The Go To Food Podcast

This week we sit down with the inimitable Lee and Kate Tiernan, the creative force behind F.K.A. Black Axe Mangal—the boundary-pushing, heavy metal, nose-to-tail hotspot that changed London dining and earned cult status around the world.They talk us through the BAM origin story, from their formative years at St. John to opening one of the most chaotic and exciting restaurants in London. We hear about the pop-ups that reignited Lee’s love for cooking, but not before the longest queue in Copenhagen nearly finished him.There’s also tales of wild nights with Matty Matheson, getting stoned with Action Bronson, Cooking for Anthony Bourdain, bone marrow tributes to Fergus Henderson, banning the rudest customer they ever had (who happens to be a celebrity) and Lee’s unapologetic love for Domino’s. Plus: blue cheese handkerchiefs at El Bulli, bartering meals for socket repairs, and why sometimes the best thing you can eat is your mum’s ratatouille after being deported from Brazil.--------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

Today we're delighted to bring you another 'Legends Roundtable Restaurateur Special' where we're joined by 3 of the greatest restaurateur's in the country in Lady Ruth Rogers (River Cafe), Jeremy King OBE (Arlington, The Park & Simpsons) & Francois O'Neill (Maison/Cafe Francois) to unleash their wisdom and share their secrets to success, for an honest, warm, and often hilarious conversation about what it takes to survive and evolve in the restaurant industry.Over the course of this round table, our guests reflect on the seismic shifts they've witnessed in the restaurant industry; from changing customer habits to the new responsibilities of creating inclusive and sustainable workplaces. Jeremy shares why humour and generosity matter more than rules, the great lesson he learnt from Nick Jones, why Corporates are ruining restaurants, the mistake of treating your customers as profit, why so many restaurants are stupidly chasing cheaper produce, why you should never get rid of a waiter, how a £2.25 bowl of soup can be as valuable as a second bottle of champagne, and his firm stance against dynamic pricing creep. Ruthie opens up about building trust and fairness in the kitchen, the importance of rigour behind the joy, and how the River Café evolved to embrace a diverse, respectful, modern workplace, plus her great life lessons learnt over the years and flirts with a possible new River Cafe this year? Francois talks about learning to lead through energy and example, the quiet wins of helping young staff grow, and why patience and perseverance matter more than ever when building something lasting.It’s a heartfelt look at a profession that can be punishing, beautiful, addictive, and transformative - often all at once. Whether you’re running service tonight or dreaming up your first menu, this one’s a must-listen.Wit, wisdom, and perspective from three of hospitality’s most respected voices.-----Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

This week on The Go-To Mise en Place, we sit down with Gabe Pryce — chef, writer, ferret-wrangler and co-founder of Rita’s in Soho.From a legendary (and surreal) childhood acting debut in Casualty to the kitchens of New York and the streets of Mexico City, Gabe shares the winding path that led him to co-create one of London’s most beloved neighbourhood restaurants. We talk early days, industry heartbreaks, philosophical food writing, and why there’s no shame in simply wanting to make a great chicken roll.He opens up about hospitality’s hidden emotional weight, the long game of writing scripts that may never get made, and what it means to speak out when the food world’s gatekeepers get it wrong. We also cover: ferrets named Lancelot, haunted basements, why London can’t quite crack pizza by the slice, and the pure joy of a lamb’s tongue dish that changed everything.And if that isn’t enough, as always we get into Gabe’s ultimate foodie weekend (spoiler: it ends in New York with a very big-collared shirt), his most haunting kitchen day, and the underrated genius of Brooks Headley’s Superiority Burger.------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

Today we're joined by the legendary actor, BAFTA-winning writer, and one half of People Just Do Nothing – Allan Mustafa, aka Seapa, aka MC Grindah – for a hilarious and heartfelt deep-dive into the meals that shaped him, and some hilarious stories from; firing Post Malone's guns at his house in LA, to helping trigger Craig David's comeback, to getting forcefully removed from a 'ping-pong' show in Bangkok to surviving a food disaster in Mexico!Allan shares everything from the Kurdish-inspired dishes of his childhood to late-night eats in Prague and big family meals at Royal Nawaab. He talks about learning to cook for himself (shoutout Kurdish risotto), his go-to weeknight spots (Song Que gets a major nod), and where he heads when it’s time to celebrate (One Club Road and Mountain top the list).We also get an incredible step-by-step guide to his dream foodie weekend in Marseille – from chai lattes and French-Tunisian couscous to rocky beach swims and street-level people-watching that feels straight out of The Wire.To close it all out, Allan picks his perfect three-course meal, including a Kurdish stew, Czech duck with dumplings, and his controversial but justified love of profiteroles.Warm, unfiltered, and full of great food recs – this is one of our faves yet.And remember, use code GOTOBLINQ for one month free with our sponsor Blinq, and don’t forget to send in your wildest hospitality horror stories to – front of house, back of house, or just you as a customer - to competition@thegotopodcastcompany.com.------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

