culture, but Kev...

These Delicious Things: a charity cookbook for Magic Breakfast

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with private chef, Jane Hodson, food writer, Lucas Hollweg and probably the most influential of social media food influencers...

Dina Begum: Made in Bangladesh

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Dina Begum, whose book, Made in Bangladesh celebrates the food and folklore and of the old country which she left when she wa...

Joe Woodhouse: More Daily Veg

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is on Hove seafront with an old friend of the podcast, Joe Woodhouse to talk about More Daily Veg.A lot has happened since they ...

Alexina Anatole: Bitter

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is talking to Alexina Anatole about the least pleasant of our five tastes: bitter. Or is it?Alexina's series of cookbooks on the...

Russell Norman: Brutto

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Russell Norman, the award-winning restaurateur, writer and broadcaster who brought Italy to the British high street...

Donal Skehan: Home Kitchen

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is talking about what home means to Irish TV chef, Donal Skehan.Donal has moved a lot in his massive career on TV, from Eurovision to...

Bee Wilson: The Secret of Cooking

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with one of Britain’s very best food writers, the author of First Bite and The Way We Eat Now, Bee Wilson.After years of writing...

Anya Von Bremzen: National Dish

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is digging deeply into the construction of identtiy through the food with multi award-winning Russian writer Anya von Bremzen.Nationa...

Giulia Scarpaleggia: Cucina Povera

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, while Gilly is talking about the roots of Italian cuisine, Cucina PoveraGiulia Scarpaleggia began her food writing career as a blogger and...

Julius Roberts: The Farm Table

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly's with the king of Tik Tok, the idol of Insta and star of channel 5’s A Taste of the Country, Julius Roberts.His debut cook bo...

Diana Henry: Roast Figs, Sugar Snow

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with one of Britain’s very best food writers, Diana Henry.The new edition of her 2005 book Roast Figs, Sugar Snow is a lyrical w...

Isabella Tree: The Book of Wilding

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is at Knepp with the queen of wilding, Isabella Tree.The Knepp estate is an extraordinary pioneering wilding project to restore natur...

Bri DiMattina: Nostrana

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Cooking the Books, Italian-Kiwi gardener and cook, Bri DiMattina tells us how she’s grown a food forest using permaculture principles i...

Conor Spacey: Wasted

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Conor Spacey, chef, culinary director of Food Space Ireland and one of the movers and shakers behind the Chefs' Manifesto, a ...

Adriana Cavita: Cocina Mexicana

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Adriana Cavita, the brilliant Mexican chef and, now author of Cocina Mexicana, whose journey from her grandmother’s st...

Petty Elliott: The Indonesian Table

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with the Indonesian chef behind her last sell out supper club, Petty Elliott. Her book, The Indonesian Table is a seminal wor...

Helen Rebanks: The Farmer's Wife

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, in the last of this mini series on Matrescence, Gilly is with Helen Rebanks, farmer, businesswoman, teacher, conservationist and a working ...

Emiko Davies: Gohan

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Emiko Davies, the Australian born, half Japanese writer on Italian food who lives with her family in Florence to talk about J...

Tara Wigley: How to Butter Toast

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, in the third in a special series this summer on Matrescence, Gilly is with Tara Wigley, co-author of the award-winning Falastin, in-ho...

Shivi Ramoutar: Cook Clever

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, in the second in a special series on matrescence, Gilly is talking about morning telly, cook hacks and motherhood with TV chef, Shivi Ramou...

Chetna Makan: Chetna's Indian Feasts

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly's at the home of award-winning recipe writer, author and YouTuber, one of Bake Off’s most celebrated winners and mother of 2, Chetn...

Maria Bradford: Sweet Salone

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Maria Bradford, author of Sweet Salone, the first book to tell the story of the food from her homeland of Sierra Leone.&...

Imad Alarnab: Imad's Syrian Kitchen

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Syrian chef, restaurateur and charity pop-up king, Imad Alarnab, whose story has become a symbol of hope for so many migrants...

