Picture this: You’re invited to a confidential dining affair hosted by a renowned Michelin-starred cook. Accompanied by a charismatic individual responsible for topping up the drinks, you get a chance to discuss your passions, reminisce about your beloved food experiences and talk about your supported causes as they serve splendid meals, such as roast beef with Yorkshire pudding or steak with asparagus and lentils. Adding to this, they make you chuckle relentlessly. The food is exquisite and all of this is part of the ongoing, hunger-stirring podcast ‘Dish’ from S:E Creative Studio, which has now almost reached 100 episodes.
‘Dish’ first served in 2022 with an episode featuring Angela Hartnett and radio presenter Nick Grimshaw co-hosting their inaugural dinner party in their kitchen studio, providing an insight into their personal lives. Grimshaw is revealed as a connoisseur of potent gin brambles and Hula Hoops, a revelation attributed to Simon Cowell. Meanwhile, Hartnett shares anecdotes of Gordon Ramsay teasingly referrimg to her as Dizzy Lizzy and how she once prepared a takeaway for Harrison Ford.
The podcast then welcomed a variety of guests that ranged from comedians, actors to musicians. Famous personalities like Ramsay, Shania Twain and Marian Keyes each contribute to the dining and conversation that are later edited into 30-40 minutes of delightful sessions.
A quick note about the show’s patrons, Waitrose, a well-known British supermarket, has a significant presence on ‘Dish’. It ensures all the wine served is from their stores, offers weekly recipes derived from the show on its website and bestows departing guests with bags full of Waitrose goodies. However, there is no need for the host to overly promote Waitrose. The primary focus remains on the unique interviewing format the show offers.
After hosting Aisling Bea, Florence Pugh and Marian Keyes, It’s safe to say that the dinner party podcast, ‘Dish’, has an excellent selection of guests. Other notable podcasts include ‘In Their Shoes’ featuring Maude Apatow and a humorous anecdote featuring an Irish comic. ‘Uncharted with Hannah Fry’ delves into how numerical data and mathematics have played a major role in significant controversies. Lastly, ‘Transmissions: The Definitive Story of Joy Division & New Order’ is a tribute to the bands and their remarkable and emotive art.
The programme Dish is more than just an engaging idea, its quality production plays a major role. It’s carefully stitched together to appear seamless, effortless and filled with lively banter. Hints of dinner party sound effects contribute to the flow of conversation- the clink of ice cubes or the sizzle of garlic marking transitions. The guests are delightful, each coming with interesting tales. From Aisling Bea and her sister’s potato-themed charades to Florence Pugh’s cocktail named after her grandmother, to Keyes’ competitive family storytelling, and Twain sharing her memory of tasting her first avocado, it’s a lovely feast for the ears.
It’s near miraculous that all of this unfolds while the participants are actually being served a meal. As the meal progresses, the chatter flows more freely with every uncorking of a bottle. The hosts are friendly and spark off each other resulting in contagious chemistry. The rhythm of the show is just right, paced to keep things interesting yet also open to intriguing dinner table tangents that add an enchanting charm to the evening. This unique mix is probably why so many listeners are eager to join the virtual dinner table.