The Food Talk Show

13th June: The leaders in their field

Farming is a science, coupled with some trial and error and a good deal of experimentation. Naturally the weather plays a big part too. AJ and Susie talk to two farmers who both happen to be called James and have generations of experience behind them. They want to know how today's farmers play a part in the local community. How they are so important for preserving and caring for our landscapes and whether you need to wear shorts all year 'round! In addition, they taste some bread that is simply sensational.

6th June: Doggie desserts for your pampered pooch

Dog ice cream is a thing apparently. Just so you don't get confused we mean ice cream for dogs. You have to be careful to make sure the ingredients can be consumed by pooches obviously but they can be eaten by humans too. Enter Sally Newall of the multiple award winning Simply Ice Cream company who has just launched her first doggie ice cream. Susie and AJ have a taste and give it the thumbs up. They're also joined by Keith Morrison of Solley's Ice Cream and along with Sally they spend the rest of the show, well . . . just tasting a succession of new flavours until they run out of time. Hello summer.

30th May: Jack fruit. It's big and bumpy!

Susie and AJ are joined by Lisa Marley who pretty much knows everything there is to know about plant-based cooking. Her inspirational recipes have been featured in ELLE magazine, Women's Health, Time Out and Take a Break, to name a few and Cosmopolitan magazine regularly teams up with Lisa to offer their readers virtual plant-based masterclasses. As well as writing magazine articles, she does interviews and live demonstrations at food festivals, and is a trained nutrionist. Oh yeah, and does a lot of work in schools. Phew! They're also joined in the studio by the splendidly named Biff Bloom Burrows to sample his Biff range of vegan products - how did he go from working in McDonald's to making plant-based burger sauces? And what the hell is jack fruit?

23rd May: Tinder for the Food Sector

AJ and Susie meet Katy Cox and Floortje Hoette (Flo for short) this week where they discuss the merits of rescued food. Flo describes the wonderful FoodLoop app, which is a sort of Tinder for the food sector. It connects food left on the shelf with someone who is looking to cherish it and let it shine. So those businesses who have unwanted goods can connect with those who want to turn it into something delicious. Katy is the founder of Wasted Kitchen. If you want a lunchbox, cocktail box, meeting box, party box or whatever, she is your saviour. A mouth-watering assortment of dips, rice dishes and salads in compostable kraft brown boxes made from unloved veg is her forte. She makes amazing pickles with all that unloved veg too. Yum.

16th May: Eating mango in the bath

We have a new presenter today, taste expert, AJ Sharp, and two wonderful guests. They have both managed to take their inspiration from another country and skilfully combined that with the best their home county can produce. Maria Bradford is a classically trained French chef and now makes the most incredible juices and sauces inspired by her family background in Sierra Leone. Susie knows nothing about the country and is keen to learn about the cuisine which uses mango, cassava, ginger, chilli and garlic to such great effect. Meanwhile, Finn Dunlop of Macknade explains how the centuries old farming family have used their Italian connections to develop probably one of the best farm shops in the country.

9th May: Two for tea and tea for two

Jane and Susie welcome two tea experts for our programme this week. Nick Gandon of Reginald Ames and Nigel Abbott of Bergamia. Both have a huge amount of experience in importing and blending tea. What size teabag is best? How long do you leave the finest tea leaves to brew? With milk or without? Are fruit teas actually teas? All these questions and more are debated. But if you want to know how to make the perfect cup of breakfast tea first thing in the morning then Nigel has the definitive answer.

11th April: How to get a 3 Star 'Great Taste Award'

Sue has changed her name, no longer is she Sue Nelson but is now Susie Warran-Smith. Something to do with getting married apparently. Anyhow Jane and Susie have two wonderful guests this week - AJ Sharp and Stu MacDonald. AJ is a seasoned judge for the Great Taste Awards and explains how the judging works and exactly what constitutes the star ratings they give. That's just as well, as Stu is our other guest. He is the founder of ManiLife peanut butter, which just happens to be the most Great Taste awarded peanut butter in the UK, including a coveted 3 star. Find out how he makes the nutty breakfast favourite and why he needs some recipes for his new cookbook.

