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.

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

80 episodes
Updated July 26

Episodes80

Newest first

Oct 27, 2025 · 34 min
37: 🎃 What's Really In A Pumpkin Spice Latte
What is a Pumpkin Spice Latte really made of? How do you you sail a pumpkin? Who was Stingy Jack? Happy Halloween!
Oct 19, 2025 · 43 min
36: 🍄‍🟫 Was Jesus A Mushroom?
Why would you want a mushroom to eat you? Which country has specially-trained mushroom chemists? Was Jesus actually a mushroom?
Oct 12, 2025 · 37 min
35: ❄️ The Man Who Nearly Destroyed Earth...Twice
Who was the original King of Cool? Where are the world's dirtiest fridges? How are you using your fridge wrong?
Oct 5, 2025 · 39 min
34: 🍪 You're Eating Biscuits The Wrong Way Up
Did a digestive break up The Beatles? Are you chomping on your Hobnobs upside down? What biscuits were on offer in the Titanic lifeboats?
Sep 28, 2025 · 37 min
33: 🐟 The Herring That Nearly Started WW3
How did herring nearly start World War 3? When did fish have fingers? Is there such a thing as a fish? (Yes, and it's delicious).
Sep 21, 2025 · 39 min
32: 🍎 We Ate Newton's Gravity Apple
How can a movie be spoiled by an apple? When do apples break the sound barrier? Why are some apples better for cooking with?
Sep 14, 2025 · 38 min
31: 🫖 Lethal Tea-Making Contraptions
What is that scum on the top of your tea? Why were the first automatic tea-making contraptions so dangerous? Are you a MIFFY or a TIFFY?
Sep 7, 2025 · 37 min
30: ♨️ The Insane Truth Behind Microwave Clocks
How did squirrels help invent the microwave? Why don't ants mind microwaves? What's the big problem with microwave clocks? Dedicated to Nigella <3
Aug 31, 2025 · 40 min
29: 🍺 Why Ancient Egyptians Drank Beer Through Straws
Why shouldn't you tilt your glass when you pour a pint? Which city has an underground beer pipeline? Why did the Ancient Egyptians drink their beer through straws?
Aug 24, 2025 · 48 min
28: 🧂 The Saltiest Place On Earth
What’s the saltiest place on Earth? How can salt win a war? And why does some salt taste like egg?!
Aug 17, 2025 · 46 min
27: 🧀 The Bank Vault Full Of Parmesan Cheese
How do they put the holes in swiss cheese? Who eats the world's hardest cheese? Why would you put Parmesan in a bank?
Aug 10, 2025 · 33 min
26: 🌸 The 12-Year-Old Boy Who Gave The World Vanilla
Which 12-year-old boy do we have to thank for all the vanilla we have today? What links vanilla to a beaver's anus? What hack lets you use your vanilla pods more than once?
Aug 3, 2025 · 40 min
25: 🧈 How Butter Caused The Catholic Reformation
How did butter cause the Catholic Reformation? Where does extra-yellow butter come from? Who wants a buttershag?
Jul 27, 2025 · 40 min
24: 🥪 What's The Ultimate Supermarket Meal Deal?
Why would you eat a cotton wool sandwich? What is an earth sandwich made of? Who once ate a $275 sandwich containing over 8000 calories?
Jul 20, 2025 · 40 min
23: 🥐 The Secret Curvy Croissant Code
What on earth is a Piecaken? Why are some croissants curvy and some straight? Which pastry was invented by a literal idiot? With special guest Edd Kimber.
Jul 13, 2025 · 37 min
22: 🍓 The World's Most Delicious Anal Secretion
What does the opposite of a strawberry taste like? Who liked to bathe in strawberry juice? What have strawberries got to do with a beaver's anal glands?
Jul 10, 2025 · 13 min
Bonus: 🎾 Europe's Largest Annual Catering Event
Happy Wimbledon everyone! Who's got room for an extra-creamy second helping this week?
Jul 6, 2025 · 36 min
21: 🍫 Why Does American Chocolate Taste Like S***?
When is Dairy Milk not chocolate? Whose chocolate taste like vomit? Where can you use KitKats as postcards?
Jun 29, 2025 · 36 min
20: 🥑 Sainsbury's and M&S's Avocado Feud
Why would you tattoo an avocado? Which bird has to vomit up the avocado stone before it can fly? How did avocados spark a row between Sainsbury's and M&S?
Jun 22, 2025 · 34 min
19: 🍕 Does Pizza Really Count As One Of Your 5-A-Day?
Who paid their rent in pizza? Where would you need a 3D-printed pizza? How do you make pizza with beer?

Lunchbox Envy

37: 🎃 What's Really In A Pumpkin Spice Latte

36: 🍄‍🟫 Was Jesus A Mushroom?

35: ❄️ The Man Who Nearly Destroyed Earth...Twice

34: 🍪 You're Eating Biscuits The Wrong Way Up

33: 🐟 The Herring That Nearly Started WW3

32: 🍎 We Ate Newton's Gravity Apple

31: 🫖 Lethal Tea-Making Contraptions

30: ♨️ The Insane Truth Behind Microwave Clocks

29: 🍺 Why Ancient Egyptians Drank Beer Through Straws

28: 🧂 The Saltiest Place On Earth

27: 🧀 The Bank Vault Full Of Parmesan Cheese

26: 🌸 The 12-Year-Old Boy Who Gave The World Vanilla

25: 🧈 How Butter Caused The Catholic Reformation

24: 🥪 What's The Ultimate Supermarket Meal Deal?

23: 🥐 The Secret Curvy Croissant Code

22: 🍓 The World's Most Delicious Anal Secretion

Bonus: 🎾 Europe's Largest Annual Catering Event

21: 🍫 Why Does American Chocolate Taste Like S***?

20: 🥑 Sainsbury's and M&S's Avocado Feud

19: 🍕 Does Pizza Really Count As One Of Your 5-A-Day?