Si King on Arctic convoys, losing Dave and pan haggerty

Si King's dad served on the Arctic convoys, then came home with spices his wife had no idea how to use.

In this episode of The Good Food Podcast, Si tells Sam about the food that shaped him, how it felt to write his first solo cookbook without Dave Myers, and why a Michelin-level chef eats instant noodles with peanut butter and strawberry jam. Si's new book, Proper Home Cooking, was inspired by his son's young family deciding to cut out ultra-processed food. It's built for busy households: short ingredient lists, flexible recipes and 40 years of kitchen hacks. He explains why it isn't a "finger-wagging" book, what food poverty campaigning has taught him, and why pan haggerty (and whether sausage belongs in it) once turned a menu meeting into "a UN meeting." He also tells the story of a disastrous crab soufflé cooked on a yacht in a gale, and answers our quick-fire questions, including the worst thing he's ever eaten. You won't guess it.

Si King is a chef, TV presenter, musician and anti-food poverty campaigner. He's best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers. His restaurant, Propa, is in Sunderland. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who lives to eat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices