Becoming Michelin

Becoming Michelin

Author: BBC Radio 4 July 26, 2024 Duration: 42:55

A meeting with top chef Hélène Darroze at Mayfair's Connaught Hotel leads Sheila Dillon to ask the question, why aren't there more female Michelin starred chefs?

Statistics from the Office for National Statistics suggest 37% of all chefs working in the UK are female, but when you look at the numbers leading Michelin starred restaurants, the number drops to around 8% (according to analysis by Chefs Pencil, 2022).

Includes interviews with Nigerian-born chef Adejoké Bakare, who in February, became the first Black woman in Britain to earn a Michelin star; chef Sally Abé who has recently published her first book, "A Woman's Place is in the Kitchen" and Sarah Francis who returned her Michelin star after 8 years running The Checkers (a restaurant in Montgomery, Powys).

Plus we hear from young upcoming female fine-dining chefs about how they feel the industry is set up for women wanting to reach the top jobs.

Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan


The Food Programme from BBC Radio 4 digs into the stories behind what we eat. This podcast moves beyond recipes and restaurant reviews to explore the entire ecosystem of our meals. Each episode is a reported journey, examining the cultural, historical, economic, and personal forces that shape food production and consumption. You might hear about the surprising science of flavor, the future of farming in a changing climate, or the revival of a nearly forgotten culinary tradition. The series connects the dots between the field, the supply chain, and the dinner plate, offering a deeper understanding of the choices we make as consumers and citizens. Listen for insightful interviews with growers, chefs, scientists, and policymakers, all framed by thoughtful narration. It’s for anyone curious about the true cost and value of their food, providing context and conversation that changes how you think about your next bite. Tune in for a consistently engaging exploration of one of life’s fundamental pleasures and its complex global impact.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Food Programme
Podcast Episodes
Food Stories From Terra Madre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:30
From the indigenous food of the USA to extraordinary cheeses from Ukraine, the wonders of fermentation to a revolutionary network of bakers, Dan Saladino shares stories of food and biodiversity at Slow Food's global gath…
Eating on the Spectrum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:06
Leyla Kazim explores how neurodivergence can affect the way people eat and experience food.The programme visits Aubergine Café in Cardiff, which is owned and run by autistic individuals, to meet the staff who explain why…
The Champagne of Dairy and other drinks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:19
Jaega Wise travels the country to meet the three finalists in the Drinks Producer category in this year's BBC Food and Farming Awards. Her journey takes her to Belfast and the Bullhouse Brewery which began life in a farm…
A Food Revolution in Ten Ideas. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:37
Dan Saladino looks at 10 potentially planet changing ideas for the future of food, from a farm out at sea to a pioneering rethink on how we can feed cities. Dan meets the scientists, entrepreneurs and risk-takers focused…
The Brain Gut Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:25
Why does food do our heads in? This episode is a panel recording from 2024 Abergavenny Food Festival with a live audience.Sheila Dillon is joined by Chef Heston Blumenthal, who recently went public about his diagnosis of…
Nuts about Nuts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:01
Leyla Kazim traces the journey of this unassuming wonder food, from its health benefits to its origins. Nuts, which once would have been central to the diet of our ancestors, are now often treated as a nice-to-have healt…
The Sourdough Library [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:31
Dan Saladino visits a unique collection of sourdough bread starters from around the world and explores a hidden world of grains, yeasts, bacteria and their influence on our health.Produced and presented by Dan Saladino
Fresh Food Ideas? Some new MPs look ahead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:29
As MPs return to Westminster after the summer recess, The Food Programme catches up with three of the newer recruits to discuss future food policies. Sheila Dillon meets Dr Simon Opher MP (Labour), Aphra Brandreth MP (Co…
Food Waste: New Answers for Old Problems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:10
Food waste isn't a new story. So why cover it again? Well, in the UK, we are still wasting over 10 million tonnes of food a year. That's food that could have been sold, eaten, cooked and enjoyed. Clearly this is a proble…