Episode 07: Faya Nilsson

This week I’m joined by a woman I’ve admired for years. Amanda Ross is the founder – alongside her husband – of Cactus TV, the production company that makes Saturday Kitchen and Between the Covers. As the nation’s most popular live cooking show, I’ve avidly watched Saturday Kitchen for years and to then realise the brains and powerhouse behind it was a strong female, I just had to get Amanda on. We talk all about her childhood growing up in Essex, the changing landscape of TV and what it takes to make it in food TV. We discuss the plethora of incredible chefs she’s worked with over the years and what really goes on behind the scenes of a live show. I find Amanda truly inspiring and absolutely loved this conversation! I hope you do too.   @amandacactus @saturday.kitchen @crazysexyfood @hannahharley www.crazysexyfood.com   Music by @casnova____   I’m so excited to be partnering with Cheffie on Season 11 of the podcast.    Cheffie is not just a platform; it's a dining revolution. It transforms the traditional dining model, giving chefs the power to launch virtual restaurants, set their own menus, prices, and hours—turning every chef into an entrepreneur.   Their platform liberates chefs from the confines of a fixed location, offering them the autonomy to craft their culinary destiny.   For foodies, Cheffie is a passport to a world of flavours, delivering diverse cuisines directly to their doorsteps. It's convenience, variety, and connection all in one place, just a click away. Visit cheffie.co.uk for more information.

25 Nov 202452min

It would have to take a special someone for me to bring the crew out of London, away from the set, to film an episode. And Raymond Blanc is indeed that special someone. We travelled to the magical Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire, where Raymond resides, to film a truly special conversation. Sat amongst the famous gardens, we spoke all about his childhood growing up in France, his somewhat tumultuous start in the kitchens, finally taking over Le Manoir and what food, Michelin stars and tastes mean to him. I felt really honoured to have had this time with him and a huge thank you to the team at Le Manoir for accommodating us.   @raymondblanc @crazysexyfood @hannahharley www.crazysexyfood.com   Music by @casnova____   I’m so excited to be partnering with Cheffie on Season 11 of the podcast.    Cheffie is not just a platform; it's a dining revolution. It transforms the traditional dining model, giving chefs the power to launch virtual restaurants, set their own menus, prices, and hours—turning every chef into an entrepreneur.   Their platform liberates chefs from the confines of a fixed location, offering them the autonomy to craft their culinary destiny.   For foodies, Cheffie is a passport to a world of flavours, delivering diverse cuisines directly to their doorsteps. It's convenience, variety, and connection all in one place, just a click away. Visit cheffie.co.uk for more information.

19 Nov 20241h 14min

Welcome to episode two! I’m joined by Tasha Ghouri this week, the star of Love Island and this year’s Strictly Come Dancing. Tasha is a real force of nature – for the greater good. She was the first deaf islander to appear on the show and has used her platform to educate and raise awareness for deaf charities and what it’s like to live with a cochlear implant. She also wrote a book earlier this year, Hits Different, which is loosely based on her life. We need more Tasha’s in this world changing the narrative on reality shows, highlighting the idea of ‘normal’ within what can be a very hyper-perfect aesthetic.   @tashaghouri @crazysexyfood @hannahharley www.crazysexyfood.com   Music by @casnova____   I’m so excited to be partnering with Cheffie on Season 11 of the podcast.    Cheffie is not just a platform; it's a dining revolution. It transforms the traditional dining model, giving chefs the power to launch virtual restaurants, set their own menus, prices, and hours—turning every chef into an entrepreneur.   Their platform liberates chefs from the confines of a fixed location, offering them the autonomy to craft their culinary destiny.   For foodies, Cheffie is a passport to a world of flavours, delivering diverse cuisines directly to their doorsteps. It's convenience, variety, and connection all in one place, just a click away. Visit cheffie.co.uk for more information.

12 Nov 202439min

She’s baaaackk!!! It was a long time coming but I am finally here, on your airwaves with a bumper SEASON 11! I cannot believe how far I have come and this season is not going to disappoint. I had to kick things off with one of my childhood greats, Andi Peters. He presented my favourite Saturday morning show, Live & Kicking, and is still as busy as ever as he hosts the ITV competitions throughout your weekday mornings. Aside from TV, he’s quite the culinary maestro and delves into his favourite tastes, how he perfects his mashed potato and why he’s not a fan of sauces! We find out all about his McDonald’s order and, of course, his favourite crisps. This was a total dream come true and Andi is even better in real life!   @andipeters @crazysexyfood @hannahharley www.crazysexyfood.com   Music by @casnova____   I’m so excited to be partnering with Cheffie on Season 11 of the podcast.    Cheffie is not just a platform; it's a dining revolution. It transforms the traditional dining model, giving chefs the power to launch virtual restaurants, set their own menus, prices, and hours—turning every chef into an entrepreneur.   Their platform liberates chefs from the confines of a fixed location, offering them the autonomy to craft their culinary destiny.   For foodies, Cheffie is a passport to a world of flavours, delivering diverse cuisines directly to their doorsteps. It's convenience, variety, and connection all in one place, just a click away. Visit cheffie.co.uk for more information.

