Want to learn more about Polish desserts? Author and food writer Ren Behan joins olive podcast host Janine to talk about her latest book The Sweet Polish Kitchen. They discuss staple Polish ingredients, why cheesecake is a Polish obsession and Ren explains why there’s a whole day devoted to doughnuts! Here, we pick out some highlights.  Listen to our interview with Ren on the olive podcast here: The Polish pantry You can find very similar ingredients in the Polish pantry to those that you would already have at home. Polish recipes might include cinnamon, honey, vanilla and poppy seeds ..read more

How many plants do you eat in a week? Dietitian Dr Catherine Rabess explains how eating 30 plant foods a week and making simple changes to our diet can really improve our overall gut health. Catherine is our guest on the olive podcast, where she shares that we should embrace more variety, and how we can get these ‘plant points’ through a range of foods – not just fruit and veg but spices, nuts and even good dark chocolate! Listen to our interview with Catherine on the olive podcast here:  The power of 30 plants a week What is the microbiome? Put simply, the microbiome is a collection of ..read more

Want to know what to eat on a gluten-free diet? Laura Strange, diagnosed with coeliac disease 25 years ago, is an award-winning recipe writer and blogger who shares her own experiences with enjoying a varied and balanced diet without gluten. Laura was a guest on the olive podcast where she gives some great practical advice and tips on cooking and eating gluten-free including how to spot some sneaky sources of gluten, the ‘magic ingredients’ she uses to perfect her recipes, and why it’s a less restricting way to eat than we commonly think. Here we pick out some highlights.  Listen to our ..read more

Want to keep up to date with the latest health and wellness trends? April Preston, global product director at Holland and Barrett, is an expert in using customer and trend data to predict the next big thing. April was a guest on the olive podcast where she shared her top health and wellness insights for 2024 including innovations to help sleep hygiene, healthspan vs lifespan and natural ways to boost energy. Here we pick out some highlights.  Listen to our interview with April on the olive podcast here: 2024’s top health and wellness trends Hydration More people are realising that sugar ..read more

This week host Janine @missj9 catches up with Indian chef and author Maunika Gowardhan @cookinacurry as she shares how to recreate the magic of tandoori cooking at home using expert tips, techniques and recipes from her new book. Find more about Indian cooking in Maunika’s guide here, plus here epic Bombay chilli cheese toastie recipe.   ..read more

This week Janine Ratcliffe welcomes back Sierra Leonean chef and author Maria Bradford as she talks about what afro-fusion cooking means to her and shares stories and recipes from her new book, Sweet Salone. After, listen to Maria share 10 things you should know about Sierra Leone food and cooking ..read more

This week Janine Ratfcliffe catches up with Syrian chef and restaurateur Imad Alarnab to talk about his new book Imad’s Syrian Kitchen including why the flavours of his homeland are so special and how always cooking from the heart has brought him to where he is now. Try Imad’s Syrian recipes Syrian baba ghanoj Perfect as a snack or a side to a meze feast, this recipe from Imad’s Syrian Kitchen in London makes great use of aubergines, tahini and greek yogurt. Syrian falafel Try this spiced falafel recipe from Imad’s Syrian Kitchen as part of a meze-style feast. They are best served with a ..read more

This week, Janine Ratcliffe chats to chef and author Omar Allibhoy about Spain’s most famous dish, paella, including the history and traditions behind it, as well as lots of tips for perfecting it. Bonus episode Listen to Omar Allibhoy share his top three cooking tips and shortcuts: Try our paella recipes here: Easy paella A spectacular crowd-pleasing dish, our paella is made with chicken, chorizo, pancetta and seafood to pack in tonnes of flavour. Serve from a huge paella pan for extra impact. Sunblush tomato and olive vegan paella Full of antipasti favourites like peppers, sunblush tom ..read more

This week Janine Ratcliffe chats to chocolate aficionado Jennifer Earle to learn all about this fascinating ingredient, including how to identify a quality bar and some expert tasting tips. For chocolate recipe inspiration, check our collection of chocolate recipes, dark chocolate recipes and chocolate desserts. Try our best chocolate recipes here: Triple chocolate chip cookies The best bake for chocolate lovers – these luxurious cookies combine dark, milk and white chocolate. They’re super simple to make, too. Best ever classic chocolate brownies A classic, gooey chocolate brownie recipe ..read more

This week Janine Ratcliffe catches up with olive’s drinks writer Hannah Guinness to share tips and inspiration for what to drink now sunny days are here again. Try our summer cocktails here: Piña colada Best drunk in the sun on holiday, piña coladas really are the bee’s knees. Transport yourself to the tropics by recreating our perfect recipe at home. Sex on the beach This cocktail sings of summer – simply mix vodka with peach schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice. Mai tai If you’re feeling fruity, make this tropical cocktail made with two types of rum, orange curacao, almond syrup ..read more