Lunchbox Envy

From the makers of QI and No Such Thing As A Fish: Gastronomically-minded QI researchers Jack Chambers and Manu Henriot join chef and food writer Rosie MacKean to unpack the world of food and drink, one lunchbox at a time.

Can you unboil an egg? Why would you milk a spider? How much Dairy Milk would it take to kill you? Dig in now to get answers to the questions you never knew you had.

2026 British Podcast Awards Finalist

Hosts: Rosie MacKean, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot
Producer: Alex Bell
© Quite Interesting Ltd 2025

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29 episodes
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#86
October 6 · 1 hr 1 min
86: 🥂 The Real Widows Of Champagne Region
Who was the first person to pop out of a cake? Which supermarket's caterpillar cake has the most disappointing name? What's the best strategy to score the most canapés at a wedding? Farewell from Team Lunchbox! ❤️✨ Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#85
September 27 · 40 min
85: ☢️ How The Experts Are Stocking Up For The Apocalypse
How do you open a can without a can opener? Who ended a military siege armed only with a fake loaf of bread? Why shouldn't you hire a private chef for your luxury fallout shelter? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#84
September 20 · 54 min
84: 🍞 When Bread Was Sold Stale...By Law
Is it OK to feed bread to the ducks or not? Where can you find Japanese English French toast? What's the difference between a trencher and a sop? Hosts: Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#83
September 13 · 47 min
83: ⭐ Why Some Chefs Hate Getting Michelin Stars
What five things do you need to nail to impress the Michelin judges? How did a garden shed end up at the top of the Google Review restaurant rankings? Which country did soldiers invade literally armed with a restaurant guide? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#82
September 6 · 46 min
82: 🍍 Does Pineapple Really Make S**** Taste Nicer?
Why did SpongeBob's house have to be redesigned? How do you make a cocktail out of torpedo fuel? When you eat pineapple, does it eat you back? Hosts: Alex Bell, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#81
August 30 · 34 min
81: 🛒 Walmart Employees Use Virtual Reality To Practise For Black Friday
Which supermarket divided Germany down the middle? Who's the sexist cereal mascot? Are you allowed to snack on the food while you shop? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#80
August 23 · 45 min
80: 🤯 Is Your Local Chip Shop Faking Their Vinegar?
Why should you smother yourself in mustard? Which is the most Brexit-y condiment? What links James Bond to Gentleman's Relish? Hosts: Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#79
August 16 · 42 min
79: 🕊️ Eating Gourmet Scabs Off A Peasant's Foot
What's the secret jingle hidden in Da Vinci's Last Supper? Could you actually feed 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish? What happens when you get a mouse drunk on Buckfast? Hosts: Alex Bell, Manu Henriot Guest: John Mitchinson Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#78
August 9 · 53 min
78: 🌶️ The Hottest Ever Chilli Is Locked In A Secret Greenhouse
Would you eat a chilli placenta? Is there a better cure for chilli burn than milk? What's the secret to the perfect piri piri sauce? Hosts: Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#77
August 2 · 49 min
77: 🌋 Spain's Volcano-Powered Restaurant
What is every chef's secret weapon? How did a moustache start a waiters' strike? Would you like to have dinner 150 feet up in the air? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#76
July 26 · 47 min
76: 🍜 Pad Thai Is A Government Invention
Where can you ride a train powered by noodle broth? Who uses noodles as currency? When should you replace your pasta with noodles? Hosts: Alex Bell, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#75
July 19 · 46 min
75: 🥒 Why Disney Grew The World's Biggest Cucumber Plant
How did the Romans build their greenhouses out of stone? When is pickle juice mouthwash a good idea? Is cucumber juice actually any good for you? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#74
July 12 · 42 min
74: 🌽 XXX UNRATED Corn Smut NSFW [Explicit Farming]
Which animal pees popcorn flavour? When is someone else's saliva in your drink a delicacy? Why is Tom Cruise so good at eating corn on the cob? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#73
July 6 · 43 min
73: 🌊 The Chef Who Caused A Tahini-nami
How do you smuggle meat into a vegetarian restaurant? Who needs a mochi attachment on their hoover? What's a goth's favourite food? With special guest, chef and food writer Helen Graham Hosts: Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Guest: Helen Graham Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#72
June 28 · 35 min
72: ✈️ The Great Sandwich War Of 1958
Who needs a gyroscopic kitchen? How do you save $500,000 by slicing limes? What actually is the deal with airline food? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#71
June 22 · 40 min
71: 🌋 The World's Most Expensive Pistachios Come From A Volcano
Why did pistachios used to be bright red? Where in the world do pistachio trees need police protection? How could a pistachio help you survive a car crash? Hosts: Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#70
June 14 · 39 min
70: 🔐 Why The Recipe For [REDACTED] Is Locked In A Vault
Why doesn't Coca-Cola have to list their secret ingredients on their packaging? How do you break out of prison with peanut butter? What happened to the mythical Roman spice silphium? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#69
June 7 · 45 min
69: 💦 Could You Cook With Human Oil?
Why should you beware of Chinese gutter oil? Which oil is the healthiest to fry with? Does snake oil actually work? Hosts: Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#68
May 31 · 46 min
68: 🫛 Ozempic For Medieval Peasants
Why are frozen peas better than fresh peas? How do you use a pea as an alarm clock? Whose constipation can be cured with a single pea? Hosts: Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot, Rosie MacKean Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025
#67
May 24 · 52 min
67: 🍬 Why They Set Fire To Your Sugar
When is it a good idea to set fire to your sugar cane field? Why would you sprinkle sugar over a bee? Do you prefer your sugar in cubes or loaves? Hosts: Alex Bell, Jack Chambers, Manu Henriot Producer: Alex Bell © Quite Interesting Ltd 2025

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