Amy Newsome: Honey

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with cook, gardener and beekeeper, Amy Newsome. Her book, Honey: Recipes From a Beekeeper's Kitchen takes us through the beek...

Emily Scott: Time and Tide

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with the woman who cooked for Joe Biden, Justin Trudeau, the late Queen and the leaders of the Western world at the G7 conference ...

Clare Finney: Hungry Heart

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with journalist and author, Clare Finney whose new book, Hungry Heart is a memoir which unravels a tricky relationship with food.&n...

Ravinder Bhogal: Comfort and Joy

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with chef, restaurateur, journalist and award winning writer, Ravinder Bhogal.Her latest book, Comfort and Joy: Irresistible ...

Jenny Jefferies; For the Love of the Sea II

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is going fishing with Jenny Jefferies, author of For the Love of the Sea, who has made it her mission to give a voice to the hidden fi...

Jenny Chandler: A Good Appetite

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with Jenny Chandler whose book A Good Appetite is all about eating for planet, body and soul.It's a subject particularly close to G...

James Whetlor: The DIY BBQ CookBook

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with James Whetlor, former chef at River Cottage and The Eagle in Farringdon with a whole new take on the barbecue.For festival go...

Niki Segnit: The Flavour Thesaurus - More Flavours

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Niki Segnit,  the award-winning author of The Flavour Thesaurus, Lateral Cooking, and now The F...

Saghar Setareh: Pomegranates and Artichokes

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Iranian food writer and photographer, Saghar Setareh whose debut book Pomegranates & Artichokes is the sto...

Jennifer Medhurst: The Imperfect Nutritionist

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with former lawyer, Jennifer Medhurst, aka The Imperfect Nutritionist.And while there's plenty of talk about gut health, this episo...

Saliha Mahmood Ahmed: The Kitchen Prescription

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is back with MasterChef winner, author and doctor, Saliha Mahmood Ahmed.She’s a historian, a TV chef and a gastroenterologist with ...

Sarah Wyndham Lewis: Wild Bees

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with honey sommelier and bee champion, Sarah Wyndham Lewis. Her book, The Wild Bee Handbook is a fascinating insight into the...

Andi Oliver: The Pepperpot Diaries

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with chef, TV presenter and now, finally author, Andi Oliver. She’s one of the most successful black women on British TV, a ...

Dr Rupy Cooks

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Rupy Aujla to talk gut health, flavour and his latest book, Dr Rupy CooksHe’ s a best selling author,  a BBC...

Sumayya Usmani: Andaza

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is going to Pakistan, through the memories of food writer and writing coach, Sumayya Usmani Her memoir, Andaza tells the ev...

Ozlem's Turkish Table

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with Turkish food writer and chef, Ozlem Warren Ozlem found fame as a blogger after moving here in 2009, and her supper clubs,...

Sarah Raven: A Year Full of Veg

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is gardening with teacher, podcaster and Telegraph columnist, Sarah Raven Sarah has seen massive changes in how our gardens grow over...

Sarah Woods: Desi Kitchen

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is exploring the secret kitchens of Britain’s Desi kitchens with Britain's Best Home Cook finalist, Sarah Woods.Her book Desi Kitch...

Regula Ysewijn: Dark Rye and Honey Cake

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly time travels through the centuries with Belgian writer Regula Ysewijn to explore the rich history of the food from her homeland.An an...

Skye McAlpine: A Table Full of Love

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is Zooming into the 17th-century Palazzo home in Venice of Skye McAlpine. The daughter of Lord Alistair McAlpine, one of Ma...

Gurdeep Loyal: Mother Tongue

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly chats to a new voice in food writing, Gurdeep Loyal. Diana Henry calls him 'amazing, original, boundary breaking, a genius with flavo...

