Your Place at the Table

In the middle of Milan at Cascina Cuccagna, a 17th-century farmhouse, I sit down with Bianca Minotti. Bianca is a food systems governance and policy expert working at EStà, an independent organisation that combines research, education, and consulting to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge, public policy, and active citizenship. In this episode, Bianca and I talk about all things food policy, including what it is, how it works and how it impacts the food system that that we engage with every day. To find out more about EStà, visit http://assesta.it/en/ or follow them on instagram @esta_economiaesostenibilita.

After meeting Thomas at Cascina Gilli during a winery tasting afternoon, I heading back to speak with him and Katia, another member of the team. Overlooking the hills of Castelnuovo Don Bosco j ust outside of Turin, we spoke about the history of the winery, the grapes, vines and soil, how climate change is changing their wines as well as their commercial markets and presence at the international level. To find out more about Cascina Gilli, visit https://cascinagilli.it/ or follow on instagram @cascinagilli.

In the middle of Turin, I sat down with Guido Castagna to discuss all things chocolate. With a glass of vermouth in hand, we discuss the Guido Castagna Natural Method, history of the gianduiotto and the process of Protected Geographical Indication certification (IGP in italian), which is the chocolate and hazelnut blend. To find out more about Guido Castagna, visit https://www.guidocastagna.it/ or follow on instagram @guidocastagna.

Over four days last week, Turin turned into a food wonderland with producers and delegates from all over the world. In this episode, we talk to four different producers and hear from three different policy makers to understand their different perspectives of the food system! This episode is in English, but my French and Italian speaking and translating skills were very much put to the test!! Producers, in order in appearance: @antica_norcineria_lattanzifr @asbuc.giulianello @saporidellarocca @storico_ribelle_official Policy markers, in order of appearance: Moussa Fall, Senegal Aminata Diop Samb, Senegal Selçuk Bey, Turkey

An agronomist from Ethiopia, Belayneh and I met while studying Local Food Masters in Italy. We speak about food in Ethiopia and how share plates and meals can influence behaviour and connection, the challenges facing the agricultural sector amount political conflict and how coffee and teff, an extremely small grain, have gone global! Belayneh urges everyone to think of the food beyond just plate, which sums up the purpose of YPatT too!

Sitting under a pergola in between Ostuni and Ceglie Messapica in middle of Puglia, Italy, we chat with not just one, but three members of the Masseria Fragnite team: Pietro, Pietro and Giulia. With cows on one side, a vibrant green outlook of olive trees, stone walls and grass on the other and the cheese making room in the distance, this was a picture-perfect setting to learn more about what a Masseria is, and what makes Masseria Fragnite such a welcoming, familiar and productive masseria. To find out more about Masseria Fragnite or book a tour, visit fragnite.it or follow them on Instagram at @masseria_fragnite.

In Episode 3 of Your Place at the Table, we hear from Aline Barakat from the Lebanon Farmers Market Coalition. Aline, after working as a professional pharmacist, established her family poultry farming business with her father. This evolved into founding the Lebanon Farmers Market Coalition, with many parallels between pharmacy and the farmers markets which we hear all about in the conversation!

In Episode 2 of Your Place at the Table, we head to Oslo, Norway to speak to Andreas Viestad. We speak about Andreas' different ventures as a food educator, food columnist and author, TV host and restaurateur all while sitting in the vegetable garden at the Geitmyra Culinary Center.

Welcome to Episode 1 of Your Place at the Table! In this episode, we sit down with Theophilus (Theo) over lunch to discuss his relationship with agriculture and food, as well as his AgTech company, Ento Organics.

Welcome to Your Place at the Table! First episode will be released on 28th August 2026.