The Pass
Casting an eye over the Australian food scene is The Pass – a podcast where the country’s best chefs, restaurateurs and tastemakers take listeners on a journey to their favourite places to eat, while also discussing various topics close to their heart (and stomach). Past episodes of The Pass have featured food industry luminaries such as chefs Matt Moran, Heston Blumenthal, Darren Robertson, Kylie Kwong and Colin Fassnidge. The Pass is created by the talented trio of Sam Kennedy, Jeanine Bribosia and Magdalena Roze – food enthusiasts and media-savvy creatives who managed to make the podcast’s first season the number-one rated food podcast on iTunes Australia. The Pass is well worth a listen for anyone looking to learn more about what makes our top-tier chefs tick.
Image: The Pass
The Dave Chang Show
The acclaimed founder of the Momofuku culinary empire – David Chang – has been slow expanding his interests with forays into different kinds of media. Following the final issue of Lucky Peach and the release of his hit Netflix series Ugly Delicious, Dave has started podcasting. The Dave Chang Show started as a way to document the lead-up to the opening of Majordomo – his Los Angeles-based restaurant – discussing all the ins and outs of planning and opening a new eatery. Once the restaurant opened, David broadened the scope of his podcast to dissect different aspects of the food industry, pop culture, how different food cultures are represented on screen and the inspirations of various guests.
Image: Wired
Gastropod
If you’re eager to learn about what you eat in a different light, then Gastropod delivers plenty of food for thought. Co-hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley look at food through a scientific and historical lens, comprehensively investigating various food-based topics with help from experts and on-site expeditions. Since 2014, Gastropod has tackled such topics as the science behind the perfect cocktail, seaweed farms, who invented the cherry tomato, how to hack our taste buds and the secrets of sourdough. There are ten seasons to devour right away, so make sure you’ve worked up a hunger for knowledge – Gastropod is plating up an information degustation.
Image: Gastropod
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry
These days, anyone that snaps a pic of their eggs benny can call themselves a foodie, but when it comes down to it, a foodie is someone that lives and breaths everything food. Lee Tran Lam is one of those exceptionally dedicated individuals. Since 2007, Lee has maintained her Sydney-based blog The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry, which is dedicated to capturing everything great about Sydney’s food scene. Lee also hosts a regular podcast, in which she interviews various figures in Australia’s food industry. Notable names include Analiese Gregory, Morgan McGlone of Belles Hot Chicken, Attica’s Ben Shewry, and international guests such as Magnus Nilsson of Faviken, Blue Hill’s Dan Barber and Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana.
Image: The Unbearable Lightness of Being Hungry
Racist Sandwich
Those seeking a new perspective on the food industry at large should seriously consider adding Racist Sandwich to their rotation. Hosts Soleil Ho and Zahir Janmohamed analyse food through a social and political lens, discussing how we consume and interpret food, the impact of racism in the industry and how people of colour navigate careers in food. The podcast regularly features eye-opening interviews with industry experts, discussing topics such as the intersection of race and food culture, mental health struggles in the industry, abuse in restaurants and the impact of food fusions.
Image: Racist Sandwich
Honourable mentions: Spilled Milk, Sporkful, The Splendid Table, The Kitchen Sisters, Gravy, Doughboys, Milk Street Radio, Foodstuff
