A look at one of the most loved and iconic shapes of all time and one of our favourite shapes to eat. From the history of the heart shape and its links to plants both sacred and extinct. To how it has become so entwined with the anatomy, metaphor and symbolism of the human heart, emotions of love. Points of discussion include Aristotle's History of Animals, Pierre Vinken's The Shape of the Heart, the Ficus religiosa, Le roman de la poire, The Master of the View of Saint Gudula, loads of heart-shaped foods, Yard Sale Pizza's Valentine's Day heart-shaped pizza, Neufchâtel, Sachertorte and the absolute legend that is Ralph Wiggum.
Read MoreThis week is the first in a series of episodes about foods, ingredients, different things that I couldn’t do without a series I’m calling: Smy Fundamentals. I will look at things that I use everyday, things I swear by, things that I’m constantly suggesting to people or…things that I share with people when they ask me, “what’s your secret for x, y or z?” First up!…is something I am so particular about, it’s the first thing I think about when I open my eyes and I have been drinking it for years, decades even!…this episode is all about….green tea! From some of the health benefits, history, Yamamotoyama and shortages. A look at chanoyu tea ceremonies, origins and the folklore of Shennong. Plus some ceramics and Japanese block prints by Nishimura Shigenaga, Torii Kiyohiro, Suzuki Harunobu and Utagawa Kuniyoshi plus a 21st century depiction of a tea ceremony by Emiko Aida.
Read MoreI'm back after quite the hiatus to share with you a bit about why I've been absent and the epiphany that led to my making a Galette des Rois and what makes this Twelfth Night/King Cake so special...and so tasty. I'll share my experience making one, a bit of the history behind it and the surprising treat buried within it. There's a look at my culinary bible Larousse Gastronomique and memories of the cousin to the Galette des Rois, the New Orleans Mardi Gras King Cake.
Read MoreGimme 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 MoreI’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 MoreI 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 MoreVinegar 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.
Read MoreVinegar 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 MoreThis episode will feature songs related to, inspired by or about Ice Cream!!! An eclectic mix of all sorts.
This months Tasty Tunes: We All Scream For Ice Cream went out on my birthday but you can listen to it here!!! Songs about, related to or inspired by ice cream, gelato, cones, scoops - all of it! There’s RZA, “Weird Al “Yancovic, Repeat Pattern, Moon Boots, Earth Leakage Trip, Battles, Delta 5, Matthew Herbert, Leon Vynehall, Steely Dan, Paper Dollhouse, Beastie Boys and much more! Listen live tonight on @k2kradio and from tomorrow on Smy Goodness mixcloud!
Read MoreThis episode will feature songs related to, inspired by or about Chocolate!!! An eclectic mix of all sorts. From BADBADNOTGOOD, Stevie Wonder, Zappa, Tosca, Erykah Badu, Tom Waits, Chico Che y La Crisis, Fajardo Y Sus Estrellas, El Alfa, Javi Colina & Quoxx, Tyler the Creator, FU-Schnickens, Cameo and the Hot Chocolate song that helped give me my name!
This show is a two-hour musical accompaniment to the upcoming episode of the Smy Goodness Podcast which looks at the food history and food art of chocolate and cacao. From its Central and South American roots, to its connections to sugar and the slave trade and how this item that was once reserved for the rich has become a comfort that we love to give, receive and eat by the bucket load during lockdown.
Read MoreThis episode will feature songs related to, inspired by or about COFFEE!!! An eclectic mix of all sorts.
This show is a two-hour musical accompaniment to the upcoming episode of the Smy Goodness Podcast which looks at the food history and food art of coffee; its beginnings, how it started a revolution, became big business and how we connect to it emotionally the whole world over.
Read MoreThis episode will feature songs related to, inspired by or about HOT SAUCE, CHILLI & SPICE!!! An eclectic mix of all sorts.
This show is a two-hour musical accompaniment to the upcoming episode of the Smy Goodness Podcast which looks at the food history and food art of avocado; its beginnings, how it travelled the world, the boom of avocado eating, posting and the ethics of avocado.
Read MoreTasty Tunes with Smy Goodness - HOT SAUCE SAUCY SONGS - TT2 - 21/01/21 on @k2kradio. This episode will feature songs related to, inspired by or about HOT SAUCE, CHILLI & SPICE!!! An eclectic mix of all sorts.
This show is a two-hour musical accompaniment to the upcoming episode of the Smy Goodness Podcast which looks at the food history and food art of hot sauce a bit more in depth by looking at traditional varieties, the boom of current HS eating, making, branding and how and why it runs so deep throughout so many cultures. From its beginnings and how it travelled the world with everywhere claiming their own unique version of hot sauce, chilli condiments and pastes.
Read MoreI have my own radio show now! Tasty Tunes with Smy Goodness on K2K Radio!
A musical accompaniment to the Smy Goodness Podcast, each episode features a different foodie focus with an eclectic array of songs across time and genres relating to the theme. It’s on K2K Radio and goes live on the the third Thursday of each month 1900-2100 - have a listen then or tune in after either here or on Mixcloud where you can also listen to all the podcast episodes.
This episode is TT1 - Mushroom Music with songs about, related to or inspired by mushrooms.
Read MoreThis 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 MorePart 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.
Read MoreFungi 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)
Read MorePart 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
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreIn 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!
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