5 Nov 202456min

Welcome to Season 11! Let's go!

4 Nov 202425s

For the season finale, I had to get my favourite couple on! Camilla Kerslake and Chris Robshaw are the perfect mix of fun, cheeky, talented and inspirational! In this episode, we talk all about how food is so intertwined in both their careers as a classical singer (Camilla!) and a pro ruby player (Chris). We discover Chris’s love of win and his entry into wine investments, and we find out all about Camilla’s pregnancy cravings. The conversation is cheeky, funny and full of laughs as I managed to squeeze the three of us in bed in our suite at the Four Seasons Hotel. Thank you to everyone who’s listened this season, it’s been a whirlwind of a ride as I recorded the episodes both before and after having a baby (and technically on the day of!). I’ll be back with another season sooner than you think….!   @camillakerslake @chrisrobshawrugby @crazysexyfood @hannahharley www.crazysexyfood.com   Music by @casnova____   This season I have partnered with the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, who have generously hosted us in one of their fabulous suites. Each episode, I get up, close and personal with my guests, order room service and chat all about their life in food. It doesn’t get better than this! Thank you so much to the Four Seasons Hotel for their hospitality!   **I’m delighted that this season of Crazy Sexy Food is headline sponsored by premium appliance manufacturer, Miele.  Over the last few years, I have got close to this incredible brand through Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park festival, where I have had the pleasure to watch (and eat!) dishes prepared by some of the UK’s finest chefs using Miele.  I was also invited to a special event by the brand at the fabulous Exton Park, which features Miele throughout, with lunch cooked by one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative restaurateurs, Tommy Banks.    If you are on a kitchen journey, I would highly recommend a visit to one of its Experience Centres where you will not only receive bespoke advice but can also join one of the many courses to experience its appliances first hand, including getting to enjoy lots of delicious food.  Excitingly it’s opening a new Mayfair store which is just opposite the Ritz - a great way to spend an afternoon!    This year is an exciting milestone for the family-owned company who will be celebrating its 125th anniversary, and while Miele continues to innovate, it stays true to its motto “Immer Besser”, which means Forever Better. The majority of its products are put through tough durability tests during the development phase to simulate 20 years use - for ovens this includes opening and closing the door 24,000 times!   To celebrate the partnership, Miele is kindly giving my listeners 10% off its fabulous appliances on miele.co.uk or through its Experience Centres until September 2024 with the code CRAZYMIELE     **I’m so happy to be partnering with Odysea on this season of the podcast. They’ve been scouring Greece & further afield for the finest food producers since 1991, bringing the highest quality flavours that the Mediterranean has to offer. Their range is carefully curated, to include hand-selected, traditionally-cured olives, award-winning honey from lovingly tended bees, and premium quality oils sourced from only the most acclaimed regional producers.  Food is a way to get back in touch with the things that matter most and connect on new and deeper levels and so the lovely people at Odysea are offering Crazy Sexy Food listeners 15% off at odysea.com using the code CSF15 until the end of 2024. This code can be used across the entire range, excluding brass mills and wines.

