The chefs

The chefs

Author: BBC World Service October 30, 2025 Duration: 26:29

You've got to be full of passion to make it as a top chef. It's a highly skilled and physically demanding job that comes with long hours.

Ruth Alexander talks to three celebrated and talented chefs from three different continents about the highs and lows of their careers. They tell Ruth why they love the job so much and whether chef culture has changed in the years they've been working in kitchens.

Featuring May Chow, Chantel Dartnall and Sean Kenworthy. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk Image: A chef in a white jacket sharpens a big knife in a professional kitchen. Credit: Getty images / Fertnig.


There’s a story behind every meal, and The Food Chain from the BBC World Service goes out to find it. This isn’t just a series about recipes or restaurant reviews; it’s a deep and often surprising exploration of how food shapes our world. Each episode follows a single thread, whether it’s the economic forces that decide what grows in a field, the hidden science in your kitchen, or the profound cultural traditions carried in a family dish. You’ll hear from farmers, chefs, economists, historians, and scientists, all contributing pieces to a larger picture about our global relationship with what we eat. The conversations reveal the complex journey from source to table, unpacking the labor, innovation, and sometimes the controversy, involved in feeding communities. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a well-reported global conversation, one that changes how you think about the next thing you’ll eat. It connects the personal act of eating to vast systems of business, culture, and science, making the everyday subject of food endlessly fascinating.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Food Chain
Podcast Episodes
Can you taste a place? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:55
Is it possible to taste a place? A listener wonders whether the French concept of ‘terroir’ can apply to food and, if so, what the science behind it is. Ruth Alexander goes in search of the answer, exploring how growing…
So you want to run a food truck? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Fancy starting a food truck? It can be a way to trial new food concepts and see if your business has potential before committing to a restaurant premises. Ruth Alexander finds out what its really like running a food truc…
How ‘Bangla Town’ changed a nation's food culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
An Indian curry house is one of the most popular places to go out for a meal in the UK, and is part of British life. But many people do not know their origins lie in what is now Bangladesh, after a wave of migration from…
Forever foods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Ruth Alexander learns about ‘forever’ foods - stocks, soups and sourdough starters that can be replenished again and again and used for weeks, months or even years. Ruth hears about a beef soup in Bangkok that has been m…
Don't call me an influencer! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:27
Social media is awash with videos of people trying out new recipes at home and exploring the best hidden foodie gems in cities around the world. The stream of content seems endless – so how do the people making these vid…
How risky is drinking alcohol? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:52
If you’re a light or moderate drinker, the World Health Organization wants you to know that no level of alcohol is safe for your health. But just how big is that risk and might it be one you’re willing to take? And what…
What does collagen do for you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Is it worth taking collagen? With cosmetic companies and A-listers claiming it can slow the effects of ageing, the market for collagen supplements is booming. How sure is the science though? Ruth Alexander speaks to expe…
The business of food halls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Have you visited a food hall recently? It’s a venue bringing together multiple independent food and drink businesses, often with communal seating. We look at the ways in which food halls are being used to bring consumers…
First impressions of a new food culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:17
Strawberries at the airport when meeting your future husband for the first time, finally tasting world famous fish and chips and wondering why on earth the pasta is green. These are some of this week’s stories of first i…
What is 'super sweet' corn? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
Have you heard of ‘super sweet’ sweetcorn? If you’ve purchased fresh, frozen or tinned sweetcorn in the last few decades there’s a good chance its the super sweet variety. It’s an example of how our fruit and vegetables…