Taste and talk with Rich

In this episode of Taste & Talk with Rich, we explore the meaning of a family Christmas meal — the traditions, the shared table, and the dishes that bring everyone together once a year.Rich dives into festive cooking with a classic roast turkey dinner, crispy roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, buttery sprouts, honey-glazed carrots and parsnips, braised red cabbage and rich homemade gravy. Along the way we also cook a slow, celebratory centrepiece of braised lamb shanks, a dish found on festive tables around the world. The episode finishes with the ritual of traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, and a conversation about why the Christmas table — whether big or small — still matters.• Why family Christmas meals hold so much meaning• Roast turkey with herb butter and garlic• Crispy roast potatoes and pigs in blankets• Honey glazed carrots & parsnips• Braised red cabbage and rich homemade gravy• Slow braised festive lamb shanks• Traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce• The emotional power of the Christmas tableIn this episode• Why family Christmas meals hold so much meaning• Roast turkey with herb butter and garlic• Crispy roast potatoes and pigs in blankets• Honey glazed carrots & parsnips• Braised red cabbage and rich homemade gravy• Slow braised festive lamb shanks• Traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce• The emotional power of the Christmas table

In this episode of Taste & Talk with Rich, we dive into the art of hosting friends during the festive season — where big tables, generous food and relaxed energy matter more than perfection.Rich shares how to host memorable gatherings without stress, from casual Friendsmas-style drop-ins to relaxed festive dinners and late-night cheese boards. Along the way we cook easy crowd-pleasers including baked feta with tomatoes and honey, festive sausage rolls, roasted squash with labneh, slow-roasted lemon chicken, crispy potatoes, and a lazy chocolate fondue that keeps the party going. This episode is all about creating the kind of night people remember — warm kitchens, shared food, laughter, and hosting with confidence instead of pressure.• How to host a stress-free Friendsmas gathering• Easy festive party food that feeds a crowd• Baked feta with tomatoes & honey• Festive sausage rolls with cranberry & mustard• Roasted squash with labneh & hazelnuts• Slow roasted lemon & garlic chicken• Late-night cheese boards and sharing plates• Hosting tips that make parties flow naturallyIn this episode• How to host a stress-free Friendsmas gathering• Easy festive party food that feeds a crowd• Baked feta with tomatoes & honey• Festive sausage rolls with cranberry & mustard• Roasted squash with labneh & hazelnuts• Slow roasted lemon & garlic chicken• Late-night cheese boards and sharing plates• Hosting tips that make parties flow naturally

On this deeply personal episode of Taste & Talk with Rich, we explore the power of comfort food — the dishes that calm us, ground us, and bring us home again. From childhood kitchens in Ireland to warm bowls of soup on difficult days, Rich shares the stories behind the foods that hold our memories.Cook along as Rich makes a simple chicken noodle soup, the kind of dish that appears in kitchens all over the world when someone needs care, warmth, or a moment of calm. Along the way we explore how smell, memory and food are connected — and why the flavours we grow up with stay with us forever. Featuring reflections on food and family, stories of bacon and cabbage, soda bread, apple pie, and conversations about how different cultures express comfort through cooking.• The science behind why comfort food makes us feel safe• Childhood food memories from Ireland• Chicken noodle soup cook-along• Why smell and flavour trigger powerful memories• How food connects generations and cultures• The emotional power of simple home cookingIn this episode• The science behind why comfort food makes us feel safe• Childhood food memories from Ireland• Chicken noodle soup cook-along• Why smell and flavour trigger powerful memories• How food connects generations and cultures• The emotional power of simple home cooking

Smoke, spice and messy, unforgettable bites. In this episode of Taste & Talk with Rich, we dive into the electric world of street food — the sizzling grills, paper trays, and bold flavours that make food festivals and night markets so addictive.Rich recreates the spirit of global street food with a cook-along for Thai chicken satay skewers and green papaya salad, sharing stories from street stalls around the world — from shawarma in the UAE to satay in Thailand, koshari in Cairo, dhal puri in Mauritius, and nyama choma in Africa.Along the way we explore why street food is the world’s most universal love language and the dishes every food lover should try at least once — from bhel puri and tamales to arepas, bunny chow and Korean gimbap.Expect smoke, flavour, travel stories and festival energy in a celebration of the foods that bring people together. • Thai chicken satay skewers cook-along• Green papaya salad with lime, chilli & peanuts• Street food memories from around the world• Shawarma, satay, koshari, dhal puri & nyama choma• Five street foods you need to try before you die• Why street food is the heartbeat of every cultureIn this episode

