The Food Granny: Grit, Jam, and a Cat Named Milo

Christine Smith — better known as The Food Granny — joins me for a conversation seasoned with grit, jam, humor, and the kind of lived‑in wisdom that only comes from a life cooked slowly. Born in post‑war Yorkshire and shaped by ration‑era kitchens, Christine learned to cook by watching her grandmothers move through a kitchen like it was a language. She talks about simple food, wooden spoons, jam that forces you to slow down, and why Italian food is “peasant food done properly.” We explore her unexpected journey: breaking her arm in Vietnam, writing a book with one finger on her phone, and accidentally turning her cat Milo into an AI‑generated internet celebrity. We also dive into language, grit, Aussie‑isms that “rip her knitting,” and the joy of embracing who you are instead of performing for the world. This episode is warm, grounded, funny, and full of the kind of small truths that sneak up on you. Pull up a chair. Pour a cup of tea. Let Milo sleep on the stool next to you. You’re going to love this one. #TheFoodGranny #50TastesOfGray #CookingStories Christine Smith – The Food Granny Website: thefoodgranny.com.au Instagram: @thefoodgranny Book: Granny’s Gripes Follow Matthew: 🎙️ 50 Tastes Of Gray — Broadcasting from Honolulu. One guest. No rules. 📸 Instagram: @50tastesofgray 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/50TastesOfGrayPodcast 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-hawaii ✍️ Substack: 50TastesOfGray.substack.com 🌺 HawaiiFoodTours.com ▶️ YouTube: @50TastesOfGray