Folklore, Food & Fairytales
By Rachel Mosses
Folklore, Food & FairytalesOct 28, 2022
The Widow & Her Daughters or the Kale Conspiracy
In which we discover that strange food stealing horses don't always have your best intentions at heart, that you should always be kind to cats, rowan is good for protection and that kale has its very own folklore.
The Story: The Widow & Her Daughters adapted from the version in Popular Tales of the Western Highlands collected by Joseph Campbell.
The Recipe: Wilted Kale
If you would like to find out more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
Slightly Scary Story Special
The Stories in this episode are: Golden Hair, The Lass & her Good Stout Blackthorn Stick and The Tailor in the Church adapated from Sorche nic Leodhas and Ruth Manning Sanders
This is another just the stories episode, this time for All Hallows Eve. There are three traditional tales which are just a little bit scary but also a little bit clever and maybe also just a little bit silly in the case of the last tale. I hope you enjoy these tales even if you prefer yours a bit more bone chilling normally.
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
An All Hallows Feast - Menus, Symbolism & Folklore
In which I explore a completely different direction, have fun with food symbolism and folklore at this interesting time of year and make a realisation about how I really feel about good food.
I hope you enjoy this bonus episode as it is very different to anything I have done on the podcast before. I will be presenting a menu for a Halloween or an All Hallows Eve Feast, providing some of the folk beliefs or symbolic meanings for the foods involved and folklore around some of the ingredients for each course.
You can download the recipes and menu on my Ko-Fi page for free.
If you would like to find out more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
The Kitchen Witch Companion: An Interview with Sarah Robinson
In this episode I interviewed the wonderful Sarah Robinson about the fabulous book she has created with Lucy H Pearce: The Kitchen Witch Companion: Recipes, Rituals & Reflections
If you are reading this on or before 19 October 23 there is still a chance to pre order this direct from the publisher there will still be a chance to pre-order the book direct from Womancraft Publishing (pre-ordering direct from Womancraft gets you a selection of free e-goodies, signed copy & bookmark)
https://womancraftpublishing.com/product/kitchen-witch-companion/
Then from 3 November 23 its available worldwide from all the usual online booksellers, or direct from Womancraft, or you can get you local indie bookshop to order it in!
If you have any questions or just want to find out more you can find the publisher @womancraft_publishing or Sarah @yogaforwitches on Instagram
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
The Beekeeper and the Hare or The Hot Honey Horror
In which we discover that everything is not always as it seems, that you should take advice from helpful travellers, that bees can be excellent as a home protection system and that the taste of honey can make you cross worlds.
The Story: The Beekeeper & The Hare adapted from Thistle & Thyme collected by Sorche nic Leodhas
The Recipe: Hot Honey
If you would like to find out more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
Food, Funerals & Mourning in the American South - An Interview with Ashley-Anne Masters
My current research is around the areas of food and death and the rituals around both. We talk so much about food being a huge part of life but it is also a large part of death and the rituals we have developed to help us cope with loss. The American South is well known for its traditions and rituals around food and funerals and funerary practices so I interviewed Ashley-Anne Masters, a Presbyterian Pastor from North Carolina and we discussed how food can bring us together in grief just as it does during times of great joy.
I found this an incredibly comforting and uplifting discussion even though we were discussing nominally sad topics. However, we do talk openly about death, grief and the loss of a family member so if you are not in the right space for that right now, you may want to wait before listening.
We also discussed how food and humour and ritual can really be of help during difficult times. Ashley-Anne is a wonderfully warm, incredibly kind, human being and I cannot thank her enough for taking the time to share her thoughts, experiences and memories with me.
If you want to know more about Ashley-Anne, you can find her on Instagram or her blog.
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
Slavic Kitchen Alchemy - An Interview with Zuza Zak
I met with Zuza Zak and we talked about her wonderful new book Slavic Kitchen Alchemy: Nourishing Herbal Remedies, Magical Recipes & Folk Wisdom. Zuza is also the author of ‘Polska: New Polish Cooking’, ‘Amber & Rye: A Baltic Food Journey Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania’ and ‘Pierogi: Over 50 Recipes to Create Perfect Polish Dumplings’ all of which I own and have allowed me to do some of my favourite travelling via food and books without leaving my kitchen.
This book is different to her previous books and is essentially a wonderfully illustrated notebook steeped in Slavic lore containing natural remedies, healing recipes and wellbeing rituals with accompaniment of magic and folktales.