25 Juni 202449min

TW: Conversations about birth trauma and eating disorders feature in this episode.   Candice Brathwaite is a force to be reckoned with and so it was a huge pleasure to welcome her to my Four Seasons Hotel suite for a good ol’ chat. This is a particularly special episode for me, as you’ll find out towards the end of the chat when I disclose to Candice that I’m going into hospital that night to have my baby!! I couldn’t think of a better guest to spend my final moments with before my life changed forever. She has carved a career writing and speaking about motherhood, from the perspective of a black woman in the UK and the issues and real life stats that come with that. She is unapologetically herself and continues to advocate for the black community about the unique experiences black mothers face. Her new book, Manifest(o), is out later this year.   @candicebrathwaite @crazysexyfood @hannahharley www.crazysexyfood.com   Music by @casnova____   This season I have partnered with the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, who have generously hosted us in one of their fabulous suites. Each episode, I get up, close and personal with my guests, order room service and chat all about their life in food. It doesn’t get better than this! Thank you so much to the Four Seasons Hotel for their hospitality!   **I’m delighted that this season of Crazy Sexy Food is headline sponsored by premium appliance manufacturer, Miele.  Over the last few years, I have got close to this incredible brand through Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park festival, where I have had the pleasure to watch (and eat!) dishes prepared by some of the UK’s finest chefs using Miele.  I was also invited to a special event by the brand at the fabulous Exton Park, which features Miele throughout, with lunch cooked by one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative restaurateurs, Tommy Banks.    If you are on a kitchen journey, I would highly recommend a visit to one of its Experience Centres where you will not only receive bespoke advice but can also join one of the many courses to experience its appliances first hand, including getting to enjoy lots of delicious food.  Excitingly it’s opening a new Mayfair store which is just opposite the Ritz - a great way to spend an afternoon!    This year is an exciting milestone for the family-owned company who will be celebrating its 125th anniversary, and while Miele continues to innovate, it stays true to its motto “Immer Besser”, which means Forever Better. The majority of its products are put through tough durability tests during the development phase to simulate 20 years use - for ovens this includes opening and closing the door 24,000 times!   To celebrate the partnership, Miele is kindly giving my listeners 10% off its fabulous appliances on miele.co.uk or through its Experience Centres until September 2024 with the code CRAZYMIELE     **I’m so happy to be partnering with Odysea on this season of the podcast. They’ve been scouring Greece & further afield for the finest food producers since 1991, bringing the highest quality flavours that the Mediterranean has to offer. Their range is carefully curated, to include hand-selected, traditionally-cured olives, award-winning honey from lovingly tended bees, and premium quality oils sourced from only the most acclaimed regional producers.  Food is a way to get back in touch with the things that matter most and connect on new and deeper levels and so the lovely people at Odysea are offering Crazy Sexy Food listeners 15% off at odysea.com using the code CSF15 until the end of 2024. This code can be used across the entire range, excluding brass mills and wines.

18 Juni 20241h 11min

This week I have the Queen of the Seas, the star of Bravo’s Below Deck, Captain Sandy Yawn! I’m still pinching myself that I got to chat with her and she’s on the podcast! I am the biggest Below Deck fan and I got to grill her on all the yacht antics, her favourite on-board chefs, what makes a great chef on these yachts and how she leads a crew. Sandy’s had an incredibly colourful life, with some really tough moments along the way. Her strength and resilience has catapulted her not only as an inspiration but as a public speaker and author. Her book, Be The Calm or Be The Storm, is out now!   @captainsandrayawn @crazysexyfood @hannahharley www.crazysexyfood.com   Music by @casnova____   This season I have partnered with the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, who have generously hosted us in one of their fabulous suites. Each episode, I get up, close and personal with my guests, order room service and chat all about their life in food. It doesn’t get better than this! Thank you so much to the Four Seasons Hotel for their hospitality!   **I’m delighted that this season of Crazy Sexy Food is headline sponsored by premium appliance manufacturer, Miele.  Over the last few years, I have got close to this incredible brand through Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park festival, where I have had the pleasure to watch (and eat!) dishes prepared by some of the UK’s finest chefs using Miele.  I was also invited to a special event by the brand at the fabulous Exton Park, which features Miele throughout, with lunch cooked by one of the UK’s most exciting and innovative restaurateurs, Tommy Banks.    If you are on a kitchen journey, I would highly recommend a visit to one of its Experience Centres where you will not only receive bespoke advice but can also join one of the many courses to experience its appliances first hand, including getting to enjoy lots of delicious food.  Excitingly it’s opening a new Mayfair store which is just opposite the Ritz - a great way to spend an afternoon!    This year is an exciting milestone for the family-owned company who will be celebrating its 125th anniversary, and while Miele continues to innovate, it stays true to its motto “Immer Besser”, which means Forever Better. The majority of its products are put through tough durability tests during the development phase to simulate 20 years use - for ovens this includes opening and closing the door 24,000 times!   To celebrate the partnership, Miele is kindly giving my listeners 10% off its fabulous appliances on miele.co.uk or through its Experience Centres until September 2024 with the code CRAZYMIELE     **I’m so happy to be partnering with Odysea on this season of the podcast. They’ve been scouring Greece & further afield for the finest food producers since 1991, bringing the highest quality flavours that the Mediterranean has to offer. Their range is carefully curated, to include hand-selected, traditionally-cured olives, award-winning honey from lovingly tended bees, and premium quality oils sourced from only the most acclaimed regional producers.  Food is a way to get back in touch with the things that matter most and connect on new and deeper levels and so the lovely people at Odysea are offering Crazy Sexy Food listeners 15% off at odysea.com using the code CSF15 until the end of 2024. This code can be used across the entire range, excluding brass mills and wines.

11 Juni 202447min