Going Cold Turkey: Alternative Christmas Dinners

Going Cold Turkey: Alternative Christmas Dinners

Author: BBC Radio 4 December 19, 2025 Duration: 41:47

Annie Gray always rejects turkey and the trimmings at Christmas. She believes they are a construct of a bygone era and will often eat pizza on the big day instead. She explores alternative dinners from Christmases past, present and future. She visits Bath to discover what would have been eaten over Christmas in the Regency period and bakes traditional mince pies - made with minced meat. She'll look at how Christmas is celebrated differently around the world and will discuss Christmas dinners to come with a food futurologist.

Presented by Dr Annie Gray Produced in Bristol by Robin Markwell for BBC Audio


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 Bank Nation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:45
In the year 2000 there were barely any food banks in the UK but today there are nearly three thousand. So what's behind the sharp rise and how did it get to a point where the government says we have "a mass dependence" o…
The Dickens Effect: How the Writer Influenced Food at Christmas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:44
Dan Saladino explores the impact a Christmas Carol and other Charles Dickens novels have had on festive eating, with food historian Ivan Day and food writer Penelope Vogler. Produced and presented by Dan Saladino.
Christmas: The Gift of Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:50
Christmas is a time for giving, and for many charities, that often means food. Jaega Wise explores the tradition and looks into the planning that goes into festive food donations.Food historian Carwyn Graves explains how…
Restaurants: A Survival Guide [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:41
Restaurant businesses say it's getting tougher to survive? So what does it take to thrive? Dan Saladino speaks to leading chefs, some successful, others less so.Featuring Mark Hix, Cyrus Todiwala, Imogen and Kieron Waite…
BBC Food and Farming Awards 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:18
Join Sheila Dillon at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow for the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2024.The awards honour those who have done most to promote the cause of good food and drink. Our judging panel this year is chaired…
Nan the Wiser [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:55
Sheila Dillon explores how our grannies' cooking can shape who we are—and asks what we lose if we let go of those traditions. Guests include: Vicky Bennison, founder of YouTube channel Pasta Grannies. Food Writer Clare F…
Once Upon a Mealtime [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
Whether it's Turkish Delight, chocolate cake or ginger beer - some of our earliest food memories are shaped by the books we read. In this episode Sheila Dillon goes down the rabbit-hole of children's fiction to discover…
Fishing for Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:41
Five seafood species make up 80% of what is consumed in the UK – while at the same time the vast majority of what is caught in UK waters gets exported. But is that trend beginning to shift? In this episode, Sheila Dillon…
Frankopan on Food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:27
Peter Frankopan, the author of Silk Roads and Earth Transformed, shares his insights with Dan Saladino on food, history and questions for our future. Produced and presented by Dan Saladino.