HEARD - OFF MENU PODCAST

Over the past couple of years there has been a definite trend in the podcast world, and it's one I am very much on board with - the emergence of the 'food and chat' genre. The basic formula being, a well known figure (or figures) having a conversation with another well known figure about their favourite foods, often while eating delicious food. Table Manners with Jessie Ware was the first I discovered (and being slightly late to the game, had the joy of being able to binge-listen to several episodes in a row), and Cariad Lloyd's episode led me on to the wonderful Hoovering with Jessica Fostekew. It's interesting how two such similar formats can produce such different podcasts, but I love them equally; Table Manners feels a little like your 'cool friend', and Hoovering being more like an hour-long warm hug. And more recently, Out To Lunch with Jay Rayner takes everything that is great about his writing and transfers it to a podcast. I'll be reviewing these gems separately, but first, in amongst them all, and in my opinion the (mash) King of the Food and Chat podcast, is Off Menu.

Having worked in media for about three years, and specifically BBC Comedy for one of those years, I've seen and heard my fair share of comedians. Few of them have ever caught my attention like James Acaster. Whenever he appeared on panel shows, I noticed I was just waiting for it to be his turn to speak. I find witty, reactive comedy much more impressive than obviously rehearsed sets, and James is one of the best out there at impossibly quick quips. So hearing that he was going to be doing a podcast with another witty comedian, Ed Gamble, in my favourite podcast genre, felt too good to be true.

Thankfully, it was both good AND true. In a 20-episode strong first series, I genuinely don't think there was a duff note. An incredible variety of guests from all backgrounds are invited to discuss their dream meal, and it makes for fascinating listening every week; it could have been easy to just book all their own comedy pals, but instead we were treated to actors, chefs, newsreaders, authors and activists. And so much ground is covered over each hour-ish long show, that there is plenty to rediscover when you go back for a second helping.

James and Ed are brilliant hosts who, perhaps most importantly, clearly love food. This passion is evident when guests make some provocatively bland choices. A protein shake with sparkling water by Joel Dommett being a notable example. And hearing dessert-fanatic James trying to keep his cool when Victoria Coren-Mitchell opts to complement her Ploughman's lunch main course with a plain rice pudding (On hearing his distress that she won't even be adding jam, she asks 'Would you feel happy if I sprinkled some cinnamon on there?' To which he responds, voice cracking slightly in distress, 'Erm... I'd feel happierrrr...'). Coren-Mitchell's episode is probably one of the best of the series; it certainly doesn't go the way that I or the presenters thought it would, and the moment where they realise they've been taken for a ride is glorious.

But just as enjoyable as the (subjectively) terrible menu choices are the wondrous culinary descriptions from guests who live and breathe good food. The description of a delicious ceviche by Sindhu Vee had me salivating, and that's from someone who doesn't really like fish. Tom Kerridge's description of the bread at London restaurant Pidgin had me looking up the next available reservations, as did Richard's Osman's description of mac and cheese from Berner's Tavern. And Nish Kumar's description of the (now defunct) peach cobbler from (now also defunct in the West End) Jackson + Rye got me more invested in the fate of a cobbler than I ever thought I would be.

It helps that all of the guests clearly have a good sense of humour, and obviously want to be on the show (which can't be said for all podcasts). Ed and James show a genuine interest in their guest's interests, and the focus never becomes on the two of them, tempting as it may be for them to constantly launch into personal anecdotes. There are plenty of in-jokes that arise and resurface on social media (the show has a very active Twitter account (@OffMenuOfficial), and the presenters themselves will also engage in online podcast chat) - Poppadoms or bread?? #bringbackkumarscobbler, and outrage over the Secret (forbidden) Ingredients being the most frequent conversation starters.

All in all, this podcast is a treat. I could genuinely write a review of each individual episode, but I think we'd all rather you just went and listened to them yourselves. The series is nominated for a British Podcast Award so please go and vote for it to win - if nothing else, it deserves the crown for a wonderful moment right at the end of the last episode, with guest Rose McGowan, that made me laugh so hard I had to stop running: reflecting on the fact that they have just had an extremely influential and sought-after guest on their show, the boys wonder if they should have asked her some questions other than what she thinks a bread farm would look like. It was a fitting end to a podcast series that constantly provides an hour's escape from seriousness.

#food #podcast #jamesacaster #edgamble