Gimme a break, gimme a break - break me off a piece of that Kit Kat bar….. it’s the food history and food art of the kit kat. My next episode will be followed up with a much deeper look at cacao.This episode is a bit of a departure as it’s the first time I have featured a brand. It was inspired by my dear friend Michiru and her recent gift of a pack of assorted Japanese Kit Kats and will start with original Kit Kats. From the 18th century savoury pies they share their name with, to their 100 year journey to being the most influential confectionery bar of all time. Their world domination includes Japan and the hundreds of Kit Kat varietals of gentei limited edition culture but it must also include an honest look at Nestle and “Corporate Social Responsibility”. There’s the Kit Kat portraits of old from Sir Godfrey Kneller and the “The New Kit-Cat Portraits” by Gloria and Mike of In the Long Run Designs Kit Kat origami; a Kit Kat Coffee Table by design house den-Holm; a Chocnology exhibition and more.
Read MoreEp42 - Music, Minerals, Mangia! with Maddalena Ghezzi
I’m so excited to share this episode on International Women’s Day! And it’s fitting that my guest today is not only one of the coolest women I have had the pleasure to meet, but she is also a sage and inspirational fountain of creativity, energy and talent. With this episode I’m going straight to my interview with today’s guest - Maddalena Ghezzi. Maddalena is a musician, singer, composer, artist and improviser. She has been working in the field of jazz, improvised and experimental music since moving to the UK in 2009 and her work draws inspiration from the natural world, literature, visual arts and the socio-political status of our world. Here we chat about her new release, Emeralds, which is a collaboration with synth player, composer, producer and pianist Maria Chiara Argirò. Emeralds is the latest in her Minerals series of EP releases done in collaboration with an other musicians. Maddie’s music is enigmatic, atmospheric and her compositions and voice will carry you to new places that feel both metaphysical and tangible at the same time. We chat about collaborations, composing, creativity, cuisine (new year baby polenta, chiavi della cucina, Dolomites and puzzone) and sci-fi!
Read MoreEp41 - OxyContin for Breakfast with Kurt Cole Eidsvig: Mint Jelly Omelettes, Snapper Dogs and Sanka
I chat with one of my dearest friends, award-winning writer and artist Kurt Cole Eidsvig. Kurt has been featured in The Boston Globe, The Improper Bostonian, NBC, CBS, and ABC and loads more prestigious places.
We will talk about his new book OxyContin for Breakfast, his previous book Pop X Poetry, his visual art, inspirations and how food factors in to all of the above. We will chat about his connection to apple cider vinegar, mint jelly omelettes, analogue vampiric beef binkies, Sully's snapper dogs and more. The first minute of audio is a wee bit tinny as we get set up but it features our first of many nods to Nance…. This episode is dedicated to Kurt’s mom Nancy Cole Landon who passed away last May at the age of 85.
You can listen to the podcast anywhere you get them or watch our interview here or on the Smy Goodness YouTube channel.
Read MoreEp40 - As Art As Vinegar - Vinegar Art History
Vinegar depictions range from fanciful stories relating to it, appearances in still life paintings to the different stages of its production and enjoyment. Vinegar is a symbol of preservation, of hard work and longevity and being cleansed. It’s found in religious stories, fables, stories of love, war, money and death…basically all aspects of the human experience. Featuring artworks such as the Three Vinegar Tasters, Parody of the Vinegar Tasters, Elisabetta Sirani's painting Cleopatra and the story of Cleopatra's banquet, plague doctors' masks and Four Thief Vinegar, Tête Noire vinegar, Anne Vallayer-Coster's Still Life with Mackerel, Film Fawn/Merecedes and more.
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Morning ACV still life, Smy Goodness, 2017 (Via: Instagram/SmyGoodness)
Ep39 - Sour Power of Vinegar Half Hour - Part 1 - Vinegar Food History
Vinegar is a vital addition to popular dishes, condiments and beverages from around the world. It has as many uses outside of the kitchen as it does in it and is a staple ingredient of many natural or home remedies. There are countless health benefits that are associated with it and the varieties are endless - from bayberry, bamboo, black, brown and balsamic….and one that is famously described as with “the mother.” Today it’s all about the food history of vinegar - its important beginnings, fermentation, etymology, some of its many culinary and creative uses from all over the world. The next episode will be the accompanying, part 2 episode where I’ll discuss the food art of vinegar and cider vinegar plus a special chat with artist and poet Kurt Eidsvig about his work and his new book POP X POETRY.
Read MoreEp38 - Mushroom Depictions in Art - Pt 4 of Mystic, Magic and Mealtime Mushrooms
This episode is part 4, or episode 38, and will look at some examples of my favourite artworks that depict or feature mushrooms…by artists including Ming dynasty Chinese artist Qiu Yang, Chinese-Canadian artist Xiaojing Yan, Beatrix Potter and Elsie Wakefield, Yayoi Kusama, Hine Mizushima, Wangechi Mutu and more. There will be a bit about the Game of Shrooms, the annual world-wide mushroom art N seek event created by Attaboy. There will even be a little bit of mushroom magic in film and music at the end with a note on the 2019 documentary film Fantastic Fungi and from the late Czech mushroom composer Vaclav Halek.
