Borough Talks

Monika Linton, founder of the highly influential Brindisa shop and restaurant, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of Iberian products and tapas dishes and discuss her passion for Spanish cuisine, the gradual evolution of the British palate, and the joy found in unheralded foods like pulses and vinegars.

Thea Wunderer, founder of Alpine Deli, imports products from South Tyrol, a mountainous province in the far north of Italy. She joins Giulia Crouch to taste a selection of cured meats and discuss the unique food culture of her home region, her enduring love of market trading, and her advice for anyone starting a specialist food business.

Neal’s Yard Dairy’s director Bronwen Percival and young cheesemonger Cián Ó Cinnéide join Giulia Crouch to discuss the magic of a slow make, the art of the monger, and the existential threat faced by traditional regional cheeses.

Elliot Hashtroudi, head chef at Camille, joins Giulia Crouch to share a plate of chicken hearts and chat about his love of French regional cuisine, how the shifting seasons inspire creativity in the kitchen, and the beauty he finds in underappreciated British ingredients.

Claudia Boyer, co-founder of Jenki, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of the matcha bar’s signature drinks and chat about the heritage and craft of Japanese matcha production, the factors that determine its quality, and how its slow release of caffeine is meeting a cultural moment.

Joel Ferrer, founder of La Pepiá, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of his stall’s Venezuelan salsas. They chat about sourcing produce from his fellow traders, the ethics of avocado consumption, and how his inventive approach to arepas – the traditional South American cornbread – has helped broaden their appeal.

Andy Oliver, chef and co-owner of Thai bar and grill Kolae, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some the restaurant’s vibrantly flavoured dishes. They chat about the complexity of southern Thai cuisine, balancing authenticity with local sourcing, and accommodating spice-averse palates without compromising on heat.

Ewa Weremij, owner of Bianca Mora, joins Giulia Crouch to taste products from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and chat about two-hour lunch breaks, the Slow Food movement, and how time is an essential ingredient of the very best parmesan and balsamic vinegar.

Tim Siadatan, chef-owner of Padella, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some of the restaurant’s signature dishes and chat about our universal love of pasta, his perspective on Italian ‘rules’, and how a simple plate of Tuscan tomatoes shaped his life.

Eduardo Florez, founder of The Colombian Coffee Company social enterprise, joins Giulia Crouch to taste some different beans and chat about the stunning diversity of coffee varieties, the unfairness of global markets, and how a focus on quality can help transform Colombian communities.

Worawan Kamann, founder of both the Khanom Krok street food stand and Raya, Borough’s southeast Asian grocery, joins Giulia Crouch to share her signature dishes and chat about sourcing great ingredients, helping curious shoppers discover new flavours, and how Thai people live to eat.

Stephanie Slater, founder of the School Food Matters charity, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a soup recipe created by local children and chat about transforming school dinners, the vital importance of learning about food, and the impact of Borough’s Young Marketeers programme.

Nick Fitzgerald, founder of Padre, joins Giulia Crouch to share some of his street food stand’s signature dishes and chat about his life-changing stint as a chef in Mexico, the regionality of the country’s cuisine, and the essential elements of a perfect taco.   

Flip Dunning, founder of Pâté Moi, joins Giulia Crouch to taste her famous mushroom pâté and chat about the strange alchemy of simple ingredients, the challenges of running a business and raising a child, and the friendships she’s forged across two decades of trading.

Calvin Pearson, head of wine at Borough Wines, joins Giulia Crouch to taste a few of his favourite festive bottles and chat about perfect pairings with a Christmas dinner, the meaning of orange wine, natural wine and ‘pet nat’, and why kegs and refillable bottles are growing in popularity.