Culinary exploration, audiophile style
Food podcasts have become an essential space for culinary storytelling. Unlike quick social media clips, podcasts offer time — time for chefs to reflect, for experts to unpack trends, for historians to trace traditions, and for everyday people to share personal memories tied to food. They serve as a cultural record, an educational tool, and a source of inspiration for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Here is a guide to the most interesting food podcasts, both from the UAE’s growing culinary scene and the global stage.
Homegrown
1. Let’s Chew Podcast
Created by Gulfood — the world’s largest annual F&B sourcing event — this podcast provides rare access to global food industry leaders. Episodes delve into supply chains, food security, the future of farming, sustainable packaging solutions, the rise of alt-protein, and innovations from food-tech startups.
What sets it apart is the breadth of voices: policymakers, CEOs, farmers, scientists, and chefs, all offering different angles on how the world’s food system works. It’s particularly valuable for listeners who want to understand the forces shaping what we see on supermarket shelves today and in the next decade.
2. Nourish by Spinneys
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Hosted by food journalist Devina Divecha and Tiffany Eslick from Spinneys Food Magazine, this show blends wellness, sustainability, and culinary culture. The podcast often explores how food is sourced within the UAE, the challenges faced by regional farmers, and the importance of responsible consumption.
Guests include nutritionists, chefs, researchers, local producers, and sustainability advocates. Episodes touch on mindful eating, ethical supply chains, climate-friendly diets, and the future of food retail. It is an easy and refreshing listen that offers practical knowledge alongside human stories.
Listen on Spotify
3. Deep Fried
Deep Fried is rooted in Dubai’s multicultural identity. Hosted by the Frying Pan Adventures team — known for their food tours celebrating immigrant kitchens — this podcast unpacks the stories behind regional and diaspora cuisines.
Episodes range from deep dives into spices and Middle Eastern dishes to personal anecdotes from residents who have brought their home flavours to the UAE. Expect sensory storytelling, historical nuggets, and plenty of cultural context. It’s a warm, intimate way to explore the foods that make Dubai one of the world’s most diverse dining cities.
4. Savage Appetites
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Hosted by Taran Uppal and Alex (JustFoodDXB), Savage Appetites brings an unfiltered, conversational look at Dubai’s food scene. Rather than interviews, the format focuses on discussions about restaurant openings, dining trends, overrated dishes, the realities of food content creation, and the experience of eating out in a fast-changing city.
The chemistry between the hosts and their honest commentary make it both entertaining and informative, especially for listeners who want a pulse check on Dubai’s ever-evolving F&B landscape.
Listen on Spotify
5. The Chef JKP Podcast
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Chef James Knight-Paccheco — a well-known figure in Dubai’s hospitality world — hosts in-depth interviews with chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and industry veterans. Conversations often touch on career paths, creative processes, leadership in the kitchen, mental health in hospitality, and the challenges of running restaurants.
The show acts as both mentorship and documentation, capturing the voices of contemporary hospitality in a reflective and inspiring way.
Listen on Spotify
International
6. Off Menu
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Hosted by comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster, Off Menu is one of the world’s most popular food podcasts. Each guest is invited to a fictional “dream restaurant” to choose their ideal starter, main, side, dessert, and drink.
While the format is playful, the conversations often reveal childhood food memories, cultural influences, family histories, and emotionally significant dishes. The mix of comedy and nostalgia makes it universally appealing, even to non-foodies.
Listen on Spotify
7. Every Bite
Every Bite approaches food through the lens of culture and anthropology. Jonathan Green examines the origins of dishes, how migration has shaped cuisines, and the symbolic meaning food holds in different societies.
Episodes might explore how certain flavours travelled through colonial trade routes, why certain dishes become national symbols, or how food traditions survive across generations. It’s ideal for listeners who enjoy a narrative approach enriched with history and global context.
8. Gastropod
Gastropod is one of the most respected food podcasts internationally, combining investigative journalism, science, and history. Hosts Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley take listeners behind the food we think we know — from the evolution of cutlery and bread-making to the hidden science behind flavour and food preservation.
Each episode involves interviews with scientists, archaeologists, historians, and chefs, turning complex topics into accessible and fascinating stories. It’s a must for anyone interested in how food shapes civilisation.
9. The Four Top
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An award-winning podcast focusing on the big-picture issues in wine. Hosted by Katherine Cole, each episode features a rotating panel of writers, academics, chefs, and thought leaders discussing subjects such as climate change, food journalism, global dining trends, and food justice, all centered on wine.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
10. Eat Drink Asia
Produced by the South China Morning Post, Eat Drink Asia uncovers the history, culture, and modern interpretations of the continent’s most beloved dishes. Episodes explore everything from the origins of laksa and dumplings to the global journey of bubble tea.
Through chef interviews, field reporting, and expert commentary, the show offers nuanced insight into Asia’s diverse culinary identity and the cross-cultural stories behind iconic foods.
11. The Food Podcast
Hosted by Canadian writer Lindsay Cameron Wilson, this podcast blends food with emotion, memory, and personal narrative. The tone is intimate, sometimes poetic, and explores how food connects to identity, family, and creativity.
Rather than focusing on recipes or industry trends, it offers reflective storytelling that feels like listening to a beautifully written essay.
12. Dish
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A conversational food show where MICHELIN-starred chef Angela Hartnett and broadcaster Nick Grimshaw welcome celebrity guests for relaxed discussions. The episodes often involve cooking in the background, chats about home cooking habits, behind-the-scenes restaurant stories, and personal food memories.
It captures the warm, social side of food — laughter, conversation, and the pleasure of sharing a meal.
Listen on Spotify
Image credit: Spotify
Curious, expressive, and always chasing new ideas, Zainab sees creativity as a way of life. She thrives on discovering new perspectives, connecting with people, and turning inspiration into something tangible. Her work and her world reflect a balance of intuition, imagination, and authenticity.
