Every Bite

Since her breakthrough as food editor for Marie Claire, and then going it alone with a magazine and numerous cookbooks under her own name, Donna Hay is now synonymous with Australian home cooking. In this episode, Donna Hay, who has around 30 bestsellers under her belt, shares her recipe-writing dos and don'ts, explains why she was once better known internationally than in Australia and reveals her number-one pick for Radio National’s Top 100 Australian Books countdown. Guests: Donna Hay , food stylist, cookbook author and television presenter. In 2026, she released the series Coastal Celebrations and the books Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt and Kids Baking Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

What makes a great Australian book? If your criteria include books that inspire, inform and instruct, then surely some of your flour-dusted, oil-stained cookbooks would be among the greatest. In this episode, we meet a woman who, during her 50 years in the Australian Women's Weekly Test Kitchen, witnessed several revolutions in Australian cookbook publishing, including the publication of The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book. And we ask a food writer with a huge online following, 'Do cookbooks still matter?' You can vote in Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books countdown. Guests: Pamela Clark, former food editor at the Australian Women's Weekly, co-author of The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book Julia Busuttil Nishimura, founder of the food website Ostro and author of several cookbooks, including Simple Pleasures Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Yotam Ottolenghi, the man who inspired a generation of cooks to seek out obscure ingredients and commit to hours of prep time, has a new mantra: embrace the shortcut. While he once believed the flavourful fruits of his kitchen labour were their own reward, Yotam says his primary concern these days is: 'Will someone actually cook this?' He preached this gospel in his 2018 cookbook Simple. But, he says, food and cooking have changed a lot since then. In Simple Too, he refines that approach. Guests: Yotam Ottolenghi , chef, restaurateur and co-author of Ottolenghi Simple Too Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Trillions of micro-organisms are living inside you right now. For the most part, these microbes are working for us, breaking down food and producing chemicals that keep us healthy. They also train our immune system, and scientists now wonder if they influence our mood and behaviour. So which foods keep us and our microbes healthy? We have had a 'gut feeling' about those foods for millennia, but today's mod cons may be standing between you and a healthy gut. Guests: Paul Froomes , gastroenterologist and author of Your Best Gut Teresa Cutter , chef, nutritionist, trainer and the author of several health-focused cookbooks Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Every year, Australia wastes around 7.6 million tonnes of food at a cost of more than $36 billion, adding thousands of dollars to the average household budget. In this episode, we explore creative solutions to this urgent problem. Food loss and food waste occur at every stage of the supply chain, from paddock to plate. So, where does the greatest loss occur, and how can we all help prevent it? Guests: Simon Lockrey , Professor at RMIT University's School of Design and REDUCE Program Leader at End Food Waste Australia Frankie Cox, chef and owner of the salad bars Crop Justine Schofield, host of Everyday Gourmet and author of several cookbooks, including the food-waste conscious Cook Ahead Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Guest presenter Matt Preston and three-Michelin-starred chef Kyle Connaughton of SingleThread consider how weather conditions, flowers in the room, colours on the plate, and even the plate itself can enhance the dining experience. Some of these phenomena are well documented by science, as Barry C. Smith, founding director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London, explains. Guests: Kyle Connaughton, chef and co-owner of SingleThread , awarded three Michelin stars and named joint number-one restaurant in the world by La Liste Barry C. Smith , founding director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London Kyle and his partner, SingleThread's head farmer Katina Connaughton, are in residence at Sydney's Bathers' Pavilion until 23 August . Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

As ABC Radio National prepares to crown Australia's most amazing wildflower for National Science Week, guest host Matt Preston is on the hunt for Australia's most DELICIOUS wildflower. From flavouring cordials with sweet nectar to foraging for exotic blooms to turn into fritters, flowers are an untapped culinary resource. But as our guests explain, when it comes to sourcing native flowers, it's important to tread lightly. Guests: Mindy Woods , Bundjalung chef and native food expert Clarence Slockee , horticulturist, Gardening Australia presenter and Bundjalung man Tim Low , biologist and author of Wild Food Plants of Australia Diego Bonetto , environmental educator and foraging guide Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Guest presenter Matt Preston meets Jo Barrett, a world-renowned Australian chef and leading figure in sustainable food innovation. From humble beginnings in French-style bistros, Jo has become influential in the fields of low-waste cooking, local sourcing, and wild game hunting, all while keeping her menus flavourful and accessible. Guests: Jo Barrett , leader in sustainable food innovation, executive chef at the Surf Hotel , co-founder of Discovered Wildfoods Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

