EPISODE SYNOPSIS Beautiful Bruton in Somerset is the destination for this week’s The Filling podcast as Anna Barnett joins chef and restaurateur Merlin Labron-Johnson in his 15 th Century home to chat about his illustrious career beginning with his training in classical French cuisine, to his successful return to London and opening 3 restaurants in 5 years (including a Michelin star), and his eventual move to Somerset where he now runs The Old Pharmacy, a French style épicerie, and Osip, a nose-to-tail restaurant with no menu: a Michelin starred paean to the local produce. EPISODE NOTES 13:00 – 14:30) Here Merlin talks through his chef training abroad in Switzerland, France and Belgium confessing his love of and respect for classical French cooking techniques. 26:00 – 28:35) Seasonality and provenance are very much at the heart of Merlin’s cooking and underscore the ethos to his restaurants. Here he details how an emotional connection to the food you’re eating makes it taste better. 29:00 – 32:00) Merlin’s school days are recounted here with the chef confessing that he wasn’t particularly well-behaved at school. However, this gave him the opportunity to work in the school kitchen and from there a love of cooking was born. 41:30 – 44:30) Returning from working abroad Merlin had no real plan. So how did taking a job to pay the bills result in a Michelin star and launching 3 London restaurants in 5 years? 51:00 – 55:00) What does a restaurant that offers no menu to its diners look like? Here Merlin explains how dishes evolve through seed planting, cultivation, and harvesting: it’s all in the seasonality. 58:50 – 01:02:00) Merlin passionately recounts his ongoing commitment to working for refugee charities here cooking for over a thousand displaced people in Lesvos and Calais. TOP QUOTES “If I’m a little over-excited it’s because of you and that cookie.” Anna “Cooking, for me, is about respect for tradition with an eye to innovation.” Merlin “As a child I was only interested in getting into trouble and then I found cooking and I became obsessed with being a chef, but not just any chef: the best chef in the world.” Merlin “Some of the best dairy products, meat and fish I’ve ever had are produced in Somerset.” Merlin “Limitations create the greatest identities.” Merlin “We just say hi, thank you for coming, and this is what we’re going to cook for you.” Merlin “I’m two moths clean of carbs and sugar; and it’s not enjoyable.” Anna RESOURCES www.osiprestaurant.com www.flourishfarmstead.com www.helprefugees.org www.imadssyriankitchen.co.uk www.caffesicilia.it www.studionicholson.com www.thefelixproject.org ABOUT THE GUEST Growing up in south Devon, Merlin was always surrounded by organic and sustainable farming. His parents – a poetry writer and museum curator – always made sure there were good organic vegetables and wholesome food on the table. However, it was a disruptive school-life that found him assisting in the school kitchen, rather than attending classes, that really inspired Merlin to become a chef. After training extensively in traditional French cooking techniques across Europe, Merlin returned to London where he took the job of head chef at ‘Portland’ restaurant; 9 months later he was awarded a Michelin star. Two more restaurants followed, ‘The Conduit’ and ‘Clipstone’, before Merlin decided to start his own ventures in Bruton, Somerset. Now he run the French style épicerie, ‘The Old Pharmacy’, as well as the Michelin starred ‘Opis’ a no-menu restaurant showcasing the very best of Somerset produce. Instagram@merlin_johnson ABOUT THE HOST Anna Barnett displayed an enthusiastic interest