Enter the secret world of bees and their honey with Rachel de Thample - Episode 219
Digest
This podcast features Rachel DeTampe, author of River Cottage handbooks on fermentation and bees & honey. She discusses her background in journalism and her shift to food writing, influenced by her passion for food's cultural and ecological aspects. Her experiences at Chez Panisse and with River Cottage are highlighted. The podcast delves into beekeeping, emphasizing the importance of diverse planting for attracting various bee species (including thyme, summer savory, globe artichokes, and borage). Rachel advocates for using high-quality, unprocessed honey, showcasing its unique flavour in recipes and discussing fermented honey products like honey vinegar. The discussion also covers fermentation's role in food preservation and flavour enhancement, including bee bread.
Outlines
Rachel DeTampe: From Journalism to Food and Beekeeping
Introduction to Rachel DeTampe and her work with River Cottage, covering her background in journalism, transition to food writing, and experiences at Chez Panisse and River Cottage.
Beekeeping, Pollinators, and Honey's Culinary Uses
Focuses on Rachel's passion for bees, beekeeping practices, bee-friendly plants (thyme, summer savory, globe artichokes, borage), and using high-quality honey in cooking, including recipes and fermented honey products.
Fermentation and Sustainable Food Practices
Explores the importance of fermentation in food preservation and flavour enhancement, featuring recipes and discussions on honey vinegar and bee bread, emphasizing sustainable and healthy food choices.
Keywords
River Cottage
A renowned British food and farming organisation promoting sustainable and ethical food production.
Pollinators
Insects and other animals that transfer pollen, vital for food production and ecosystem health; bees are key pollinators.
Honey
High-quality, unprocessed honey used in cooking, highlighting its unique flavour profile beyond sweetness.
Fermentation
A metabolic process used in food preservation and flavour enhancement (pickling, kombucha, sourdough).
Beekeeping
Practices for keeping bees, including attracting various bee species through diverse planting.
Bee-friendly Plants
Plants attracting various bee species, including thyme, summer savory, globe artichokes, and borage.
Sustainable Food
Ethical and environmentally conscious food production and consumption practices.
Food Writing
Writing about food, encompassing cultural, agricultural, ecological, and health aspects.
Q&A
What inspired Rachel DeTampe to transition from journalism to food writing?
Dissatisfaction with journalism and a deep curiosity about food's cultural, agricultural, ecological, and health connections.
What are some key bee-friendly plants?
Thyme, summer savory, globe artichokes, borage, and alliums.
How does Rachel advocate for using honey in cooking?
Using small amounts of high-quality, unprocessed honey to highlight its unique flavour.
What is the significance of fermentation in Rachel's work?
Fermentation preserves food and enhances flavour; examples include honey vinegar and bee bread.
Show Notes
Bees are an absolute passion for us at Perch Hill, not just for their pollination and presence in the garden, but for their delicious and nutritious produce too.
The same can be said for award-winning author and fermentation expert, Rachel de Thample, who joins Sarah this week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share delicious honey-inspired recipes from her new book, her pick of the best bee-friendly plants, and much more besides.
In this episode, discover:
- Rachel’s journey to writing her latest book, working at River Cottage and being introduced to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
- The incredible and industrious world of bees, and how it takes 12 bees a lifetime to create a single teaspoon of honey
- Bee-friendly herbs that are not just beautiful, but useful to bees and humans alike
- A reimagined view of honey in cooking with Rachel's spectacular recipes
Products mentioned:
Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/thyme-common
Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/summer-savory
Oregano 'Hot and Spicy'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/oregano-hot-and-spicy
Artichoke 'Violet de Provence'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/artichoke-violet-de-provence
Borago officinalis (Borage)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/borago-officinalis
Allium siculum (syn. Nectaroscordum)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nectaroscordum-siculum
Discover Rachel’s new book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/bees--honey-9781526625465/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
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