You can pre-order Slavic Kitchen Alchemy and buy Zuza's previous books via this link: https://linktr.ee/zuzazak
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
Rebel Folklore - An Interview with Icy Sedgwick
If you want to pre-order Icy's new book Rebel Folklore you can find links below:
US Bookshop.org : Pre Order Link
UK Bookshop.org : Pre Order Link
You can also find out more about Icy at her website
You can find more about me and Folklore, Food and Fairytales via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog.
The Laird with a Heart of Gold or The Bannock Brouhaha
In which we find out that certain tropes aren't always true, that a heart of gold sometimes needs assistance and that brownies and a bannock in the house are invaluable. We also venture into peat bogs and cheese riots in pursuit of food and folklore.
Our story: The Laird with a Heart of Gold adapted from Thistle and Thyme : tales and legends from Scotland - Sorche Nic Leodhas
Our Recipe: Fresh Cheese
If you would like to hear more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find more about me and the podcast via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
A Cawl Tale or The Cheese Ownership Conundrum
This episdoe is a little different but I hope you enjoy a wonderful Welsh tale from fantastic storyteller Owen Staton and our chat in which we barely touch the depths of how both food and stories can break down barriers between people and nourish our souls but had a fabulous time in the talking just the same.
As a bonus I also interviewed Catherine Warr about her fascinating new book A Yorkshire Year: Folklore, history, traditions as well as finding out all about how she got interested in folklore as well as 'fakelore'.
You can find Owen on Twitter and Youtube. As well as being the host of Time Between Times Storytelling Podcast, he also hosts Spectre of the Sea, a folklore and legends podcast with Bethan Briggs-Miller. You can also join Owen as he hosts a Sunday Story every week via Twitter Spaces - one of the best cures I know for the Sunday night blues.
You can find Catherine on Twitter and Youtube and her website. Her book is available from Carnegie Publishing or other good booksellers.
You can find more about me and the podcast via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
Why Cats & Dogs Disagree or the Risotto Resolution
In which we discover that taking care of animals is its own reward, fishermen are somehow inherently magical, womens voices can achieve change and a good risotto creates its own legend.
Our story: Why Cats and Dogs Disagree - adapted from a Korean tale found in Nine Lives: the Folklore of Cats edited by Katharine Briggs
Our Recipe: Risotto
If you would like to hear more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find more about me and the podcast via my Linktree
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe here (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
An Appalachian Visit
In this episode I talked with Aaron Bobick the host of Appalachian Folklore Podcast and Stories from the Cabin, a storytelling podcast within a podcast and we talked all things food, folklore and story.
Aaron is a brewer-turned-distiller by day. His undergraduate and graduate studies were in literature, bibliography, and textual editing where he gained a love for research; for finding the history of any given topic that interests him.
His research into UK folklore is what started his fascination with the history of Appalachian folklore: how the folk practices still seen today through various regions of Appalachia can be traced back to much older practices throughout Europe, and the world. The podcast takes a researched-based, academic-adjacent, look at the world of Appalachian folklore while making it approachable to all listeners.
You can find the podcast by following the link above or wherever you get your podcasts and his most recent episode explores one of the topics we discussed in much more detail: Ramp Harvesting, Festival Traditions, and Sustainability.
The links I mentioned in the episode:
The Cornish Pasty in Northern Michigan by William G Lockwood and Yvonne R Lockwood - Food in Motion, The Migration of Foodstuffs and Cookery Techniques – Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery 1983
Orange Chips - Vittles Article about Chippy Traditions
Fried Chicken - This is the Guardian article that I mentioned by Melissa Thompson where she discusses Fried Chicken and racism (my apologies to Melissa as I referenced Korean Fried Chicken in the episode but I should have said karaage from Japan) . Her new book, Motherland, is fabulous and is packed with excellent, mouth-watering recipes.
Interview with Robbie Armstrong - How Food Frames Stories
Green Bean Casserole - This is the book chapter Aaron references.
You can find also find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
The Search for Luck or the Egg Extravaganza
In which we find out that eggs are not as straight forward as you might think, that luck doesn't really come into it, that truths can be uncomfortable and that the advice you recieve from old women is invaluable no matter where they heard it.
Our story: The Search for Luck adapted from Modern Greek Folktales by RM Dawkins from 1953
Our Recipe: Chip Omelette
Here are the newsletter and Episode Recipe I mentioned.
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
Prince Lindorm or The Onion Protocol
In which we discover that princes can be forgiven anything, that women are destined to some sorrow no matter what they do, that onions aren't always just onions and secure mail is essential.
