Show Notes
Chef, farmer and Great British Menu judge Tommy Banks joins Jenni on this episode of Routes from LNER to talk food, family and the winding road that led him to two Michelin stars.
Tommy opens up about the illness at 18 that ended his cricket ambitions and redirected all his drive into cooking, the early days at The Black Swan when he'd rope in family and friends to fill the restaurant when a well-known chef booked a table, and how winning Great British Menu became the big break that changed everything. He shares the meals abroad that shaped his palate and his philosophy, and explains why his hyper-local approach means some ingredients, including fish, don't make it onto his menu at all.
There's also a look at life on the farm with his brother and sister-in-law, the animals named after boxers and actors, and what the next 20 years might hold for the business he's built from the ground up.
lner.co.uk/destinations/travel-inspiration/podcast/
More from Routes
Jim Chapman joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to share the snacks, tracks and hacks that get him through a travel day.
From a childhood that never took him beyond the Isle of Man to a life spent chasing adventure across the globe, Jim Chapman has made a point of saying yes to every opportunity. In this episode of Routes from LNER, one of the original YouTubers joins Jenni on the train to Aberdeen to talk about travelling with his young family, the places that have shaped him, and why he wants his children to see the world.
Hilary Whitehall joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to share the snacks, hacks and holiday habits that keep her family moving.
Hilary Whitehall, wife of Michael and mother to Jack, joins Jenni on this episode of Routes from LNER to talk travel, tours and the family holidays that never quite go to plan.
Food critic Jay Rayner joins Jenni on this Quiet Coach episode of Routes from LNER to talk about the music that keeps him focused, the food that keeps him curious, and the places that first taught him to enjoy his own company.