From the beaches of Mykonos to the buzzing streets of Athens, this episode of Taste & Talk with Rich dives deep into the soul of Greek cuisine — where olive oil, lemon, sea air and shared tables define how food is meant to feel.Chef and radio host Rich explores why Greek food hits differently, from communal mezze and tzatziki with vinegar to slow-baked moussaka, taramasalata, fava, grilled sardines and sun-drenched tomato salads. This isn’t about trends — it’s about lifestyle, simplicity, and cooking with presence.Cook along as Rich makes a relaxed, real-time Mykonos-style moussaka, builds a Greek mezze table, and shares the five essential pantry staples that bring Greece into your own kitchen. In this episode:• Mykonos travel stories beyond the party scene• The philosophy behind Greek food & philoxenia• Real-time moussaka cook-along• Tzatziki with vinegar (the proper way)• Taramasalata & mezze board build• The 5 Greek pantry staples you actually need• Why Greek food is about belonging, not techniqueIf you love Greek food, Mediterranean cooking, moussaka recipes, mezze culture, travel food stories, olive oil, simple seasonal cooking, and communal dining, this episode will transport you straight to the Aegean.

Thailand comes to Abu Dhabi in this flavour-packed episode of Taste & Talk with Rich. Chef and radio host Rich dives into the bold, balanced world of Thai cuisine, inspired by the buzzing kitchens and cook-along sessions at Taste of Abu Dhabi’s Kibsons Cook School.Cook along as Rich makes a rich Massaman curry with jasmine rice, shares a quick Thai red curry shortcut, and finishes with the iconic dessert mango sticky rice. Along the way he explores why Thai food is loved worldwide — from coconut milk and fish sauce to lime, curry paste, and the perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy.Expect cooking tips, food stories from the festival, and simple pantry tricks that make Thai food easy to cook at home. In this episode:• Massaman curry cook-along with jasmine rice• Quick Thai red curry for weeknight cooking• Mango sticky rice dessert recipe• The 5 essential Thai pantry ingredients• Why Thai food is one of the world’s most popular cuisines• Cooking inspiration from Taste of Abu DhabiIf you love Thai food, curry recipes, street food culture, cooking podcasts, food festivals, and global cuisine, this episode will take your kitchen straight to Bangkok.

BBQ School: From Braai to Brisket | Taste & Talk with RichFire, smoke and serious flavour. In this episode of Taste & Talk with Rich, chef and radio host Rich dives into the world of real barbecue at Taste of Abu Dhabi’s BBQ School. From South African braai traditions with Jenny Morris, to modern British barbecue with Andrew Dickens, and deep-smoked American brisket with pitmaster Hunter from Exit 10, this episode explores how three cultures cook over fire.Along the way, Rich cooks his own harissa and honey lamb chops, shares grilling tips, essential BBQ ingredients, and the secrets behind cooking great meat over charcoal, wood, and smoke. It’s a mix of cooking, chef stories, food culture, and plenty of kitchen chaos. If you love BBQ, grilling, smoking meat, food festivals, chef interviews, and global cuisine, this episode is for you.

In the very first episode of Taste & Talk with Rich, Rich dives into the passion, simplicity, and chaos of Italian cooking. Cooking a classic carbonara in real time, he shares stories from his years in professional kitchens, including his time as Executive Chef at Roberto Cavalli’s restaurant, and explores why Italian food continues to rule the culinary world. From pasta traditions and essential ingredients to markets, travel stories, and even winning a gelato competition in Italy, this episode celebrates the soul of Italian cuisine—right here in the UAE as the excitement builds around Taste of Abu Dhabi.