Small kitchens

Small kitchens

From The Food Chain by BBC World Service

February 26, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

Ruth Alexander explores how people adapt to cooking in small and cramped kitchens around the world.

From Michelin starred kitchens to Hong Kong’s high rise tower blocks, via informal settlements in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Ruth Alexander hears from people making the best out of the cramped and tiny spaces they’re cooking in. Gina Lai shows her around the kitchen in her cramped Hong Kong high rise flat and Ruth visits chef Ryan Blackburn who has retained a Michelin star whilst cooking out of the tinest of professional kitchens in Northern England. Plus Leah and her daughter Janice explain how they cook family meals in an informal settlement in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and AJ Forget describes what it's like to give up a big kitchen for a new life on the road, living and cooking in a converted bus. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk Produced by Izzy Greenfield, Rumella Dasgupta and Lexy O'Connor Image Description: Gina Lai is cooking in her tiny Hong Kong flat. (Credit Gina Lai/BBC)

People in this episode

Host: Ruth Alexander

Guests: Gina Lai, Ryan Blackburn, Leah, Janice, AJ Forget

Topics covered

  • cooking
  • small kitchens
  • urban living
  • family meals
  • Michelin star
  • informal settlements

Keywords

  • small kitchens
  • cooking spaces
  • urban cooking
  • family meals
  • Michelin star chef
  • Hong Kong
  • Nairobi

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Hong Kong, Nairobi, Northern England

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