In this episode of the Mildly Controversial Podcast, host Mike Sneddon welcomes back Dayna Pereira and introduces Michelin star chef Paul Foster. The conversation explores the intricacies of achieving a Michelin star, the pressures of high-end cooking, and the evolution of kitchen culture. Paul shares insights on the importance of quality ingredients over local sourcing, the significance of presentation versus taste, and the impact of social media on food culture. The episode also delves into mildly controversial opinions regarding food trends and marketing buzzwords. In this engaging conversation, the hosts delve into various topics surrounding the food industry, including the misuse of buzzwords, the appeal of traditional cooking methods, and the often misunderstood nature of certain ingredients like vanilla and cottage cheese. They also explore the complexities of OCD and its spectrum, while providing practical cooking tips for young chefs. The discussion is lively, humorous, and filled with insights from experienced chefs.

BUY PAUL'S BOOKShttps://www.awaywithmedia.com/buy-books/food/Paul-Foster-Pasta

https://www.awaywithmedia.com/buy-books/food/Salt

FOOD UNFILTERED YOUTUBEhttps://youtube.com/@foodunfilteredchef?si=oDiD7Yr6JgTVHI8J

PAUL'S INSTAGRAM

https://www.instagram.com/paulfosterchef?igsh=MWV3YXZzeGc0ZXZ5NA==

Chapters

04:09 Understanding Michelin Star Restaurants

13:12 The Evolution of Kitchen Culture

18:51 The Art of Dish Creation

24:36 The Impact of Food Influencers

28:32 Mildly Controversial Opinions

29:51 The Cheese Pull Controversy

37:06 Local Food: A Marketing Buzzword?

42:10 The Missionary Position: Not Boring?

46:25 Vanilla: The Misunderstood Flavor

53:05 Reconnecting and Lighthearted Banter

54:10 Understanding OCD: A Spectrum of Experiences

59:07 Cottage Cheese Craze: A Culinary Debate

01:04:01 Cooking Tips for Teens: Getting Adventurous in the Kitchen

01:11:03 Practical Cooking Advice: Incorporating Vegetables

01:14:28 Closing Thoughts and Future Endeavours

Its the end of the year and Mike is joined by this week's NotBaz, Laurie Knox.

Mike announces the Best and Worst Adverts of the Year, The Most Pointless Product of the Year and the best news stories of the year.

Laurie gets controversial, TWICE, and it's not even MILDLY!

In this Christmas special episode of the Mildly Controversial podcast, Mike is joined by this week's NotBaz, guest co-host Anneka Panicker. They discuss various overrated aspects of Christmas, including traditional meals, songs, and advertising. They share personal anecdotes and opinions on what makes Christmas special and the challenges of adulthood during the holiday season.

CHAPTERS

06:04 Christmas Special: Overrated Traditions

09:08 The Turkey Debate

12:04 Christmas Meal Critique

15:04 Desserts and Sweet Treats

18:01 Alternative Christmas Dinner Ideas

20:22 The Joy of Traditional Breakfasts

26:00 Favourite and Least Favourite Christmas Songs

35:31 The Struggles of Adult Christmases

37:43 The Challenge of Gift-Giving

40:04 Overrated Christmas Traditions

42:44 Christmas Movies: A Personal Touch

47:36 The John Lewis Advert Phenomenon

We are back for SERIES 6!

This series, Baz is taking a sabbatical after 5 years of loyal service to the podcast so each week will feature a guest co-host (or NotBaz, as we like to call them!)

This week, our NotBaz is friend of the show, Dayna Pereira! Since our last podcast, Mike & Baz have met Dayna IRL as Dayna and her family travelled through the UK and Ireland. Dayna reveals her best and worst bits about the UK whilst Mike shares stories about making a rude American woman furious and being fat-shamed by cabin brew (he thinks).

If you want to catch Dayna's new podcast, Loreplay, it's available on all good streaming platforms, and probably some rubbish ones too!

Mike & Baz are BACK, briefly, for an inter-series SPECIAL!

Mike and Baz both had such newsworthy events happen, they couldn't wait for the new series to tell you all about it.

With such broad subjects as the monarchy, men's health, drinking culture and what the king thought of Baz's fashion sense, this one is not to be missed!

In this last episode of series five, Mike is lying to Baz throughout the entire episode - WILL HE NOTICE?

Mike has had enough of being beaten by Baz in their "Battle of the Bullshitters" episodes - he's lost 3 out of 3!

Baz seems to be really good at spotting when Mike is lying. But how about when he's not looking out for the lies?

Mike is throwing out some pretty big lies, here. Will Baz figure out what's going on or will Mike do him up like a kipper?

In this episode, Mike and Baz welcome Tony Rodd, a MasterChef finalist and restaurant owner, who shares his culinary journey from amateur cook to professional chef. Tony discusses the challenges of running a restaurant, the evolution of his cooking style, and his controversial opinions. The conversation is filled with humour, anecdotes, and insights into the world of fine dining and the restaurant industry. In this lively conversation, the hosts explore various themes ranging from nostalgic food traditions to culinary innovations like chicken skin butter. They engage in a spirited debate about the musical legacies of The Beatles and The Who, discussing their impact on music culture. The discussion takes a humorous turn as they tackle the topic of fireworks, weighing their celebratory aspects against the nuisances they bring, especially for pets.

In this episode of the Mildly Controversial Podcast, hosts Mike and Baz engage in a light-hearted conversation about birthdays, aging, and the humorous realities of life. They share personal anecdotes about their recent experiences, including a night out filled with drinks, hangover cures, and interactions with notable guests like Annika. The discussion also delves into Mike's experiences on film sets, including working with actor Ciaran Hinds in a milk float. The episode wraps up with a call to action for listeners to engage with the podcast.