Retro Food with Briony May Williams

Welcome back to the British Food History Podcast. In today’s episode, I am speaking with Great British Bake Off alumnus Briony May Williams about retro foods. She’s on a mission to bring back some of the foods of the 21st century that are maybe not being enjoyed as much as they should be in the 21st. I am very much in agreement with this – obvs.

We talk about how Briony became interested in retro foods and historical cooking (we all have an origin story, don’t we?), memories of Bake Off, puddings as comfort food, Waldorf salads, our shared appreciation of frozen peas and Kitchen Aids, plus the infamous banana candle salad.

Listen on your favourite podcast app, or stream the episode via this Spotify embed:

The Retro Food Society by Briony May Williams is out now

Follow Briony on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @brionymaybakes

Briony’s Substack

Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

Sam Bilton’s banana candle salad

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Things mentioned in today’s episode

The BBC Travel Show episode featuring both Briony and me

Great British Bake Off New Year special

Delia Smith boils an egg

Sam Bilton’s banana candle salad

Car Fest 2026

Southport Flower Show 2026

My kedgeree blog post

Previous pertinent podcast episodes

B is for Banana, Banting & Berries

Previous pertinent blog posts

Toad-in-the-hole

Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel

‘British Food: a History’

The British Food History Channel

‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

Neil’s books

Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most Influential Housekeeper

A Dark History of Sugar

Knead to Know: a History of Baking

The Philosophy of Puddings

Don’t forget, there will be postbag episodes in the future, so if you have any questions or queries about today’s episode, or indeed any episode, or have a question about the history of British food please email me at neil@britishfoodhistory.com, or leave a comment below.

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