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Sheila Dillon

The Food Programme: Bristol: The Story of a City Through Its Food

24/04/2016

Bristol: The Story of a City Through Its Food

BBC Radio 4 - The Food Programme, Bristol: The Story of a City Through Its Food

Sheila Dillon travels to Bristol to hear how food has shaped the city's past and present.

'Bristol's food scene is like its music scene - we do it our own way.' Sheila Dillon explores how Bristol leads with ideas, collaboration and improving access to good food.

What does Bristol have that other cities don't when it comes to food? It's gained something of a reputation for being a 'food hub' so what has it done to deserve that title? Sheila Dillon is no stranger to the city but is invited to delve a bit deeper with resident and Food Writer Genevieve Taylor to uncover some of its secrets.

From its history as a bustling port city bringing in sugar, chocolate and coffee and exotic fare to today's vast range of restaurants, cafes and start ups with a 'come one come all' atmosphere, residents and visitors are spoilt for choice. It's even been nicknamed 'bread city' for its range of quality bakeries which still can't meet the high demand. Food Critic Mark Taylor says its approach to collaboration, community and doing things its own way mirrors its music scene.
But beyond pleasure, taste and innovation, Bristol has researched carefully how its people eat and where its 1.5 million meals a day come from and set out a 'Good Food Plan'. Sheila meets the young people who've designed an interactive fridge to find out what people need from their city to eat better and joins the 91 Ways project (named after the 91 languages, including Bristolian, which are spoken in the city) to see how shared food leads to shared stories and understanding.

The forthcoming 'Bristol Food Connections' festival aims to capture the essence of inclusiveness and collaboration to reach across class and generations, Sheila and Genevieve ask how they plan to do this and mirror the 'come one, come all' its food venues claim.

Presented by Sheila Dillon with Genevieve Taylor
Produced in Bristol by Anne-Marie Bullock.

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