Matt & Olly's Secret Life of Food

Matt & Olly's Secret Life of Food

Matt brings the food. Olly brings the drinks. TV favourites Matt Tebbutt & Olly Smith have been mates for 25+ years, eating, drinking and exploring the world along the way. Expect great food, brilliant drinks, big stories, laughs and plenty of strong opinions. New episodes every Thursday. Sponsored by All Good Things Wines
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Episode's summary

Who is the greatest TV chef of all time? 👨‍🍳 Matt Tebbutt & Olly Smith get stuck into the big questions in this week's Secret Life of Food! Plus, they explore why goat meat deserves a place on your menu, why Olly thinks it's his favourite meat, and the surprisingly confusing world of Montepulciano wine. 🍷 There's also a musical interlude or two, listener questions featuring brilliant ways to use overripe bananas, and a game of Food or Fake! Can you tell a Dirty Mother from a Dirty Father? And what on earth is a Garbage Plate? 🥩 Goat meat, Greek mythology and delicious recipes🍷 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo vs Vino Nobile di Montepulciano🍌 Clever ways to use overripe bananas👨‍🍳 Who really is the greatest TV chef of all time? 🍷 Sponsored by All (Good) ThingsFind All (Good) Things in Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Amazon and more.🌐 allgoodthings.wine 🎧 Watch and listen to Secret Life of Food with Matt Tebbutt & Olly Smith on YouTube and Spotify. 📩 To join our mailing list or ask us a question, email…

Episodes

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Goat Meat, Confusing Italian Wine & The Greatest TV Chef Ever?

Who is the greatest TV chef of all time? 👨‍🍳 Matt Tebbutt & Olly Smith get stuck into the big questions in this week's Secret Life of Food! Plus, they explore why goat meat deserves a place on your menu, why Olly thinks it's his favourite meat, and the surprisingly confusing world of Montepulciano wine. 🍷 There's also a musical interlude or two, listener questions featuring brilliant ways to use overripe bananas, and a game of Food or Fake! Can you tell a Dirty Mother from a Dirty Father? And what on earth is a Garbage Plate? 🥩 Goat meat, Greek mythology and delicious recipes🍷 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo vs Vino Nobile di Montepulciano🍌 Clever ways to use overripe bananas👨‍🍳 Who really is the greatest TV chef of all time? 🍷 Sponsored by All (Good) ThingsFind All (Good) Things in Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Amazon and more.🌐 allgoodthings.wine 🎧 Watch and listen to Secret Life of Food with Matt Tebbutt & Olly Smith on YouTube and Spotify. 📩 To join our mailing list or ask us a question, email…

14 Oct 2026
5-

The Strange World of Spuds & Natural Wine! | Secret Life of Food

Matt Tebbutt & Olly Smith explore the strange world of spuds, from Jersey Royals and potato hotels to jacket potato vending machines. As always, they share some of their favourite recipes, including the best potato salads and Olly’s Mediterranean-inspired Jersey Royal dish. Then it’s time for natural wine. Olly gets stuck in, while Matt needs a little convincing that there’s more to natural wine than he thinks. Luckily, Olly has brought along a couple of bottles for Matt to try… and quickly wins him over. 🍷 Chin Chin Vinho Verde – 75cl, £13Super crisp green apple and zesty citrus that dance on the palate. Portugal. 11% ABV. 🍷 Cricri Vin de Savoie, Domaine Partagé – 750ml, £50Delicate floral and spicy notes, with a luminous straw-yellow hue and green highlights. 11% ABV. The conversation explores whether natural wine offers a better expression of terroir, the rise of organic and biodynamic farming, why younger drinkers are increasingly interested in provenance, sustainability and authenticity, and whether…

07 Oct 2026
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Can Oysters Make You Frisky? + The Secret of Chartreuse!

This episode, Matt dives deep into the surprisingly strange world of oysters, while Olly invites us into one of the world’s most secretive and intriguing liquors: Chartreuse. Despite having experienced food poisoning numerous times, Matt still loves oysters! He shares everything there is to know about these fascinating molluscs, from their unusual biology to their long history as a much-loved food. Despite having no head, oysters' bodies are covered in eyes and they can even change sex during their lives. Olly shares the fascinating history of Chartreuse, how and where it originated, the secrets behind its closely guarded recipe, and the best ways to drink it. Straight from the fridge, neat, over ice, lengthened with water, in cocktails, with hot chocolate or even as a sorbet. You decide! Green Chartreuse – 55% ABV. Powerful, herbal and intense. Yellow Chartreuse – 40% ABV. Softer and more mellow. This week’s Wildcards bring more listener questions, including where to take a meat-loving and vegetarian couple…

30 Sep 2026
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Why Britain Loves Fish & Chips | The Bizarre History of Beer!

Matt and Olly dive into two of Britain’s most beloved food and drink staples: beer-battered fish and chips, and, of course, beer! Matt explores the fascinating history of fish and chips, from Jewish immigration and the origins of fried fish to its role in wartime Britain and even the D-Day landings. And no plate of fish and chips is complete without the condiments! Matt shares his super-simple, super-delicious curry sauce recipe for you to try at home. Meanwhile, Olly makes the case for why beer deserves to be taken just as seriously as wine, exploring its extraordinary history stretching back thousands of years. They also uncover some of the unusual ingredients that have found their way into beer over the centuries and tackle the question: is beer suitable for vegetarians? Plus, they discover the bizarre historical drink known as cock ale. Probably best not to try that one at home! And, of course, Olly brings along two very different beers for Matt to try. 🍺 THIS EPISODE'S BEERS Augustiner Lagerbier Hell…

24 Sep 2026
2-

OUR FIRST EVER EPISODE! WAGYU, SAKE & STRONG OPINIONS | MATT TEBBUTT & OLLY SMITH

SECRET LIFE OF FOOD PODCAST IS HERE! 🍽️🥂 Matt Tebbutt and Olly Smith have been mates for over 25 years. In that time, they’ve eaten, drunk and tasted their way around the world, picking up plenty of stories, strong opinions and a few questionable food habits along the way. The Secret Life of Food isn’t just two experts sitting around telling you what you should eat. It’s two old friends who know their stuff, love food and drink, and aren’t afraid to disagree. They’re diving into two iconic Japanese food and drink traditions: Wagyu beef and sake. Matt explores the history and genetics behind Japanese Wagyu, why it can be so expensive and whether it really lives up to the hype. Olly turns his attention to sake, exploring its 2,000-year history, how it’s made and why it’s actually more closely related to beer than wine. And sake isn't just for sushi. The pair explore some unexpected pairings, including smoked fish, ham, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, charcuterie and Wagyu. Sponsored by All (Good) Things. Wines…

17 Sep 2026