The Whistler’s food editor is bringing her award-winning podcast Cooking The Books with Gilly Smith to Rockwater on Hove beach. We sent our podcast correspondent Ceri Barnes Thompson to find out more 

“What podcasts are you listening to?” Have you noticed we seem to be saying this more and more. It’s the new box set conversation. I love the excellent journalism and shared stories I hear on my dog walks and right now the top of my ‘Spotify’s most listened to’ list is “Cooking the Books with Gilly Smith”. It’s been my companion every Thursday morning for the past two years and not only has it changed the way I shop, cook, eat and understand the world of food production, it’s ignited my connection to the taste memories that have been part of my life. No other podcast has had such a profound effect on me as this. 

This summer “Cooking The Books” comes to Rockwater in Hove as Gilly will be hosting Yasmin Fahr, Rachel Roddy and Melissa Hemsley, three of the most exciting food writers around throughout July who’ll all talk about life, food and their latest books.

Gilly is a Sussex based writer and journalist, but her reputation in the food world is international. Immersed in a lifetime of food journalism she started podcasting at Delicious magazine before striking out on her own. 

“Podcasting is the ultimate in democratising women, people of colour, gender, sexuality and age. We take our subjects and we prise them open to find so much more than the traditional media would ever commission. It’s powered by passion rather than sales meetings. We do what we love and it’s catching!” So powerful is her belief in the format that she has also written a book “How To Start And Grow A Successful Podcast” and has made online courses on the subject too.

“Cooking the Books” won The Guild of Food Writers Award for best pod last year and this year only missed out to the BBC production team at the Food Programme at The Fortum and Mason Awards. Not bad for someone who’s the  consummate solo producer – every episode of “Cooking The Books” she researches, books, records and edits herself. There are no adverts, no sponsors. 

Melissa Hemsley describes Gilly as “hugely respected by the old guard of the food world, but also massively loved by the up-and-coming due to her boundless energy for encouragement, mentoring and change-bringing”. Hemsley says that “Cooking the Books” is the podcast she’d choose first out of any list to appear on. She calls it “genius” because it honours the author by taking the listener on a deep dive into the stories, recipes and writing often reading segments back the authors they’d almost forgotten, the refreshing excitement of hearing your own words being read out loud for listeners to enjoy. 

Along with Hemsley on the roster will be the Guardian food journalist and author Rachel Roddy and New York Times food writer Yasmin Fahr, who recently relocated from New York to Menorca, attracted by the slower pace of life.

Yasmin thinks it’s Gilly’s authenticity and insight that make the podcast is so enjoyable. “These conversations can give people a ‘head start’, bringing people into their confidence around food and cooking. Gilly uses stories of personal experience because she knows that the most effective way to get people to change is through stories.”

And that’s very much Gilly’s mission – to change the world. She’s concerned about climate change, the food industry’s broken industrial systems, child food poverty and our lack of connection to the soil and to each other. A good cook book will always be the antidote to ultra processed food. A good recipe will always have you handling the ingredients rather than popping a silver processed tray in the oven. And that’s what she wants us to do as a result of listening to the podcast. Shop locally, think about how the animals have been treated, share a meal and a story with family and friends as often as possible. 

Away from “Cooking The Books” Gilly works with the Food Foundation to help bring awareness of food poverty especially of our children living in scarcity. Melissa Hemsley is one of the voices that Gilly’s encouraged to come on board and Melissa credits Gilly with encouraging her to flex her energy in the more important parts of the food world like being part of this kind of campaigning work.

I asked Yasmin what she is hoping for from the live shows. “Food people tend to be good-hearted people and I’m really looking forward to hearing what questions come up. If there’s a chance of one thing landing that gives someone the ability to try something new, it’s all worthwhile”. 

“I hope there’ll be a real hobby club atmosphere” says Gilly, “people coming with all kinds of different takes on a subject, it always surprises and delights me”. 

l Rockwater, Western Esplanade, BN3 4FA 01273 091166

Tuesday July 2 6.30-8pm Yasmin Fahr 

Tuesday July 16 6.30-8pm: Rachel Roddy

Tuesday July 23 6.30-8pm: Melissa Hemsley

Tickets £15 from CookBookBake, Hove’s indie specialist cookbook shop and include £5 off the author’s book.

Tickets from https://www.gillysmith.com/event-list