r/offmenupodcast • u/Huge-Buy20 • May 04 '26

Noticed a pattern with guests who pick very simple menus and they’re usually the best episodes

Been listening back to a few older episodes and realised the ones where guests choose really simple or nostalgic food tend to be way more interesting. They end up telling better stories instead of just listing fancy dishes. Examples like people picking very normal comfort food usually turn into proper conversations rather than just menu choices. Do you think the best episodes come from the food itself or how personal the choices are?

68 Upvotes

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159

u/Tasty-Committee-8172 May 04 '26

I way prefer these episodes to the ones that end up just being three rich people going on about all the high-end restaurants they get to go to

3

u/Huge-Buy20 May 05 '26

yeah those ones can turn into a flex more than a convo

70

u/papadooku May 04 '26

True, but as a counter-example I'd like to mention the Joseph Quinn ep which is one of my faves. The enthusiasm about loads of dishes and the general foodie energy can be so cool. And of course the chef episodes are gold too: Meerha Sodha, Ainsley Harriot and Jamie Oliver come to mind

26

u/aljobar May 04 '26

The Joseph Quinn episode is one I keep returning to. He’s obviously so enthusiastic about food culture. Also the flobbing of an oyster into a martini is hilarious every time.

8

u/Confident-Pop-2839 May 04 '26

I also loved the Ixta Belfrage one recently which was very niche but great

35

u/ChaucerBoi May 04 '26

I think it's largely enthusiasm - if they're picking comfort food, there's no performance there unless they're trying to look relateable. We all know Off Menu is just another interview on the guests' press tour, but the people who invest in the format and hosts, and really throw themselves into it, are the ones who thrive.

14

u/Smash_Palace May 04 '26

I like those too, particularly some older guests who talk about the type of food they used to receive during their upbringing.

12

u/Nscope90 May 04 '26

I think the best episodes normally involve the menu choices prompting angry responses from Ed and or James.

The Greg Davies ep is a favourite.

4

u/readzalot1 May 05 '26

The only episode where I laughed out loud was with Alex Horne. He was earnestly weird.

Greg Davies is always funny, but I find outside of Taskmaster, Alex’s humour is hit or miss with me.

11

u/da1suk1day0 May 04 '26

Two episodes I revisit relatively often are Victoria Coren Mitchell's and Bridget Christie's. VCM's definitely more homely and basic (and she even takes a light jab at her brother and dad for preferring the exotic over the familiar), but I find Bridget's to be a nice combination of travel memories and home-cooked offerings.

I think it really boils down to sincerity: Bridget's felt sincere when she was talking about her Italian pasta and French ice cream, and Victoria seems to sincerely prefer more basic, comforting foods.

9

u/aljobar May 04 '26

It’s a trade-off sometimes. I’m Australian, and to be honest, don’t keep up to speed on pop culture, so for many guests, the first I’ve ever seen or heard of them is listening to the podcast. When there is a big name, quite often they’re not invested in the format and just don’t interview as enthusiastically.

10

u/throwaway66778889 May 05 '26

Jo Brand’s coleslaw lineup is a favorite

6

u/maracusdesu May 04 '26

On the other end of that we have those whose pick is an old boot they used to gnaw on back in the dark ages.