Have you ever heard a grown man beg for a pie? It's quite a disturbing sound to be honest. Luckily, that part has largely been edited out of this episode, but Tom Shepherd gave into Simon's persistent requests and (SPOILER ALERT), made him the pie that won him Great British Menu.

Tom's restaurant, Upstairs in Lichfield, has had a meteoric rise from opening during Covid, immediately getting a Michelin star and having a waiting list longer than the reign of some Prime Ministers.

He chats to Tom about a memorable visit from a Michelin inspector, where he eats in Lichfield, and of course GBM.

We also hear from Harry Jenkins from Close Up Comedy and Digbeth Dining Club. He turned the tables on Simon and asked him the questions. There are some AMAZING takes here.

If you want to eat at Tom's INCREDIBLE restaurant, Upstairs, join the waiting list here: https://www.upstairs.restaurant/

Behold the pie: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/4wgg7VzpZMJ8ZvvRtC3fDVg/tom-shepherd

Tom's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/cheftomshepherd/?hl=en

What / where / why / how / who / when is Close Up Comedy? https://hockleysocialclub.com/closeup-comedy

Comedy at the Castle? See you there: https://www.warwick-castle.com/explore-1/events/comedy-at-the-castle/

Harry's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/harryjenkinscomedy/

https://meatandoneveg.blog/

He's back. I mean, he's not been anywhere to be honest, just mooching around town like a culinary nuisance, but he's our culinary nuisance.

The break has been a little big longer than anticipated - soz - but we're back with a bang. Or maybe back with an air horn would be more accurate. That will make sense when you listen.

Brad bloody Carter's on!

Simon visited Brad last year at his pop-up at Westlands UK in Evesham. He showed him around his herb garden; discussed his favourite places to eat in Brum; and let him join the hitherto STRICTLY employee only Staff lunch.

His Westlands' restaurant closed its glass, greenhouse doors on New Years Eve last year... so what's he up to now?

Well his latest venture is another pop-up, this time at the wonderful Eighteen at 103 Colmore Row. If you've not eaten there yet, do, as it's only around until April. Then..?

... Well, you've come to the right place. He shares some exclusive news about his new, permanent restaurant AND reveals that One Star Doner Bar is BACK baby! Want to know more? Then stop reading this and listen to the podcast.

Carters at Eighteen - Get it while you can: https://wearecarters.co.uk/carters-at-eighteen/

Want to know more about Westlands UK? https://westlandsuk.co.uk/

Here's their socials: https://www.instagram.com/cartersofmoseley/?hl=en-gb and https://twitter.com/cartersbhx.

And Brum's OG food blog can be found here: https://meatandoneveg.blog/

Welcome to another episode of the crumbliest, flakiest food podcast around, presented by food writer Simon Carlo.

This episode has it all: Base humour, a Gregg Wallace impression and moaning about how far away Solihull is. Where else can you get all that that in one place?

Stu Deeley makes a triumphant return to the podcast and this time we find out who he is, what he does and why. He won Masterchef: The Professionals a few years ago and we discover what went on behind the scenes. He also confesses he hasn't been to the foodiest country on Earth and his disbelief that he has his own cooking academy.

Then Simon packs his bags, gets his jabs and makes the arduous journey down the Warwick Road to the mean streets of Solihull. This time he drops in to Tap and Tandoor to chat to owner Ajay Kenth over a mixed grill. And butter chicken. And garlic naan. In between mouthfuls he gets to the bottom of what the green, mixed grill chicken is, and why quality and provenance are an important part of what Tap and Tandoor do.

If you don't like jokes about onanism, close your ears around the 48 second point. And if you don't like strong language, then other food podcasts are available.

Stu Deeley is doing amazing things at Smoke at Hampton Manor. Make sure a trip is on your to-do list this spring: https://hamptonmanor.com/smoke/

And find out about Stu's Professional Chef Academy at Halesowen College here: https://www.halesowen.ac.uk/news/stuart-deeley-professional-chef-academy-launches/

If the sizzle of the mixed grill arriving made you drool, then a trip to Tap and Tandoor is the only thing for it: https://tapandtandoor.co.uk/pages/location-solihull

And some of this episode was recorded at Taco Fest at the Bond in Digbeth. Burger Fest is the next Seasonal Markets event on 3rd June, and there are events right throughout the year. http://www.seasonalmarkets.co.uk/events