Our story: Prince Lindorm, adapted from the Pink Fairy Book, collected by Andrew Lang
Our Recipe: French Onion Soup
If you would like to hear more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
The Brave Little Shoemaker or The Ricotta Resentment
In which a shoemaker reluctantly becomes a hero, a princess reluctantly gets married and we discover the relevance of a giant, a unicorn, a wild boar and some ricotta.
The Story in this episode is: The Brave Little Shoemaker, a Sicilian tale adapated from various sources including Laura Gonzenbach
The Recipe in this episode is: Spinach & Ricotta Lasagne
If you would like to hear more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
The Christmas Cuckoo or The Barley Bread Allegory
The Story in this episode is: The Christmas Cuckoo - This story is adapted from a literary fairytale written by Frances Elizabeth Browne from a book called from Granny’s Wonderful Chair, first published in 1856. Frances was born in 1816 in Donegal but moved first to Scotland and then to London. She originally wrote poetry but also wrote short stories. The whole collection is beautiful and she created a gorgeous world rich in imaginative detail, made even more incredible by the fact that she lost her sight at 8 months old.
If you would like to hear the festive story collections I talked about in this episode you can find them at Festive Story Collections
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me here
The Palace That Stood on Golden Pillars or The Porridge Pomposity
In which we discover that if there is ever a choice between a cat and a cow, choose the cat, arguments over porridge are rarely worth it and that the main differences between royalty and commoners is that commoners get a better night sleep and worse dresses.
The Story in this episode is: The Palace That Stood on Golden Pillars adaped from Yule-tide stories: a collection of Scandinavian and North German popular tales and traditions from the Swedish, Danish and German
The Recipe in this episode is: Spiced, Jewelled Porridge
If you would like to hear more about what I talked about in this episode you can find books and links at Further Reading
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Two Ghosts & a Goblin or The Slightly Scary Story Special
The Stories in this episode are: Old Tommy & The Spectre, Box on the Ears and The Cook & the Goblin adapated from Ruth Manning Sanders
This is another just the stories episode, this time for All Hallows Eve. There are three traditional tales involving food which are just a little bit scary but also a little bit clever and maybe also just a little bit kind in the case of the last tale. I hope you enjoy these tales even if you prefer yours a bit more bone chilling normally.
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The Dark Spectre or the Elusive Elderberry
In which we discover that you should stick to your path, no matter what others say, that you shouldn't let an elderberry pudding get in the way of the rest of your life and that perfectly good castles only lie empty for a good reason.
The Recipe in this episode is Elderberry Cordial
The Story in this episode is The Dark Spectre adapated from Ruth Manning Sanders - Spooks and Spectres
You can find the interviews in my newest interview series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
How Food Frames Stories - Anna Kharzeeva
In these fractured times l wanted to continue to look at how stories and food can overcome the distance between people and enhance our shared experiences so earlier this year I spent time exploring storytelling through food writing. I interviewed some very talented writers who tell stories through their food writing to find out why how food has shaped their writing and in what ways food enhances their storytelling. They have all had different experiences around food which has influenced how they write and the subjects they write about. In their own ways they use their writing to break down barriers through stories and food. I hope you find these conversations as fascinating as I did.
In this fourth & final interview I would like to introduce you to Anna Kharzeeva. Anna is the author of the remarkable cookbook, The Soviet Diet Cookbook, which is not just that but also a fascinating anthropological, historical analysis of the Soviet regime. She is a political refugee and had to flee Russia at the outbreak of the war against Ukraine or face the possibility of decades in jail for protesting against the actions of the current regime. We had arranged to do the interview before the war broke out and eventually managed to do it once she arrived in Australia after fleeing Moscow via Istanbul. We stuck to my original questions which predated the awful events in Ukraine as we wanted this interview to work with the rest of the series. As you will hear however, naturally the war and its effects aren’t far from her thoughts.
You can find Anna on Instagram and you can buy her book here
Anna also mentions the fundraising drive set up by Olia Hercules and Alissa Timoshkina - Cook For Ukraine.
You can find Olia Hercules Books here:
You can find the rest of the interviews in this series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can also subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
How Food Frames Stories - Robbie Armstrong
In these fractured times l wanted to continue to look at how stories and food can overcome the distance between people and enhance our shared experiences so earlier this year I spent time exploring storytelling through food writing. I interviewed some very talented writers who tell stories through their food writing to find out why how food has shaped their writing and in what ways food enhances their storytelling. They have all had different experiences around food which has influenced how they write and the subjects they write about. In their own ways they use their writing to break down barriers through stories and food. I hope you find these conversations as fascinating as I did.
