The Go To Weekend

In this festive episode of The Go-To Weekend, Kate Austen is joined by bestselling author and content creator John Gregory-Smith for a Christmas catch-up packed with food, family and unfiltered conversation. Over questionable mulled wine, John cooks harissa beef meatballs with giant couscous from his new book The Greatest Tray Bake Cookbook Ever, sharing why tray bakes still matter, how convenience has reshaped modern cookbooks, and why slow cooking deserves more respect. The chat moves from publishing pressures and social media algorithms to John’s unconventional route into food, including an early stint at Gordon Ramsay’s Royal Hospital Road. He reflects on the realities of Michelin kitchens, the boredom behind the brilliance, and how content creation has become a full-time business driven by luck, repetition and relentless self-editing. There is frank discussion about online backlash, cultural ownership, and the emotional toll of chasing performance in an unpredictable digital landscape. Christmas traditions take centre stage as John shares his late-night family feasts, buffet-style turkey strategy, and Boxing Day curry ritual, alongside tips for stress-free hosting. The episode wraps with quick-fire recommendations on London culture, late-night eats, date spots, festive outings and foodie weekends, all delivered with humour, warmth and plenty of juicy meatballs. A relaxed, funny and honest way to round off the year.-------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step into this week’s episode of The Go-To Weekend as Kate Austen swaps her Michelin-trained kitchen for one of London’s most talked about cult restaurants. Formerly known as Black Axe Mangal, the space feels charged with history and flavour, and Kate joins chef owner Lee Tiernan for an unforgettable deep dive into food, culture, and the reasons behind his bold decision to pause the restaurant after eleven influential years.It all begins with a borschtback, a punchy signature drink that sets the tone for the afternoon. From there, Kate and Lee roll up their sleeves to cook one of the restaurant’s most loved dishes, working with his Tartine-inspired flatbread dough and the trout roe and warm butter topping that regulars obsess over. As they cook, Lee opens up about the philosophy that shaped him at St John, the thrill of feeding queues around the block during the early kebabstand days, and how creativity, art, and instinct have defined his work.The conversation goes deeper into the realities of running a restaurant in today’s climate. Lee speaks candidly about rising costs, shifting food culture, and the balance between ambition and family life. From Copenhagen kebab revelations to the magic of a perfect lunch, Kate draws out the stories that reveal how a chef builds a truly singular identity and why stepping away can sometimes be the bravest move of all.Kate wraps the episode with a feast, a flurry of quickfire questions, and a celebration of the pubs, Brick Lane bagels, date nights, and Christmas pantos that shape Lee’s London. It is warm, honest, funny, and full of the kind of food moments that stay with you. Follow The Go-To Weekend on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, and all the usual platforms, and settle in for a brilliant conversation to kick off your weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kick off your festive season with a full Thanksgiving feast and a side of brutal industry honesty. In this episode of The Go To Weekend podcast, Kate Austin is joined by chef and development maestro Anna Søgaard, ex head chef of Bistro Freddie and current head of tastings and development at luxury caterer Rocket. While Kate confesses she has never cooked a Thanksgiving before, Anna walks her through the all American classics: roast turkey, roasties instead of mash (when in England), controversial sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows, tart clementine cranberry sauce and a seriously indulgent sourdough stuffing that behaves like bread and butter pudding’s savoury cousin.Around the stove they swap stories of homesickness, Friendsgiving traditions and the kind of feasting that only Denmark can deliver. Think all day Christmas lunches, crackling topped pork, rice pudding with hidden almonds and that very Danish obsession with brown gravy colouring. Kate remembers cooking in Copenhagen and being wheeled home after dessert, while Anna shares how her own half Danish, half American background shaped the way she cooks and celebrates. It is cosy, chaotic and full of those tiny cultural details that make holiday rituals feel so personal.Between basting the turkey and blowtorching marshmallows, the chat goes deep on life after the pass. Anna talks about becoming head chef at Bistro Freddy, the pressure of having your name above the door, navigating sexism as the only woman in the room and the moment she knew it was time to walk away. She explains why she chose creativity and stability over restaurant ownership, her role at Rocket, and the story behind Superb, the women led supper club raising money for underfunded charities and giving brilliant female chefs a platform. If you love big roasts, big conversations and women backing other women, this episode is your new weekend listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Go-To