Greg Jenner is joined in the 19th century by Dr Annie Gray and comedian Ed Gamble to learn all about French celebrity chef Alexis Soyer. Despite being well-known during his lifetime, Soyer is virtually unknown today. His primary legacy was a portable stove, used by the British army until the Falklands War. But Soyer was a prototypical celebrity chef: he opened the Reform Club kitchen to the public so that they could watch him cook, wrote popular cookbooks, sold kitchen gadgets and branded sauces, and even took part in high-profile charity campaigns. From his birth in France to the success he found in London, via a soup kitchen in Dublin and a hospital during the Crimean War, this episode explores Alexis Soyer’s extraordinary life and culinary innovations. This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed. Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Hannah Campbell Hewson Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Ben Hollands Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: James Cook
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Hello and welcome to youo're Dead to me, the Radio 4 comedy podcast that takes history seriously.
My name is Greg Jenner.
I'm a public historian, author and broadcaster.
And today we are tying our aprons and firing up the stove as we learn all about 19th century celebrity chef Alexis Soye.
And to help us, we have two very special dining companions in History Corner.
She's an author, broadcaster and food historian, specialising in food from 1600 to the present day.
That's a lot of food.
You might have heard her on BBC Radio 4's the Kitchen Cabinet or read one of her many wonderful books, including the Greedy Queen, all about Queen Victoria's food tastes.
And you'll definitely remember her from our delicious episode on the history of ice cream, it's Dr.
Annie Gray.
Welcome back, Annie.
Thank you for having me.
Lovely to have you back, Ann.
In Comedy Corner, he's a comedian, podcaster, writer, broadcaster.
He's a superstar.
He co hosts the mega award winning Off Menu podcast.
He judges dishes on the great British menu.
He has done gags on Mock the Week.
He's had an existential crime crisis on Taskmaster, Champion of champions.