Read MoreEp37 - Mealtimes, Mental Health and Mindfulness with Karmen Perez-Pineda of Cats with a Heart - Pt3 of Mystic, Magic and Mealtime Mushrooms
Part 3 - Mealtimes, Mental Health and Mindfulness with Karmen Perez-Pineda of Cats with a Heart of a four-part series on Mushrooms - Mystic, Magic and Mealtime
Mushroom culinary customs from around the world, mushroom tips, health benefits, how Psylocibin mushrooms are being used medicinally and at some of the past and present female pioneers behind psychedelics and psychiatrics. Plus I will chat with Karmen Perez-Pineda the founder of Cats with a Heart about mushrooms and her amazing socially responsible initiative which aims to raise awareness and funds to end child exploitation in the fashion industry.
Ep36 - Mushrooms - Mystic, Magic and Mealtime - Pt 2 - Fungi Folklore
Fungi Folklore - Part 2 of a four-part series on Mushrooms - Mystic, Magic and Mealtime
This series is inspired by Karmen Perez-Pineda, Founder of Cats with a Heart who will be interviewed in Part 3
Pt2:
The etymology, symbolism, folklore, magical properties and culinary traditions of mushrooms - that’s mystic, magic and mealtime mushrooms
Image: Fungi: twenty species, including the fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), death cap (Amanita phalloides) and Boletus and Agaricus species. Coloured lithograph by A. Cornillon, c. 1827, after Prieur.. Credit: Wellcome Collection. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Ep35 - Mushrooms - Mystic, Magic and Mealtime - Pt 1 - Shamans and Shrooms
Part 1 - Shamans and Shrooms of a four-part series on Mushrooms - Mystic, Magic and Mealtime
This series is inspired by Karmen Perez-Pineda, Founder of Cats with a Heart who will be interviewed in Part 3
Pt1:
Brief intro into the series
Mushroom synopsis
Ethnomycology & Shamanism & Cave Art
Aboriginal Gwion Gwion, Australia
Tassili n’Ajjer, Algeria
Pegtymel Petroglyphs in Far East Siberia in Russia
Mesoamerican society
María Sabina
Ep34 - Smy Thoughts - Racism and Racist Imagery in Food and Art
I am sharing and processing some of my thoughts and experiences of racism as a woman of colour.
Covering examples of racist imagery in food history and amazing representation, examples of racist imagery in art and amazing representation in art. Covering racial stereotypes, Ava DuVernay and the documentary 13th, Mixed Girl Meetup, Birth of a Nation, , fried chicken, watermelon, stereotypes, micro-aggressions, Sohla El-Waylly and Bon Appetit, MOFAD, Mona Chalabi, Mariya Russell, Kara Walker, Angela Davis and more.
Ep33 - Flour Power and Superb Herbs - Quarantine Catch-up with Aimée Furnival of Another Studio
In a special edition of Smy Goodness Podcast: Quarantine Catch-up we chat with Aimée Furnival of Another Studio, the London design studio specialising in Plant Gifts & Playful Products. Aimée featured in the Smy Goodness Podcast episode 5 Pancakes and Creativity which looked at the food history and food art relating to pancakes all whilst we chatted about creativity, similarities between cooking and design processes and how design affects the items that surround us in our kitchens and dining rooms and as we prepare and share our meals. In this episode we chat to Aimée about her thoughts on Covid-19 and how it may have affected her business and cookery practices. Have a listen!
Read MoreEp32 - Pomegranate memories with Freelance Writer and Journalist Sophie Jean-Louis Constantine
In this episode I chat with Freelance Writer and Journalist Sophie Jean-Louis Constantine about her novel, writing process and food memories. We covered all sorts of topics - from Persephone to process, koliva to kites and ratatouille to reviews! As Sophie mentions, the influence of pomegranates are akin to tentacles that have spread out across the world since our earliest times. You can find out loads more pomegranate food history and food art stories by listening to Smy Goodness Podcast Ep31 - Pomegranate - Superfood, Seeds, Symbolism and Stories.
Ep31 - Pomegranate - Superfood, Seeds, Symbolism and Stories
Across the world and throughout myths, legends and religious texts pomegranates have been symbolic of wealth, fertility and good luck. The pomegranate has been a popular feature and motif in artworks, literature, ceremonies and culinary offerings from all over the world. A modern day superfood yes…but people throughout time and place have known of its health benefits. From stories of Agdistis, Persephone, Roman Britain and Catherine of Aragon. With artworks from Giovanna Garzoni, Clara Peeters, Sandro Boticelli, Dante Gabriel Rosetti, Zaida Ben Yusuf, Sergei Parajanov and Katayoun Amjadi.