While pepper is now ever-present on dining tables around the world, there was a time when this unassuming dried fruit was one of the most valuable commodities on Earth. Its trade changed the course of history and helped reshape the world as we know it. In this episode, we explore the ancient and modern history of pepper, examining its origins, trade, and, of course, its deliciousness. Guests: Sebastian Prange , historian at the University of British Columbia and author of Monsoon Islam: Trade and Faith on the Medieval Malabar Coast Anna Sulan Masing , writer, author and academic Royce Akers and Josh Gardiner, co-founders of Pep Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

What is appetite? Many happily succumb to it, while others struggle against it through willpower or even pharmaceuticals. But what are the biological, cultural and psychological mechanisms that make us want to eat? These questions are increasingly complicated in this era of unprecedented abundance and ubiquitous food. Guest: Giles Yeo , Professor at The University of Cambridge and author of Gene Eating: The Story of Human Appetite and Why Calories Don't Count: How We Got the Science of Weight Loss Wrong This episode was originally broadcast on April 26, 2025. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

If you were to list the world's best bakers working today, Richard Hart's name would have to be near the top. After honing his craft at renowned bakeries in California, he teamed up with the world-famous Noma to open Hart Bageri in Copenhagen. His skills with sourdough are so well-known that he was even namechecked on The Bear. Richard recently published his first book. It's called Richard Hart Bread. Guest: Richard Hart , baker and chef, co-founder of Hart Bageri in Copenhagen and Green Rhino in Mexico City, author of Richard Hart Bread: Intuitive Sourdough Baking This episode was originally broadcast on April 5, 2025. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

What characterises Australian food? We're a nation adept at making first-rate versions of food drawn from all corners of the globe, but our palates are less familiar with the foods of our own backyard. For millennia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have cultivated and enjoyed uniquely Australian foods. So, why are these ingredients still so hard to find on supermarket shelves? Guests: Mark Olive , Bundjalung man, ambassador chef at Midden Nornie Bero, Torres Strait Islander, chef and founder of Mabu Mabu Madonna Thomson, Jagera and Yugambeh woman, co-founder of the Bushtukka and Botanicals Indigenous Enterprise Cooperative (BBIEC) Yasmina Sultanbawa , director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods This episode was originally broadcast on May 24, 2025. Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Melt some butter in a hot pan, throw in a handful of diced onions and suddenly — even if it's a meal just for you — you are cooking. When you don't have a family to feed or anyone to impress, it's never been easier to buy a single meal from the frozen food section of your supermarket or order one on an app. But what might we deny ourselves by making those choices? In this second episode on solo dining, we explore the joys and practicalities of cooking for one. Guests: Eric Kim , food columnist and recipe developer at the New York Times, author of Korean American: Food that Tastes like Home Signe Johansen, cook, writer, author of Solo: The Joy of Cooking for One Kate Legge, journalist, novelist and author of Delicious: Stories of Cooking, Love and Friendship Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Cooking and eating are often characterised as communal activities. To some, the idea of cooking or eating alone conjures images of loneliness, isolation — perhaps even wasted time. Whether you've chosen a solitary life, are yet to settle down, or find yourself living alone in later life, our guests today insist that cooking for oneself can be a powerful act of self-care. Guests: Kate Legge, journalist, novelist and author of Delicious: Stories of Cooking, Love and Friendship Signe Johansen, cook, writer, author of Solo: The Joy of Cooking for One Eric Kim , food columnist and recipe developer at the New York Times, author of Korean American: Food that Tastes like Home Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

