S2E2: B is for Bournville, Bistro and Buttery
In which there is a distinct lack of butter (despite the title!)
In Episode 2, we explore food places beginning with 'B.' Neil uncovers the buttery—not the hearty Scottish roll, but the traditional place where wine is stored. Allie dives into the origins and charm of the bistro, with its revolutionary roots where food and culture come together in cosy, intimate spaces. Meanwhile, Sam unwraps the story of Bourneville, where chocolate and community collide.
You can find the episode on your favourite podcast platform or here.
Useful Links
You can visit some examples of the city's Back-to-Backs run by the National Trust.
Suggested Reading
The Bistro: French Food and the Culture of Place by Bertrand Auboyneau and François Simon (2018)
Sociable Cities: The Legacy of Ebenezer Howard by Peter Hall and Colin Ward (1998)
A Bite Sized History of France: Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War and Enlightenment by Stéphane Henaut and Jeni Mittchell (2018)
Ninety Years On: An Account of the Bournville Village Trust by Philip Henslowe (1984)
To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform by Ebenezer Howard (1898)
The Invention of the Restaurant: Paris and Modern Gastronomic Culture by Rebecca L Spang (2000)
What the butler saw : two hundred and fifty years of the servant problem by E. S. Turner (2001)
You can follow the A is for Apple Podcast on Instagram and Bluesky
Sam Bilton also hosts the Comfortably Hungry Podcast and is the author of First Catch Your Gingerbread, Fool’s Gold: A History of British Saffron and The Philosophy of Chocolate. You can find her on Instagram and Bluesky
Dr Neil Buttery also hosts the British Food History Podcast and is the author of A Dark History of Sugar, Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald Britain’s Most Influential Housekeeper as well as Knead to Know: A History of Baking and The Philosophy of Pudding. You can find him on Instagram and Bluesky
Dr Allie Pino hosts the Fear Feasts Podcast with Vanessa Baca and is the co-author of A Gothic Cookbook. You can find her on Instagram and Bluesky
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