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Factual: Food & Drink

What's the one dish that holds a special place in your heart?

What's the one dish that holds a special place in your heart? Andi Oliver and her special guests are on a quest to discover the stories and science behind our favourite foods.

What's the one dish that holds a special place in your heart? Andi Oliver and her special guests are on a quest to discover the stories and science behind our favourite foods. From jollof rice to rice pudding, they'll unpack its secrets, from its earliest history to the chemical reactions that make it taste so good. With psychologist and nutritionist Kimberley Wilson popping in to give some scientific insight, Andi and her guest will share stories and food memories - and, of course, they'll tuck into the dish itself. All before leaving you with some top tips to perfect your own version.

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One Dish: Ackee and Saltfish with Jordan Stephens

Ackee and Saltfish with Jordan Stephens

BBC Radio 4 - One Dish, Ackee and Saltfish with Jordan Stephens

Happiness on a paper plate. Jordan shares a Stephens family favourite with Andi.

Happiness on a paper plate. Jordan shares a Stephens family favourite dish with Andi.

Andi Oliver is joined this week by musician and actor Jordan Stephens and he’s brought a dish that’s close to both of their hearts - ackee and saltfish with dumplings. 

It’s a Jamaican national dish beloved in Britain by people from all parts of the African and Caribbean diaspora. During Jordan’s childhood it was a crucial part of the Guyanese buffet at Stephens family Sports Days in North London parks.

Neither ackee nor saltfish originated in the Caribbean, so how did they end up on a plate together there? Jordan and Andi explore the history of the dish and its connection to the transatlantic slave trade, as well as how food intersects with the complex experience of Black British Caribbean identity. 

And there’s a cautionary scientific tale from Kimberley Wilson, on how surprisingly dangerous ackee can be if not handled correctly.

Food Scientist: Kimberley Wilson
Food Historian: Neil Buttery
Producer: Lucy Dearlove
Executive Producer: Hannah Marshall
Sound Design: Charlie Brandon-King
Assistant Producer: Bukky Fadipe

A Storyglass production for BBC Radio 4

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Ackee and Saltfish with Jordan Stephens

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