My third interview is with Robbie Armstrong. Robbie is an audio producer, writer and broadcast journalist based in Glasgow. He has reported stories for BBC News, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland, produced for The Food Programme, Feedback and Podlitical, written for The Guardian and Vittles, and worked as a restaurant reviewer for The List Magazine’s Eating & Drinking Guide. He can be found on Twitter/Instagram @robbiejourno and his website is robbiearmstrong.com
You can find the rest of the interviews in this series here: How Food Frames Stories. You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood. If you fancy signing up to my newsletter then you can read my first one and see if you like it.
How Food Frames Stories - Olivia Potts
In these fractured times l wanted to continue to look at how stories and food can overcome the distance between people and enhance our shared experiences so earlier this year I spent time exploring storytelling through food writing. I interviewed some very talented writers who tell stories through their food writing to find out why how food has shaped their writing and in what ways food enhances their storytelling. They have all had different experiences around food which has influenced how they write and the subjects they write about. In their own ways they use their writing to break down barriers through stories and food. I hope you find these conversations as fascinating as I did.
In my second interview I would like to welcome Olivia Potts, writer of two outstanding books, the first A Half Baked Idea which is ‘a heart-breaking, hilarious, life-affirming memoir about dealing with grief, falling in love and learning how to bake a really, really good cake’. She is the winner of the 2020 Fortnum & Mason Debut of the Year Award and the 2020 Guild of Food Writers Food Writer of the Year Award. A Half Baked Idea is truly wonderful and I would recommend it to everyone. Her next book, Butter, a joyous immersion in all things butter, revelling in its alchemical power to transform almost any dish is published on Thursday 15 September and I can’t wait to read it. She also is the cook whose recipes provided me with a perfect recipe for pancakes, sausage rolls and cheese straws. She also helped to keep me (and many others) sane through her practical instructional how to videos on instagram in the early days of lockdown. My gorgeous picture of a lockdown hot cross bun can be laid at her door.
Her new book Butter: A Celebration can be found here
You can find Olivia on Twitter and Instagram
You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood. If you fancy signing up to my newsletter then you can read my first one and see if you like it.
How Food Frames Stories - Aaron Vallance
In these fractured times l wanted to continue to look at how stories and food can overcome the distance between people and enhance our shared experiences so earlier this year I spent time exploring storytelling through food writing. I interviewed some very talented writers who tell stories through their food writing to find out why how food has shaped their writing and in what ways food enhances their storytelling. They have all had different experiences around food which has influenced how they write and the subjects they write about. In their own ways they use their writing to break down barriers through stories and food. I hope you find these conversations as fascinating as I did.
In my first interview I would like to introduce Aaron Vallance, who as well as being a talented food writer, is a psychiatrist, working in a community NHS child and adolescent mental health service. He has pieces in food publications such as Vittles and Lecker, but also publishes on his blog, 1 Dish 4 The Road, which has twice been shortlisted by the Guild of Food Writers. I fell in love with his writing on his blog through the piece he wrote about connections and his grandfather and I’ve been hooked ever since Curry & Kneidlach: A Tale of Two Immigrant Families
He was also kind enough to say that listening to my last series of interviews with storytellers, inspired him to think about the nature of stories and storytellers which is reflected in the the marvellous piece Goats, Stews and Stories
During our conversation we also mentioned
A Warm Embrace at Halwa Poori House
Dhal Puri Roti – A History in Three Vignettes
Plot Kitchen, Flash Fiction, And The Future of Food
Eggy Dates at Nandine – From Kurdistan to Camberwell
You can find my interviews with storytellers here: Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller
You can subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood. If you fancy signing up to my newsletter then you can read my first one and see if you like it.
Cap O'Rushes or The Salt Significance
In which we discover that when you are forced to leave home you should always try and take your best frock, that salt can spark both joy and anger and that there is a little Cinderella everywhere if you look hard enough.
The Tale: Cap O'Rushes
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood. If you fancy signing up to my newsletter then you can read my first one and see if you like it.
The Farmer and the Bogle or the Lore of Lammas
In which we discover that the trickster can be tricked, that a good knowledge of crops is essential if you want to best a bogle, that everyone needs a wiffle waffle occasionally and there are few situations in which festival specific bread & cheese doesnt enhance your daily experience.
The Tale: The Farmer & The Bogle
The Recipe: Harvest Lardy Cake
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood. If you fancy signing up to my newsletter then you can read my first one and see if you like it.
A History of Herbalism: Cure, Cook and Conjure - An interview with Emma Kay
A bonus interview episode with historian Emma Kay about her brand new book A History of Herbalis: Cure, Cook and Conjure. we had a lovely chat and I asked some slightly impertinent questions. All I can say if you are interested in Herbalism for any reason, go and get this book as its a fascinating read and we only really touched the surface.
