Anna Barnett visits the north London kitchen of chef and TV presenter Andi Oliver and her daughter, Miquita, in this episode of her podcast, The Filling. Together they explore Andi’s career through music (best friend is Neneh Cherry klaxon!) to food broadcasting, and a certain mother/daughter road trip through Cambodia where the driving definitely was not shared (you do have a license right, Miquita?). Along the way we learn about a new restaurant venture with Fred Sirieix, talk inspirational black influenced cooking, and that you can never have too much gravy.
TOP QUOTES
“Let’s get down to the nitty gritty – she doesn’t let me in her kitchen.” Miquita
“The main rule in the kitchen is don’t put your hand in the food.” Andi
“Oh Lord have mercy – where’s my gravy?” Andi
“Add marmite and then sexuality happens.” Andi
“Nobody wants bad vibe food – don’t put your bad vibes over my chicken!” Andi
“Everything is soul food if it’s done right.” Andi
RESOURCES
www.wadadlikitchen.com
www.claptoncountryclub.co.uk
Edna Lewis: In Pursuit of Flavour
www.thegreyrestaurant.com
www.jainesfish.com
ABOUT THE GUESTS
Great British Menu host, Andi Oliver, was born in London and made a name for herself as a musician performing with several bands in the 1980’s & 90’s. Moving into broadcasting, Andi’s passion for food and cooking took centre stage when she co-hosted a culinary TV show with her good friend, Neneh Cherry, ‘Neneh & Andi Dish it Up’. As well as TV work, Andi is also now also a restaurateur and writer.
@andioliver
Born in 1984, Miquita Oliver’s first TV job was at the age of 15 when she was cast to present irreverent teen music show, ‘PopWorld’. After 5 years she moved to present T4 for the next 4 years, subsequently landing her own TV show on 4Music, ‘The Month with Miquita’. Miquita still regularly appears on TV and radio.
@miquitaoliver
ABOUT THE HOST
Anna Barnett (www.annabarnettcooks.com) is a chef and food writer. She moved to London to work in TV and enjoyed a career at both MTV and Channel 4 before moving into fashion. Life has always been experienced through the lens of good food, however, and she released her debut cookery book ‘Eat the Week’ in 2015, after which she spent several years writing ‘The Reluctant Vegetarian’ blog for the Independent newspaper whilst also contributing to Vogue magazine. She went on to write the food pages for Grazia magazine; she now has a weekly column writing for The Evening Standard online. In 2019 Anna wrote and styled ‘How to be Gluten Free and Not Lose Friends’, her second cookery book. Anna regularly hosts pop-up restaurants, collaborates with brands, caters private events as well as hosting cookery classes at her home in east London.
@annabarnettcooks