The Menu

We speak to the man whose passion for cooking with fire has been fuelling one of the world’s best restaurants – Burnt Ends in Singapore. Also on the programme: we trace the journey of Hong Kong noodles to London and speak to the Croatian author translating literature into enticing recipes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we wander the canals of De Baarsjes in west Amsterdam. With an abundance of specialty cafés, bakeries and global culinary outposts, this area of the Netherlands’ capital is fast becoming the preferred choice of gastronomically inclined visitors. Ilze Vitola takes us on a tour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s only natural to spend time reflecting on your habits at the beginning of the new year – and that includes eating and drinking too. In this episode we speak to the author tracing the philosophy of food systems around the world and drop in to a mocktail bar in Canada. Plus: we sit down with the Danish “gastrophysicist” on a mission to get the country to eat more greens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head to Lagos in the Algarve region of southern Portugal, a busy summer-tourist destination known for its golden beaches and limestone cliffs. Here, in the quieter months, Angelica Jopson takes us for a walk through town in search of the best spots to enjoy the local cuisine’s delicious simplicity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet author Ben Mims to flick through his new book, ‘Crumbs’, which traces the history of cookies and biscuits from around the world. Also in the programme, Monocle’s Petri Burtsoff is in Tallinn to try a newly opened Dagestani restaurant, Kurze. Plus: Elna Nykänen Andersson heads to Stockholm’s Spritmuseum, dedicated to Swedish drinking culture, to learn about depictions of food and drink in Andy Warhol’s artwork. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Périgueux, capital of the Dordogne department in southwestern France, is renowned for a history that is just as rich as its food. From truffles and walnuts to foie gras and goats cheese, the hallmarks of Périgord cuisine are some of the nation’s most revered and can be found in local marketplaces alongside other delicious delicacies. Against the old town’s medieval and Renaissance backdrop, journalist and travel writer Tamara Thiessen embarks on a tour de taste. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monocle’s Chiara Rimella looks back at a delicious 2024. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monocle’s Chiara Rimella looks back at a delicious 2024. This week we reflect on our favourite drinking and dining books of the year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We celebrate the season with an episode dedicated to the joys of eating in winter. First up, we get the scoop on why a successful London restaurant is expanding into serving up ice cream. Then: we’re in Singapore to learn about the craze for hotpot at this time of year. Plus: we head to Lapland for some fine dining at Tapio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re heading to Norway’s third-largest city, Trondheim. Also known as the Viking capital, Trondheim boasts abundant culinary traditions, particularly at Christmas time. Monocle’s Oslo correspondent, Lars Bevanger, takes us on a taste-filled tour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re getting into the festive spirit with an episode dedicated to drinking and dining at Christmas. First up, we bring you a selection of must-have holiday treats from around Europe. Then: George Ruskin sinks his teeth into Lübeck marzipan. Plus: we visit London’s Smithfield Market to learn more about its annual jamboree. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re thinking of a continental excursion this winter, one place to head for culinary delights is Kraków. This picturesque city is at its best when covered in a thick blanket of snow and what better way to warm up than with a comforting plate of traditional pierogies. Monocle’s Flynn Symonds shows us his favourite spots in the city. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode is dedicated to the art of winemaking. We speak to writer, restaurateur and wine lover, Dan Keeling, about his brand new book, ‘Who’s Afraid of Romanée Conti?’. Also in the programme: Monocle’s Gregory Scruggs heads to Walla Walla, the winemaking hub of Washington state, to learn more about the US’s second largest wine-making region. Then: Monocle sub editor and in-house wine expert, Chloé Lake, crowns her wine of the month. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When in Rome, there’s no shortage of culinary outposts. But one neighbourhood in particular is known for serving up the city’s best traditional dishes. Monocle’s Lily Austin takes us for a stroll around Testaccio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sit down with Ferhat Dirik, the restaurateur behind London’s Mangal II, to learn what it takes to update a restaurant for a new generation. Also in the programme: we meet Marina Marchese to flick through her new book, ‘The World Atlas of Honey’, and pop open the lid on the sweet stuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re heading to the salty shores of the Pacific Northwest, where a town famous for its boat building is also gaining a reputation as a dining destination. Monocle’s Seattle correspondent, Gregory Scruggs, took the ferry over to Port Townsend to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We meet some of Scotland’s most exciting culinary creators. First up, co-founder of the acclaimed Inver restaurant, Pam Brunton, provides her take on modern Scottish cuisine and tells us about her new book, ‘Between Two Waters’. Then: we sit down with the head of mixology at Gleneagles to learn how he blends the hotel’s history into his cocktails. Plus: we visit London’s first dedicated Scottish deli. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back on familiar soil this week as we head to the East London neighbourhood of Dalston. This vibrant slice of the capital is renowned for its hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, high-end wine bars and some of London’s most exciting restaurants. Here, Monocle’s Hanna Pham shows us her favourite spots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We flick through culinary magazines and newspapers for an episode entirely dedicated to food in print. First up, we speak to Joseph de Klee, founder of ‘The Pass’, a paper highlighting the best of London’s gastronomic scene. Then: we’re heading to the Finnish newsstands to meet the editor in chief of a long-standing food magazine, ‘Glorian ruoka & vilni’. Plus: Fernando Augusto Pacheco, host of ‘The Stack’ on Monocle Radio, picks out the best in food publishing from around the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We head to the ancient city of Cusco in the Peruvian Andes to wander its breathtaking (literally) cobblestone streets, and taste both its traditional delicacies and contemporary cuisine. Here, Monocle’s Elna Schutz takes us on a gastronomic tour of what is considered the oldest living city in the Americas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.