Weekend, we’re serving up strawberries, F1, and the sizzling energy of the summer heatwave – all powered by Square. From the sun-soaked courts of Wimbledon to the big screen buzz around the new Brad Pitt F1 flick, we’re in peak weekend mode. There’s celeb-spotting chaos, sweaty closing hours, and ice cream recommendations you need to know about. Plus, as always, we kick things off with your favourite trio: High, Low & Regret. Then we’re joined by the sensational Rahel Stephanie – better known as Spoons – whose Indonesian supper clubs have London in a chokehold. We talk food, identity, Jakarta hotspots, and the future of her culinary empire. It’s a spicy, thoughtful, hilarious chat, with a few cocktails thrown in courtesy of Hepple. Plus, Rahel reveals her ultimate weekend picks in our Square-backed Little Black Book. So grab your ice cream, plug in, and get ready for a scorching Go-To Weekend.------------Find out more about Square here - www.square.comGet hold of Hepple Gin, the greatest Gin in the world here; https://hepplespirits.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Go-To Weekend Podcast, we’re joined by legendary bartender and drinks innovator Nick Strangeway of Hepple to talk cocktails, foraging, and the future of British spirits.We start by unpacking Nick’s journey from 1980s punk and bar back to becoming one of the most influential bartenders in the UK. He reflects on the evolution of cocktail culture, the birth of the speakeasy scene, and how he’s always followed flavour and instinct over trends. Plus, we talk about how he came to co-create Hepple Gin in the wilds of Northumberland—and why it’s unlike anything else on the market.From there, we dive into Nick’s go-to weekend rituals: martinis made with science, foraged gins, his favourite cocktail kit (spoiler: it involves frozen glasses), and a few controversial opinions on the perfect aperitivo. Whether you’re a cocktail novice or home bar obsessive, there’s something to steal for your own drinks trolley.Then, as always, we’ve got your weekend sorted. Where to drink in the sun? Try a £5 glass of wine at the secret wine bar under Mayfair’s Art Farm. What to do? Head to Taste of London, where food heroes like Roti King are dishing up their best. And what to read? Boustany, the new vegetarian cookbook from Sami Tamimi (co-founder of Ottolenghi), packed with Middle Eastern brunches and side dishes worth planning your weekend around.It’s all about flavour, sunshine, and good times this week—don’t forget to rate, review, and follow us @thegotoweekend on Instagram and TikTok.------------Find out more about Square here - www.square.comGet hold of Hepple Gin, the greatest Gin in the world here; https://hepplespirits.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to The Go-To Weekend, your ultimate guide to making the most of your days off. Hosted by Sunday Times deputy food editor Hannah Evans and Foodism deputy editor Molly Codyre, we’re here delivering the hottest tips on where to go, what to eat, and what not to miss this weekend.We’re closing out our first season with a bang as we’re joined by Emma Sayle, founder of the iconic sex-positive community Killing Kittens. In this refreshingly unfiltered chat, Emma talks about sexual empowerment, the fine line between choice and performance in the age of social media, and how true confidence in the bedroom can translate to power in the boardroom. We unpack some of her wildest stories, including a particularly memorable London Fashion Week party involving a roomful of supermodels and how she ended up using a notorious venue run by a now-jailed socialite.Emma also takes us through her London little black book. She shares her love for the South Bank’s riverside views and food stalls, the late-night chaos of Pagliaccio on Wandsworth Bridge Road, and her go-to date spot Gordon’s Wine Bar, where the candlelit cellar and overflowing charcuterie boards never miss. For something a little more under the radar, she recommends CellarDoor, a tiny cabaret club tucked beneath Aldwych that looks like a public toilet from the outside but hosts unforgettable drag and live shows inside. Her pet peeve? People spending their weekends doomscrolling, or worse, going to silent discos.In this week’s Go-To Recs, Molly shouts out the Black Horse BMIs who are throwing a party to celebrate their third birthday with pop-up bars and music all weekend. We’ve also got a tip for your hungover Sunday: David Attenborough’s new ocean series, which is both soothing and staggering as he explores life beneath the surface. And Emma gives us a peek at the return of KK Cabaret, a decadent dinner and cabaret experience hosted in a country mansion near Bracknell - think three-course feasts, live performances, and a touch of erotic flair.This is our final episode of the season, but we’ll be back in mid-June with more spicy summer hangouts and unbeatable London tips. Until then, thank you for coming along for the ride.Celebrate your cocktails with a taste of Hepple - Buy Here - https://hepplespirits.com/collections/shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to The Go-To Weekend, your ultimate guide to making the most of your days off. Hosted by Sunday Times deputy food editor Hannah Evans and Foodism deputy editor Molly Codyre, we’re here delivering the hottest tips on where to go, what to