Elisabeth Luard: European Peasant Cookery

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly has lunch with one of Britain’s most respected and original voices in British food writing, Elisabeth Luard.A well-known writer, bo...

Olivia Potts: Butter - a celebration

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re celebrating three years of Cooking the Books with its very first guest, Olivia Potts and her latest book, Butter: A Celebration.Her...

Laurel Kratochvila: New European Baking

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is talking revolution in the bakeries of Europe with Berlin's Fine Bagels baker, Laurel Kratochvila.Her book, New European Bakin...

The Hebridean Baker: My Scottish Island Kitchen

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly's talking about food and identity, folklore and First Footers with The Hebridean Baker.Coinneach Macleod has cooked up a magical stor...

On Cooking by Jeremy Lee

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly's talking food and class in Jeremy Lee’s book Cooking with 17-year-old food campaigner at the Food Foundation, chair of Bite Back 2...

Irina Georgescu: Tava

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tthis week, Gilly's off on her Zoom travels again, this time to the complex and multi cultural flavours of Romania.Irina Georgescu has become the voic...

Claudia Roden: The Book of Jewish Food

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is at the home of the queen of food writing, the original collector of Middle Eastern and Jewish food and grande dame of food and ide...

Cindy-Marie Harvey: Watercress, Willow and Wine

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is talking Christmas wines with Cindy-Marie Harvey whose beautiful book, Watercress, Willow and Wine tells the story of the English ...

Lerato: Africana

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is off to find Christmas – and a whole lot more - in Africana, the debut cookbook from the new voice in pan African food, Lerato wh...

Melissa Thompson: Motherland

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with the queen of the Fowl Mouths supper club, BBC Good Food contributor, co-director of the British Library Food Season and now, ...

Tim Anderson: Japaneasy: Bowls and Bento

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with chef Tim Anderson who holds a unique position as cultural commentator on Japanese food culture in Britain. He's a chef, a Mas...

Sylvie Bigar: Cassoulet Confessions

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly meets travel writer, Sylvie Bigar whose article about the rich history of the South West French cassoulet inspired a personal investi...

Prue Leith: Bliss on Toast

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly's with Prue Leith to talk about her new book Bliss on Toast which elevates the simplest of pleasures into the most delicious meals.He...

Tamar Adler: An Everlasting Meal

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is slowing right down for a meditation on cooking and eating in An Everlasting Meal by former chef at Chez Panisse, Dan Barber’s re...

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall: Good Comfort

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is talking the culture and politics of food with Hugh Fearnley-Whitingstall. His latest River Cottage book, Good Comfort is about twe...

Vicky Bennison: Pasta Grannies

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is talking about Italy through the stories of its Pasta Grannies with Vicky BennisonVicky won a James Beard award in 2020 for he...

Extra Good Things: From the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is at the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen in North London. This is the hub where the Ottolenghi books and recipes are born to talk, and Gilly...

Urvashi Roe: Biting Biting

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with Urvashi Roe whose journey from Gujerat through London’s estates to Bake Off and her first book, Biting Biting celebrating th...

Jamie Oliver's One: the student test kitchen

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly puts Jamie Oliver’s new book One: Simple One-Pot Wonders to the test with 20 year old Food Foundation food ambassadors, Rabiya and ...

Mark Diacono: Spice

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is talking about Spice, the latest book from award winning food writer and Cooking the Books regular, Mark Diacono. In a series of fo...

Sam and Sam Clark: Moro Easy

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is in reflective mood with Sam and Sam Clark, the husband and wife chef team who have given us 25 years of Moorish cooking at Mo...

Philip Lymbery: Sixty Harvests Left

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re eating to save the Planet with Philip Lymbery, global CEO of Compassion in World Farming.Philip is one of the most important campai...

Jenny Ridgwell: I Taught Them To Cook

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’re talking about cooking in schools again. But this time, we’re travelling back in time to the early 1970s when a young Jenny Ridgwe...

