The Gastronomer’s Gazette
The world is even more bizarre than you suspect it is. If you want to understand it, you have to look at the pillar of all life: food and drink. Without food and drink, we can’t live. Also, without food and drink, why would you want to? Let me tell you, if wine or cheddar ever runs out, I’m on the first rocket ship out of here. Do you feel the same way? Then this is the podcast for you.
Episodes
The International Movie Database lists 411 food films. Oddly, Jaws, a 1975 film about a shark on a food binge, isn’t among them. In the film, the protagonist eats a very angry Robert Shaw. But is a very angry Robert Shaw the worst thing a fellow performer has eaten on screen? Find out in this episode...
Greetings gastronaut, Have you ever looked at the sea and thought, "That's an awful lot of water"? Well, it's not as much as you thought. Turns out, the seas aren't H2O alone. Far, far from it. And water itself might not be what you think it is. Curious? Good, let’s begin.
According to popular belief, Puritan Parliamentarians in the 17th century outlawed the eating of mince pies in England on Christmas Day. They also made it illegal to be King Charles of England on Christmas Day or on any other day. One of these laws still exists today…
Some people get terribly upset about the bees dying out. They think our crops won’t be pollinated and that honey production will cease, if the bees all die. Well, there is good news and bad news.
Curious? Listen to find out more.
If US meat chickens were to continue at their 1957-2005 rate of growth, then at some point in the early 29th century, the average US meat chicken will have grown to weigh more than Mount Everest.
What, if anything, is going on...?
Some people say that any wine spill is a tragedy. They are exaggerating. Some wine is so bad, spilling it down the sink is the best thing for it. But what turns the spillage of good wine from a mishap into a disaster? I’ve spent many weeks perfecting a flowchart to answer this question. Curious? Good, let’s begin.
Let me tell me tell you about the worst restaurant in the world. One where the owner hates me.
Curious? Good. Let's begin.
Some cheese is so rare, it is almost unheard of.
Curious? Good. Let's begin...
Did you know sharks are dangerous? If you come across one where you live, don't interact with it. Even if it is dead. You'll regret it, if you do. Curious? Good. Let's begin.
In 1859, the USA and the UK almost went to war over a pig. Was it an especially attractive pig?
Find out more in this episode of The Gastronomer's Gazette.
Ever since wine making was invented, humans have asked themselves, “How many grapes do I need to make a standard bottle of wine and will shop-bought do?”
Curious?
Good.
Let's begin.
Meat eaters get very upset with people who don't eat meat. I don't know why. Surely, that means more meat for the meatists? (Huzzah!) Plantists get very upset with people who do eat meat. I don't know why. Surely, heart disease will carve the meatists out of the population, thus reducing the demand for meat and saving the planet? (Huzzah!) Both sides can agree on one thing, though: fake meat is dumb. Curious? Good. Let's begin.
Meat eaters get very upset with people who don't eat meat. I don't know why. Surely, that means more meat for the meatists? (Huzzah!) Plantists get very upset with people who do eat meat. I don't know why. Surely, heart disease will carve the meatists out of the population, thus reducing the demand for meat and saving the planet? (Huzzah!) Both sides can agree on one thing, though: fake meat is dumb. Curious? Good. Let's begin.
How did eggs become associated with Easter?
The easy answer would be that eggs have long been a symbol of birth and new life, perhaps representing Christ’s resurrection. But that would be too easy. The real answer is far more interesting.
Curious? Good. Let's begin.
The survival of the human race, nay the entire ecological balance of the planet, rests in the hands one person. Let's hope he never goes on strike. Curious? Good. Let's begin.
Imagine if you had the biggest wine bottle ever in your restaurant. Bigger than a person even. Much, much bigger. And it started leaking hundreds of litres of wine everywhere. Who would you call?
You'd think making cheese with maggots would be illegal. It is. That doesn't stop people doing it, though.
In 1932, Australian soldiers armed with machine guns went to war with emus... and were forced to retreat.
My daughter stopped the conversation stone dead at the dinner table by claiming bees are fish. Turns out she's right.
Do you know what castoreum is? You can use it as a vanilla flavouring, instead of using actual vanilla. It's approved by food authorities, including the US Food and Drug Administration, so all good, don't worry about it. Except... Would you like to know where castoreum comes from?
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