You can subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past podcast episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
You can find Emma's book here or learn more about her and her other projects and books on her website
A little more from the publisher about the book:
Food historian Emma Kay tells the story of our centuries-old relationship with herbs. From herbalists of old to contemporary cooking, this book reveals the magical and medicinal properties of your favourite plants in colourful, compelling detail.
At one time, every village in Britain had a herbalist. A History of Herbalism investigates the lives of women and men who used herbs to administer treatment and knew the benefit of each. Meet Dr Richard Shephard of Preston, who cultivated angelica on his estate in the eighteenth century for the sick and injured; or Nicholas Culpeper, a botanist who catalogued the pharmaceutical benefits of herbs for early literary society.
But herbs were not only medicinal. Countless cultures and beliefs as far back as prehistoric times incorporated herbs into their practices: paganism, witchcraft, religion and even astrology. Take a walk through a medieval ‘physick’ garden, or Early Britain, and learn the ancient rituals to fend off evil powers, protect or bewitch or even attract a lover.
The wake of modern medicine saw a shift away from herbal treatments, with rituals and spells shrouded with superstition as the years wore on. The author reveals how herbs became more culinary rather than medicinal including accounts of recent trends for herbal remedies as lockdown and the pandemic leads us to focus more on our health and wellbeing.
The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle or The Pickle Controversy
In which we discover the connection between unmanageable women, good strong vinegar and the importance of good manners. We also learn that happiness can be found anywhere but chances are improved if there is a rocking chair, a fire and a cat.
The Tale: The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle adapated from various versions including Katharine Briggs and Rumer Gooden
The Recipe: Instant Pink Pickled Onions
You can subscribe (or just read) my free newsletter for further snippets of folklore, history, stories, vintage recipes, herblore & the occasional cocktail.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood. If you fancy signing up to my newsletter then you can read my first one and see if you like it.
Petrosinella or The Parsley Prescription
In which we discover that having long, strong hair doesn’t mean you can’t think for yourself, that you can learn a lot of incredible things from books, that parsley is both useful and tasty and that you should always remember to pack your acorns.
The Recipe: Turkish Parsley & Onion Salad and Sort of Fattoush Salad
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood. If you fancy signing up to my newsletter then you can read my first one and see if you like it.
Dark Tales or The Peculiarity of Pie
In which we discover that even in the darkest of tales we can find some light, that boldness & curiosity can save lives, and that a pie can hold both wonders and terrors.
The tales in this episode are traditional tales but contain some dark & violent themes.
The tales in this tale are Mr Fox, Captain Murderer and The Rose-Tree
The episode recipe is Leek, Cheese & Potato Pasties
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Go I Know Not Where and Bring Back I Know Not What or Green as Garlic
In which we find that clever beautiful women are always an asset, that a magical mother-in-law should not to be under-estimated, that a magical servant will always improve your day and cruel kings are more frequent than you might think. It is also wise to beware of hen-women and servants of the king.
The episode recipe is Spaghetti al Olio E Aglio
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Frequency Update
Hello everyone,
This is a quick update to let you all know that I will be moving the podcast to monthly instead of every two weeks. Sadly my day job now involves more commuting and I don't feel I can truly do the stories, the food history or the folklore enough justice in the time I now have to research and put everything together. All the feedback I've had tells me that you'd rather have quality than quantity.
Please don't think that this means that the podcast is disappearing, I have some great surprises, some wonderful stories and some even better food lined up for you. My next episode will be released on 5 April and I think you'll really enjoy it.
If you would like more podcast content please find me at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If, however you'd just like to get in touch to chat you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The Witch and The Horse Devil or the Pancake Palaver
In which we discover that you shoudn’t judge your beloved by his looks especially if he’s a horse, that not being to provide a pancake on demand can prove fatal and that that there are times when listening to your sisters is not always wise.
This week's tale is The Witch & The Horse Devil, a Turkish folktale adapted from the tale of a similar name from Forty-four Turkish Fairy Tales, by Ignácz Kúnos, illustrations by Willy Pogany; 1913 and a very similar tale recorded in 1951 Courtesy of the Archive of the Turkish Oral Narrative, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library https://swco-ir.tdl.org/handle/10605/355119
This episode's recipe is for Pancakes from the wonderful Olivia Potts.