An epiphanic encounter with Texas-style barbeque led Kareem "KG" El-Ghayesh to quit his lucrative finance career in Cairo and relocate to Austin to open a food truck. KG BBQ has since become a household name, boasting both Texan authenticity and innovative tweaks inspired by the flavours of his original homeland. So, who better to introduce us to this unique and regionally specific cuisine than a man who — having never tasted Texas BBQ growing up — became one of the state's best-known pitmasters. Guest: Kareem "KG" El-Ghayesh, owner and pitmaster at KG BBQ in Austin, Texas. KG was in Australia for the Texas BBQ: Pitmasters event presented by Firedoor and Let's Texas . Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

In a world rife with conflict, our food systems are experiencing increased insecurity. The impacts on the global economy and supply chains are felt well beyond the front lines. When conflict in Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, access to one-third of the world's fertiliser supply was disrupted. These shocks and stresses affecting our food systems have compounded those already caused by climate change. The situation is grim — so, what are we going to do about it? Guests: Michael Dunford, country director of the United Nations World Food Programme in Myanmar Rachel Carey , Associate Professor in Food Systems at the University of Melbourne in the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Marcel Proust's epic novel In Search of Lost Time is perhaps best known for its evocation of memory triggered by the senses — particularly in a scene involving a madeleine. The shell-shaped sponge cake whisks the narrator into a detailed recollection of his childhood, and this familiar sensation continues to fascinate philosophers, neuroscientists and other scholars today. So, how does this kind of memory operate? Why might a madeleine be the perfect catalyst? And what surprisingly basic food featured in Proust's original draft? Guests: Barry C. Smith , Director of the Institute of Philosophy at the University of London Trevor Gulliver, restaurateur and co-founder of St. JOHN Hyo Ju Park and Rong Yao Soh, founders of Madeleine de Proust and authors of Madeleines: Simple Bakes for Every Mood Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Punctuating the year with food is a point of commonality across so many cultures — foods that connect us to community and tradition. Jewish cuisine includes a vast array of seasonal dishes. From the careful preparation of the Seder during Passover to the abundant honey cakes of Rosh Hashanah, a new book from the Monday Morning Cooking Club celebrates these moments, sharing stories and recipes for each occasion. It's called A Year of Jewish Cooking. Guests: Lisa Goldberg and Natanya Eskin, Monday Morning Cooking Club , co-authors of A Year of Jewish Cooking: Recipes We Can't Live Without Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Recreational beekeeping has experienced an incredible surge in recent years. However, this surge has coincided with the spread of varroa mites — a now-endemic parasite devastating Australian honeybee colonies. Whether beekeeping to harvest honey or to pollinate crops — for love or for profit — how can we mitigate the destructive impact of varroa mites going forward? Guests: Cedar Anderson, co-founder of Flow Hive , co-author of Flow Hive's Book of Bees and Beekeeping Krista Mogensen, founding member of the Melbourne Beekeepers Club and expert on managing varroa mites Cormac Farrell, head beekeeper at the Australian Parliament House, author of Urban Beekeeping: The City as a Hive Emma Bickley, Saturday Breakfast presenter for ABC Radio Canberra and foodie Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

Laurie Woolever had a front-row seat to both triumph and disaster in the lives of two giants of the American food scene: Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali. Celebrity chef Batali faced allegations of sexual harassment at the height of the #MeToo movement and, by 2019, had exited all of his restaurants. Bourdain was a very different character: a celebrated chef at several New York institutions, a best-selling author, and a fixture of culinary television; he took his own life in 2018. Laurie reflects on both the bitter and the sweet of working alongside Batali and Bourdain in her candid memoir, Care and Feeding. If you are feeling distressed, or need advice or support, you should consult your local medical professional. If you're in Australia, support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue . Guest: Laurie Woolever , writer, former assistant to Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali, author of Care and Feeding: A Memoir Get in touch: We'd love to hear from you! Email us at everybite@abc.net.au This episode of Every Bite was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.