Read MoreEp30 - Fashion and Food with Em and Ems - Emilio de la Morena and Emmerline Smy
Exploring the historical links between food and fashion plus a chat with fashion designer and artist Emilio de la Morena. Emilio was my very first guest for Episode 1 which was all about quince and now he’s my latest guest for Episode 30! We discuss his latest creative endeavours as a painter; the fashion and food events we have been hosting and how food and fashion inspire us both. Connected since our earliest days as humans, we’ll also look at how 5000 year old Ötzi the Iceman changed how we think about prehistoric clothing. Plus we’ll look at food inspired creations from Elsa Schiaparelli, Margiela, Dries van Noten, Jeremy Scott for Moschino and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel.
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Lobsterman Greg Weeks, photo courtesy of Lisa Weeks
…more pics of Greg below
Ep29 - Lobster Tails, Lobster Rolls and Lobster Tales with Lobsterman Greg Weeks
They are associated with luxury but historically this has not always been the case. They live in all oceans, yet I am partial and prejudiced to those from New England. Today it's the food history and food art of lobster. My guest Greg Weeks shares his insight and stories as a Cape Cod Lobsterman. Their form and colour have inspired artists throughout the ages. There's art from the Moche civilisation of Peru, Albrecht Durer, Claara Peeters, Anne Vallayer-Coster, Judith Sobel and Carrie Mae Weems.
Read MoreEp28 - Mastic, Mastiha, Mummies and Massage with Aristea Zougri of Althea Massage Therapy and Yoga
Heat from the body can soften it making it more pliable and chewy. Chewy is a key word around its etymology. It’s a tree sap that is dried in the sun from only one place, the Greek island of Chios. It’s all about mastic, or mastiha in Greek or by its poetic name Tears of Chios. I’ll look at its history, rarity, value and its many uses. There's art by Émile Bayard, Elisabetta Duminuco and Clémentine Bal. Our guest Aristea Zougri of Althea Massage Therapy and Yoga has a myriad of skills and talents as a massage therapist, yoga practitioner with her own line of body oils. We chat about her career, holistic treatments, lots about the food of her native Greece and some of her mastiha memories.
Read MoreEp27 - Feed A Lady Marmalade - Voulez-vous écouter avec moi ce soir
It can fluctuate from flavour profiles of bitter, tart, sweet and juicy…you can choose from thin or thick cut, even no cut! Thinking of it likely brings several things to mind - the first being…oranges, perhaps the second being whether you are actually into it or not and perhaps thirdly Paddington Bear? This episode is going to look at marmalade and all the twists and turns of it’s origins, etymology and the great stories associated with it. With a look at the popular manga Marmalade boy by Wataru Yoshizumi and artwork from Canadian artist Sylvie Adams.
Read MoreEp26 - Octopus, Polpo, Pulpo, Tako: Takoyaki - My Delicious Dilemma
Throughout the world and throughout time, people and cultures have both revered and feared this eight-limbed, legendary Cephalopod - the octopus. We’ll look at the mythology and folklore of the octopus, their physiology and behaviour; which all strengthen their reputation as symbols of strength, intelligence and mystery. We’ll look at artworks by Japanese master Hokusai, resin artist Keng Lye, potter Tammy Garcia and illustrator Esther Van Hulsen. Plus I make takoyaki - round octopus pancake balls! This whole episode was inspired by a chat to my amazing friend Michiru who I miss a lot! She was eating takoyaki while we were video chatting on Line and I just knew I had to make them! Thanks Michi!!! xox
Read MoreEp24 - Fiori di Zucca with Orso Tosco, author of Aspettando I Naufraghi
This episode it's the zucchini aka the courgette and their stunningly beautiful flowers. As my guest was Orso Tosco, the Italian author who has just published his novel, Aspettando I Naufraghi. For his topic Orso chose fiori di zucca or courgette/zucchini flowers as they feature in his novel and are one of his favourite dishes. As we will see there is a strong link between Italy and courgette flowers which will play out in our chat, the artwork covered in this episode and their interesting history. So listen above to find out about Orso's book, his process, food thoughts and memories; their earned reputation as symbols of the sensual and erotic, artwork from Arcimboldo, Giovanni de Udine, Georgia O'Keeffe and find out where courgette/zucchini come from, their travels around the world, how we get their beautiful flowers, and the myriad of ways that we can use them.
Read MoreEp23 - A Rhubarb of a Pickle of a Jam
This episode looks at where rhubarb came from and how it traveled the world. I look at the changes from how rhubarb was first used by humans to how it is enjoyed today. We'll learn about the etymology of rhubarb, the need for albarelli drug jars and then there's the utterly interesting link between rhubarb and the Zoroastrian creation myth. I'll share why the culinary tradition of Forced Rhubarb fully deserves its PDO status. I will share how I was inspired by the rhubarb inspired artworks by Nikolai Astrup, Mary Fedden, Elizabeth Johnson. I share some of the ways that I use rhubarb in my cookery, preserves, food photography and patterns.
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