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
If you are interested in the Folklore Library and Archive Event - Online Witchcraft Conference, you can buy tickets or find further information here.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Beautiful Innocenta or The Honey Hierachy
In which we discover that you can still enjoy a story when the prince is clueless, that women you find in strange castles can have hidden talents and its amazing what you can whip up with a few almonds & some honey.
The episode story is Beautiful Innocenta adapted from the story of the same name from The Robber with a Witch’s Head - More Stories from the Great Treasury of Sicilian Folk & Fairy Tales collected by Laura Gonzenbach translate and edited by Jack Zipes.
The episode recipe is Basbousa - Semolina Cake with Honey Syrup
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Maria and Her Brother or the Big Bean Bonanza
In which we discover that a bean is preferable to bran as a tracking device, that no matter how kind and generous you are, you can still end up in the belly of a shark and that you shouldn't put your trust in anyone who leads you into dark woods.
This week's story is Maria and Her Brother adapted from Beautiful Angiola, The Lost Sicilian Folk & Fairy Tales collected by Laura Gonzenbach, translated & edited by Jack Zipes
This week's recipe is Zuppa di Fave e Finocchio - Broad Bean and Fennel Soup
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Weeping Eye, Laughing Eye or the Vine Variation
In which we discover that a good heart is a very vauable commodity, the loss of a vine that provides excellent unlimited free wine can cause distress and that sometimes there is more than one beautiful maiden in a story but sometimes she's just a fox.
We also learn how a killer migraine led an ancient Persian lady-in-waiting to the invention of wine, why we have wine goddesses and a mouthwatering recipe from one of the queens of French cookery.
This week's story is Weeping Eye, Laughing Eye or the Lame Fox adapted from the Serbian folk tale of the same name from Sixty Folk-Tales from Exclusively Slavonic Sources - Albert Henry Wratislaw (London, 1889)
This week's recipe is La Daube de Boeuf Provencal
‘O, scent of the daubes of my childhood!
‘During the holidays, at Gemeaux, in the month of August, when we arrived in my grandmother’s dark kitchen on Sunday after Vespers, it was lit by a ray of sunshine in which the dust and the flies were dancing, and there was a sound like a little bubbling spring. It was a daube, which since midday had been murmuring gently on the stove, giving out sweet smells which brought tears to your eyes. Thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, spices, the wine of the marinade and the fumet of the meat were becoming transformed under the magic wand which is the fire, into a delicious whole, which was served about seven o’clock in the evening, so well cooked and so tender that it was carved with a spoon.’
Pierre Huguenin: Les Meilleures Recettes de ma Pauvre Mère, 1936
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The Story Equivalent of a Crackling Fire, a Warm Drink and a Hug
This is another stories only episode. I hope they find you in the spirit they left me: gentle, heartwarming and uplifting, the last one is particularly seasonal. I thought this might be a time to take everybody on a journey safely away from our current reality.
The stories in this episode are Food, Fire and Company, The Weardale Fairies and Room for a Little One. The original stories can be found in English Folk Tales by Sybil Marshall and Forgotton Folk Tales of the English Counties by Katharine Briggs and Ruth Tongue amongst other sources.
The podcast will be back with an exciting new episode including the usual folklore and food history on 18 January 2022.
You can also find out more about the podcast at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Hildur, Queen of the Elves or Christmas in the Land of Ice and Fire
In which we discover how much damage elves and curses can do, how even powerful beings can suffer and that mysterious housekeepers often have a hidden agenda. In addition, we learn that if you have a useful magic stone you should always put it in your pyjama pockets whilst you sleep. Just in case.
This week's story is Hildur, Queen of The Elves inspired by the tale of the same name from Nordic Tales by Ulla Thynell.
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
A Winter Tales Collection
Would you like to hear a winter tale or six? I have put together a compilation of my December tales from last year so you can fully indulge in the spirit of winter.
The first tale is the Cailleach, a moving celtic mythic tale in which we discover how mountains were formed and what happens when winter goes on for too long.
Our second tale is Morozko, a Russian wonder tale in which we discover that kindness can overcome cruelty and a little magic goes a long way for either good or ill.
Our third tale is a traditional fairytale straight from the Brothers Grimm: Snow White and Rose Red, in which we discover that being a bear is not always permanent, kindness is key to a happy life and owning treasure is not guaranteed to improve your temper.
Our final three tales are a charming collection of short stories with a touch of Christmas: two of them are very English, Sir Cleges & the Christmas Cherries and The Apple Tree Man, the third is a lovely Ukrainian tale, The Christmas Tree Spiders. They are very sweet spiders, I promise, please don't be put off.