4th April: Bread that is oh so special

Sue travels to Margate to meet the lovely people at Speciality Breads, the artisan bakers. Neil, the development chef explains the range of products they make, then Sue goes for a tour around the factory to watch them make a huge batch of teacakes. Meanwhile, Neil can't help himself and cooks up a real treat for Sue's lunch which is waiting for her when she gets back to meet Simon the managing director. It looks like a scene out of British Bake Off. Yum!

21st March: How to cater for coeliac disease

Sue explains coelic disease, and why, if you are unfortunate enough to have this life changing condition, eating out is a nightmare. Kerry Clare and Sarah Wren are committed to providing gluten free food that tastes incredible. Kerry owns a completely GF bakery and Sarah a GF restaurant, while Jane lists the best GF drinks to go for. On top of that, Kerry has brought a whole range of gluten free baked goodies which Sue and Jane feel obliged to eat their way through.

14th March: Making a pig of ourselves

Sue and Jane admit to being a bit piggy on the programme today. They are joined by the marvellous James Golding of the hotel and restaurant chain 'The Pig'. In fact he is the Group Chef Director and he brings along some delicious food he's prepared for the occasion and they just can't help themselves.

7th March: The healthy alternative to olive oil

Jane and Sue are bowled over by the taste of some lovely Kentish rapeseed oil produced by Eckley Farms. Claire Eckley explains how it's made from farm to bottling. Later our presenters are wowed by the best walnuts they have ever tasted, when Eren Kape discusses his rather unique production process.

21st February: The philosophy of gin

Sue goes to Copper Rivet Distillery to see how gin is made, from the grain being delivered all the way through to blending the botanicals. She then has a tutored tasting with author of The Philosophy of Gin, her fellow presenter Jane Peyton. They taste their way through five Kent gins and Jane explains the origins of Navy Strength. Which brand do they think is best to drink neat, and best with a dash of tonic?

14th February: The wonderful world of pies

Jamie Oliver described Calum Franklin as "The king of pies", we think he produces the best looking pies in the UK and probably the world. Calum discusses the art of pie making and we also talk to Matt from Kentish Mayde who make thousands of pies a day, all by hand for very happy customers.

27th December: Pornstar Martini and all

Sue is flabbergasted that her favourite Negroni doesn't make it but sangria does?! and Jane highly recommends the 'theatre' of cocktail making when your guests arrive. They're joined by experts Karl Wozney and Laura Taylor in a make-shift studio bar where they make their own version of an Espresso Martini.

20th December: More Cheese Please

Sue visits the Cheesemakers of Canterbury to see how cheese is made and arrives at the studio with some lovely samples. Meanwhile Robin Betts, the International Cheese Award Winner, explains what makes the perfect cheeseboard and does a thorough tasting from soft to semi-hard cheese.

13th December: Mrs Potato Head

Nicky Crawley, the self-confessed 'Queen of all things potato", gives us the low down on heritage varieties and along with Tracy Bush from Provenance Potatoes, they tell us what varieties to use depending on the dish.

6th December: Wish you were beer

Jane gives Sue a lesson in hops, brewing and tasting along with Chris from Cellar Head and Eddie from Ramsgate Brewery

29th November: Chewing the Fat

Sue admits that she just adores pigs but has to balance that with her love of charcuterie. She and Jane chat with Chloe Wilcock of Oink and Udder and Bill Gardner of North Charcuterie about all things pork.

22nd November: Chocolate without the Milk

Sue and Jane are bowled over by Goupie and Plamil, who’ve both been making vegan products for decades, well before ‘plant-based’ went mainstream.

15th November: Wake up and smell the coffee

Sue & Jane are joined by the founders of Garage Coffee and Cold Blow Coffee who share their knowledge and expertise on the subject.

8th November: English Sparkling Wine, a family affair

A packed studio today with 3 guests from Kent vineyards. It’s an all female line-up from Terlingham Vineyard, Gusbourne and Wayfarer Wines.

1st November: A Glass of Milk a Day

Sue and Jane rediscover the joys of milk with Dee from Hinxden Farm Dairy

25th October: I'm a cider drinker

Talking cider with Julian Barnes and Jane Peyton.