eat, and what not to miss this weekend.This week we cover everything from foodie weekends in Marseille to space tourism. Whilst Hannah’s has become obsessed with a niche food industry meme account, we also somehow segue into the surreal journey to space of Katy Perry, Gayle King, and Jeff Bezos himself (spoiler: it’s not the feminist milestone it claims to be). There’s also a deep dive into the emotional chaos of cutting down a 400-year-old oak tree for a Toby Carvery car park.More exciting than all of that though, this week we’re joined by everyones favourite cocktail superstar Missy Flynn, bartender, restaurateur, and co-founder of Rita’s. She talks about hosting Harry Styles’ 18th birthday, how she mastered the world of mescal and tequila behind the bar at Crazy Homies, and the chaotic joy of restaurant pop-ups in Paris, LA, and NYC. She also shares her favourite London hangouts—from date nights at 40 Maltby Street to taking in the latest shows at 180 The Strand and her love for late-night noodles at Lanzhou.With all that plus our TV picks for your Sunday sofa sesh, an Easter egg shopping PSA, and the mystery of where Keanu Reeves recently had lunch, it looks like we’re in for a hell of a weekend with a generous pour of martini on the side.----------------Celebrate your cocktails with a taste of Hepple - Buy Here - https://hepplespirits.com/collections/shop Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to The Go-To Weekend, your ultimate guide to making the most of your days off. Hosted by Sunday Times deputy food editor Hannah Evans and Foodism deputy editor Molly Codyre, we’re here delivering the hottest tips on where to go, what to eat, and what not to miss this weekend.This week, Hannah and Molly kick things off with a chat about The Beatles, following the announcement of Sam Mendes’s ambitious four-part film project—one film for each band member. With casting details emerging, they discuss whether this approach will give fresh insight into the Fab Four or just be another rehash of rock history. They also round up the best (and worst) April Fool’s Day pranks they fell for this year, including fake restaurant openings and absurd fashion collaborations that had them momentarily fooled.Then, it's onto a crucial topic: late-night eating in London. After a long night out, where’s the best place to grab a bite? They debate the merits of Beigel Bake on Brick Lane—iconic, but do the queues kill the vibe?—versus the newer, but equally excellent Sons + Daughters for an after-hours sandwich fix. They also throw in a few wild cards, like Noodle & Beer noodle bar, which serves steaming bowls of udon into the late hours, and Old Town 97 for a midnight roast duck feast.Then, they’re joined by Alexina Anatole—finance-professional-turned-food-writer, MasterChef finalist, and cookbook author—for a deep dive into her journey from the world of finance to food. She opens up about the realities of making money in cookbook publishing, the challenges of breaking into the industry, and how growing up in Paris shaped her love of bold flavours. Alexina also goes in on River Cafe, delivering an unfiltered critique of its service. While she fully respects the restaurant’s legacy, she argues that for the price point, diners deserve better than a dining experience that can sometimes feel cold and indifferent. The food? Undeniably good. The hospitality? In her view, inconsistent at best.Beyond that, Alexina shares her thoughts on dating and food, including the ultimate culinary red flags. She rounds things off with a list of her must-visit London restaurants, favourite art galleries, and go-to late-night spots. The conversation also delves into the complexities of flavour, with a discussion on umami, MSG, and how she builds layers of taste in her cooking.Hit play for your weekend fix of food, culture, and the best things to do in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to The Go-To Weekend, your ultimate guide to making the most of your days off. Hosted by Sunday Times deputy food editor Hannah Evans and Foodism deputy editor Molly Codyre, we’re here with the hottest tips on where to go, what to eat, and what not to miss—all with a sharp eye, a raised glass, and zero tolerance for nonsense.This week, we’re joined by the one and only Claire Dinhut—aka @condimentclaire, the Condiment Queen, as anointed by Nigella and Ottolenghi themselves. From debating whether butter qualifies as a condiment to the unexpected joys of soy sauce on vanilla ice cream, we’re getting deep into the saucy stuff.Elsewhere, Hannah uncovers a troubling new restaurant trend: Dorian and others are secretly ranking diners based on how ‘good’ a customer they are, with priority bookings and VIP treatment reserved for the chosen few. Is this the future of dining—or just another way to make eating out feel like an exclusive club?We’re also heading to Wolton Kitchen Garden in the Cotswolds, the perfect antidote to the nauseating scene at Soho Farmhouse. Plus, we swap stories of the most incongruous celebrity spots in restaurants and debate the best places for a first date.And of course, we round things off with our Go-To picks of the week—what to do, read, watch, eat, and, crucially, what to avoid.Grab a drink, get comfortable, and let’s make the most of the weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.