If you'd like to find out mroe about the podcast, please visit Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The Hand of Glory or the Miracle of Milk
In which we discover that a Hand of Glory is not always the solution you might think it is, pretending to be asleep is sometimes the cleverest & bravest option and that its surprising what you can achieve with a bowful of milk.
This week's story is The Hand of Glory inspired by the tale of the same name from The Book of English Folktales by Sybil Marshall.
This week's recipe is Kheer
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The Storyteller's Supper - An Interview with Taffy Thomas
This is a bonus episode of an interview I did with Taffy Thomas MBE about his wonderful new treasury of food folk tales and recipes, beautifully illustrated by Dotty Kultys. We had a lovely conversation all about stories and food and if you want to find out all about this fantastic new book and listen to a true master of the storytelling craft including two stories he shared then this is the episode for you.
The interview starts quite abruptly but you'll soon find out why .......
This is what the publisher says about the book:
‘You and me, me and you, we all bring something to the stew, From the tales we tell, to the food we’ve got, we all bring something to the pot.’
Over the last fifty years, Taffy Thomas has shared the stage with noted Lakeland chefs, who have tickled his palate with tastings and information about dishes and ingredients, which he uses to season these magical stories, telling the oral history of food.
This feast of traditional tales is spiced up with the rhymes and riddles that always enrich Taffy’s work, as well as charming illustrations from artist Dotty Kultys, and will appeal to all who savour stories and food.
If you'd like to find out more about the book you can visit The History Press and find options to buy the book.
You can also buy the book directly at bookshop.org
Taffy's website is here if you would like to find out more about what he's doing currently.
You can also buy CDs and downloads of some of his folktale collections at One Row Records.
Billy Biter and the Round Parkin or the Trouble with Dragons
In which we discover that marital problems can be resolved by supernatural means as long as you're not too picky about the outcome, that everyone loves Parkin and that you should never, ever bake when angry, especially when there are dragons about.
The Recipe in this episode is Perfect Parkin
The story in this episode is Billy Biter and the Round Parkin from Lost Folktales of the English Counties
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research mentioned in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Darkness Amongst the Trees or A Feast of Divination
In which we discover that trees have a dark side, that they occasionally attack livestock and that they sometimes assist river spirits in sacrifice. We also learn that there can be hope in little things, that Grannies really do know everything and that divining the name of a future spouse can be trickier than you'd think.
The Seasonal foods in this episode are Colcannon, Soul Cakes and Walnuts.
The stories in this episode are Crooker, The Flight of Birds and The Elder Tree Witch.
My apologies for any issues with the audio, I had some slight microphone technical difficulties.
If you would like to find more information about any of the stories, books or research in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The Smith & The Devil or The Turnip Turpitude
In which we discover tricking the devil doesn't always work out well, that sometimes in tales there are more turnips than women and that frankly you can pretty much pickle anything. We also learn that tricking people into sacks can be a learning experience and that precious has a lot of definitions.
We also examine the fascinating role of the turnip in history, medicine and folklore as well as its contribution to the culinary arts.
The stories in this episode are adapted from the following: The Turnip Princess from The Turnip Princess And Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales - Franz Xaver von Schonwerth, The Turnip from Grimms' Fairy Tales and The Smith And the Devil from a variety of sources.
The recipe in today's episode is Middle Eastern Pickled Turnips
If you would like to find more information about any of the books or research in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
A Dark History of Chocolate
In this bonus episode I talk with Emma Kay about her new book The Dark History of Chocolate.
Firstly, may I say that this is a fantastic book. I constantly alternated between being ashamed of ever eating chocolate to being seduced by the idea of this rich, darkly magical substance. I was left at the end not sure whether I could ever look a chocolate digestive in the face again and equally wanting to rush off and make intensely dark chocolate truffles with smoky whisky & sea salt and indulge in every one!
Emma Kay is a museum professional who has worked in major institutions including The National Maritime Museum, The British Museum and the University of Bath. She is qualified in History and Conservation and numerous areas of Heritage Management and Archaeology.
She is now a food historian, author and prolific collector of Kitchenalia and lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and young son. Her articles have appeared in publications including BBC History Magazine, The Daily Express, Daily Mail and Times Literary Supplement. She has contributed historic food research for a number of television production companies and featured several times on Talk Radio Europe, BBC Hereford and Worcester, BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, BBC Humberside, BBC Gloucestershire and LifeFM.
In 2018 she appeared in a ten-part series for the BBC and Hungry Gap Productions, ‘ The Best Christmas Food Ever’ and on BBC Countryfile, co-presenting a feature exploring the heritage of the black pear.
At the end of 2019 Emma was filmed for a new Channel 5 series, exploring the food from some of Britain’s greatest battles. She is also the author of 9 published books.