Suzanne o'Sullivan: The Sleeping Beauties live at WOMAD

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just before we dive back into  a new series of food after the summer break, we’re back at WOMAD’s World of Words tent where Gilly chatte...

Gelf Alderson: Great Salads

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Gelf Alderson, executive chef at River Cottage and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s main man to talk his new book Great Salads...

Amber Guinness: A House Party in Tuscany

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Amber Guinness whose book A House Party in Tuscany captures the spirit of her parents who lovingly restored Arniano,a&nb...

Debora Robertson: Notes from a Small Kitchen Island

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Cooking the Books is off to South West France to hang out with Debora Robertson whose latest book Notes from a Small Kitchen Island is a ce...

Felicity Cloake: Red Sauce, Brown Sauce

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly chats about the Great British breakfast with Guardian writer, author and culinary detective, Felicity Cloake. Her latest book Red Sau...

Riaz Phillips: West Winds

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly digs deep into the roots of Jamaican food culture with Riaz Phillips, winner of this year's Jane Grigson Trust Award for West Winds, ...

Olia Hercules: Home Food

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Olia Hercules, the award-winning food writer who put the food of her home country of Ukraine on the map, and has since found ...

Helen Graves: Live Fire

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with early food blogger and publisher of Pit Magazine, Helen Graves whose book Live Fire is about so much more than a summer BBQ.&...

Gill Meller: Outside

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is celebrating the poetry and timelessness of the great outdoors with award winning author and chef, Gill Meller. Outside is Gil...

Dominique Woolf: Dominique's Kitchen

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with the winner of Channel 4’s Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver, Dominique Woolf. She’s a publisher’s dream – a ...

British Library Food Season Special: Sam and Sam Clark with Nawal Nasrallah and Bink Hallum

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, in a special extended episode, Gilly is on stage at the British Library in London whose Food Season has been tantalising food fans wit...

Joe Woodhouse: Your Daily Veg

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Joe Woodhouse to talk about cookery courses, food photography and launching your very first book in the middle of a war when ...

Melissa Hemsley: Feel Good

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with the woman who made Cooking the Books happen in the first place! When Melissa Hemsley said yes to her invitation to be on a br...

Ella Risbridger: The Year of Miracles

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly's talking about The Year of Miracles by Ella Risbridger. Like her first book, Midnight Chicken  and other recipes worth liv...

Sheila Dillon and Alex Renton: The Food Programme: 13 Foods That Shape Our World

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, is all about The Food Programme, the Radio 4’s mighty series which has been examining our food, its culture and its politics for 43 years...

The Fortnum and Mason Awards Shortlist with Mark Diacono, Tara Wigley and Georgina Hayden

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly meets the judges of this year's Fortnum and Mason Awards (who shortlisted Cooking the Books for Best Podcast!) to discuss the food bo...

Kitty and Al Tait: Breadsong

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with Al and Kitty Tait, the dad and daughter team behind The Orange Bakery.Kitty was just 14 years old when crippling depression di...

Nicole Pisani and Joanna Weinberg: Feed your Family

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, a subject very close to Gilly's heart and the work she does on the Food Foundation’s award-winning podcast, Right2Food – how to change ...

Georgina Hayden: Nistisima

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week as it's Lent, we’re off to fast in Cyprus with Georgina Hayden, and to find a host of vegan gems in the traditional fasting food from reli...

Eleanor Ford: The Nutmeg Trail

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week Gilly is with multi-award winning food writer and explorer, Eleanor Ford whose latest book The Nutmeg Trail takes us on an adventure to exot...

Eat, Share, Love: Kalpna Woolf

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly is with Kalpna Woolf, founder of the Bristol charity 91 Ways which brings together the 91 languages spoken in her hometown of Br...

Taste Tibet: Julie Kleeman and Yeshi Jampa

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Gilly takes us to Tibet with Yeshi Jampa and Julie Kleeman, the husband and wife team who brought the Himalayas to Oxford through their leg...