To celebrate 15 years of Koya — the quietly iconic udon bar that helped change the way London eats — we’re joined by its founders: John Devitt and Shuko Oda.From early-morning queues to feet-kneaded noodles, we go behind the steam with the pair who brought serious broth and bounce to Soho. Shuko shares how a childhood in Japan shaped her savoury cravings, how miso soup became her first solo dish, and how Tokyo’s obsessive Italian food scene first lured her into the kitchen.John reflects on what it took to build Koya as an outsider to the restaurant world, the challenges of scaling a niche, noodle-focused concept, and how a love of good service has shaped the way Koya welcomes people in. We hear about their early trips to Japan, the now-legendary specials board, and the tightrope walk of keeping things consistent while always evolving.We talk burnt soy wings, kimchi holidays, and what it means to work in restaurants where holidays don’t exist — plus what makes a good noodle, how Koya scaled without losing its soul, and why Shuko still finds comfort in the simplest rice ball.It’s a portrait of a restaurant that’s quietly influenced a generation — and the story of two people who put in the hours, trusted their instincts, and let the food do the talking.----------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

Today we're bringing you a very special episode indeed as we're joined by Ruth Leigh and Oli Brown, the owners of Updown Farmhouse in Kent which over the last couple of years has become to be recognised as the best restaurant led hotel in the country.What started as a pop-up in a dilapidated 17th-century farmhouse has become a destination in its own right, serving wood-fired dishes that feel somewhere between rustic Italian trattoria and hyper-local British larder. Ruth and Oli talk us through how they built it — from sourcing wild boar from just up the road to accidentally catering half of Kent’s weddings (including Ben’s mum’s). We get into the reality of running a proper country restaurant, how they keep things romantic and real, and what makes Updown’s style of hospitality so special.Plus: one dish for the Hall of Fame, the most underrated corner of Italy, and a love letter to anchovies.--------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

Today we're delighted to be joined by Michelin Starred Head Chef and Owner of Kol and Fonda - the genius Santiago Lastra to unpack his incredible career that started off with him working in an Italian restaurant in Mexico and has taken him around some of the greatest kitchens in the world including working for Andoni Luis Aduriz at Mugartiz and leading René Redzepi's Noma during its residency in Mexico.Santiago's restaurant Kol was just voted the 17th best restaurant in the world and he takes us through the crazy hurdles he's put in place in order to try and stay as authentically British produce led as possible, refusing to use; avocado's, limes and chocolate which are staples of Mexican cusine and instead replacing them with foraged British substitutes. He also reveals; the moment as a child he fell in love with cooking after finding a basic cooking box in the local supermarket, the revelation he had about the power of food when his cooking brought his family together after the tragic loss of his father and grandparents in the same month, the craziness of working at Mugaritz in Spain, the genius journey he went on with Rene from Noma for a year in Mexico, plans for the future and much more....We talk the real roadmap from pop-ups and Instagram DMs to finding investors (and knowing when to say no), the difference between René Redzepi and Andoni Luis Aduriz, and why chefs today must master more than just the plate. Plus, Santiago maps out the perfect 48-hour food trip to Mexico City — churros, brains, barbacoa, and Negronis at the gate.Expect wisdom, wild stories, and the dish that made him cry. This one’s a feast.-----------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

In this episode of The Go-To Food Podcast, we sit down with the unapologetically fearless Sabrina Ghayour — bestselling author, supper club pioneer, and one of the most influential voices in Middle Eastern cooking today.Sabrina talks about; fleeing Iran during the revovlution in 1979, working illegally as an 11 year old at her local Chinese supermarket and some nightmare happenings between her and customers, working at McDonalds, her love and obsession with Ken Hom, how losing her job during the recession forced her to rethink everything, and how saying yes to a dinner party she didn’t even want to host ended up changing her life. She shares the behind-the-scenes chaos of running underground supper clubs in her flat, the shocking story of how her first cookbook almost didn’t happen, and the Instagram DM that led to a career-defining opportunity.We dive into her sharp takes on the food industry, what she really thinks about the “chef” label to the snobbery that still exists around cookbook writing, and why she’s never been afraid to take up space, speak her mind, or ruffle feathers.Plus: the kitchen disaster that still haunts her, the food that instantly transports her back to childhood, and what she cooks when she needs to feel grounded.A rich, warm, no-BS conversation about food, resilience, and forging your own path, one dish at a time.------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/

Welcome back to a farming and butchery special by the man who’s been supplying some of the UK's best restaurants for over 2 decades including ST. John, Lyle's, Camille, The Camberwell Arms, and more and has recently opened his own butcher's shop in Bermondsey, the legendary Farmer Tom Jones. We find out how he went from turning down a career being an actor and playwright and then Harry Hill's assistant to becoming the most respected and sought after meat supplier in the country. It's been a tough journey though from; turning his back on his family and their farm, to fighting depression, greed and toxic masculinity in Wales to ripping up the rule book of Farming and deciding to go his own path and heading down to London.....What does it take to produce truly exceptional meat? In this special episode of The Go-To Mise en Place, we head to the fields with fourth-generation farmer and butcher Tom Jones, whose family has been rearing livestock on the Welsh borderlands for over a century. From traditional butchery methods to ethical farming practices, Tom shares what goes into raising animals with care—and how that translates to quality on the plate. We talk dry-aging, nose-to-tail respect, and why provenance matters more than ever in today’s kitchens.Whether you’re a chef, food lover, or just curious about where your Sunday roast really comes from, this one’s for you.------Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £49 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com/Find out more about Farmer Tom here - https://www.facebook.com/farmerthomasjones/