You can order this book direct from the publishers Pen and Sword, Bookshop.org or other good booksellers. You can find out more about Emma at her website or on Twitter @museumofkitchen or Instagram @museumofkitchenalia . Emma also has a Youtube channel .
You can also find out more about Folklore, Food and Fairytales at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The King of Love or The Horseradish Uncertainty
In which we discover that last names are underrated, there are always worse mothers-in-law, and that horseradish can be a gateway to a better life. We also find that kindness, goodness and a close relationship with the King of Birds are an advantage in life.
We also examine the fascinating role of horseradish in history, medicine and folklore as well as its contribution to the culinary arts.
The story in today's episode is The King of Love, a Sicilian folk tale adapted from Italian Popular Tales by Thomas Frederick Crane and Caterina the Wise and Other Wondrous Sicilian Folk & Fairytales by Giuseppe Pitré, translated and edited by Jack Zipes
The recipe in today's episode is Smoked Mackerel Pâté.
If you would like to find more information about any of the books or research in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller - Dave Pitt
In these fractured times l wanted to look at how stories from different voices can overcome the the distance between people and highlight our shared experiences. I interviewed five amazing storytellers and asked them all about breaking down barriers through stories and food and these are the results. Dave is not a traditional storyteller and had some different perspectives to share.
The storyteller in this episode is the wonderful Dave Pitt and you can find him on Twitter, on YouTube and at his Linktree for upcoming events.
Dave is a Performance poet, playwright, 1/3rd of @pandemonialists and Associate Artist @Arena_Theatre. He is also Co-host and Co-producer of Stories From The Smoke Room., Co-writer / co-director and co-performer of “Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists, Co-MC of Poetry Slams in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury and Audlem and Co-MC of Yes we Cant poetry night in Walsall.
.If you would like to know more about the regular podcast and previous episodes you can find them at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller - L M Daini
In these fractured times l wanted to look at how stories from different voices can overcome the the distance between people and highlight our shared experiences. I interviewed five amazing storytellers and asked them all about breaking down barriers through stories and food and these are the results.
The storyteller in this episode is the wonderful L M Daini and you can find her on her Twitter and at her website
She has a fantastic podcast with wonderful African legends, myths, folk and fairytales, both in English and in French.
Her book award-winning book Giraffe's Eggs is available here.
If you would like to know more about the regular podcast and previous episodes you can find them at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller - Sita Brand
In these fractured times l wanted to look at how stories from different voices can overcome the the distance between people and highlight our shared experiences. I interviewed five amazing storytellers and asked them all about breaking down barriers through stories and food and these are the results.
The storyteller in this episode is the wonderful Sita Brand and you can find her on her Twitter and at Settle Stories
Sita is the Artistic Director and CEO of Settle Stories, who are running Yorkshire Festival of Story from 12 to 28 November. The festival is free, online everywhere. You can find out more and sign up for announcements about the Festival here. Last year's festival was outstanding with some unforgettable performances so I'd heartily recommend signing up if you don't want to miss out.
If you would like to know more about the regular podcast and previous episodes you can find them at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
The Sprig of Rosemary and The Potato Principle
In which we discover that its amazing what you can fit under a rosemary bush, that you should never forbid people opening chests without explaining why and that fathers can be very unreasonable. We also learn that wind can be helpful as well as mischievous and that rosemary is frankly, completely underrated.
We also examine the fascinating role of Rosemary in history, medicine, folklore and magic as well as its contribution to the culinary arts.
The story in today's episode is The Sprig of Rosemary, a Catalan folk tale adapted from The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.
The recipe in today's episode is Crispy Melting Italian Potatoes with Rosemary & Garlic.
If you would like to find more information about any of the books or research in this episode you can find them in Further Reading.
You can also find out more at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.
Vernacular Voices of the Storyteller - Clare Murphy
In these fractured times l wanted to look at how stories from different voices can overcome the the distance between people and highlight our shared experiences. I interviewed five amazing storytellers and asked them all about breaking down barriers through stories and food and these are the results.
The storyteller in this episode is the wonderful Clare Murphy and you can find her on her website, Twitter and Instagram.
Clare also has a new show: "The 9 Muses of Queens Crescent" premiering on Nov 4th 2021 in Bristol and following on in Dorset.
If you would like to know more about the regular podcast and previous episodes you can find them at Hestia's Kitchen which has all past episodes and the connected recipes on the blog. If you'd like to get in touch about the podcast you can find me on Twitter or Instagram at @FairyTalesFood.