Italian food in Italy? | Chris McCausland | Dish Podcast

Once upon a time, a 99p pizza changed Chris McCausland’s life. Now it’s time to see if Angela’s cottage pie can do the same…

Chris McCausland is a comedian, author, and Strictly Come Dancing champion. He joins us to chat about his stand-up show, Yonks, which may have kicked off in 2024 but is still touring the UK into 2026. We also dive into his memoir Keep Laughing, and revisit the magic of Chris’s Strictly Come Dancing win, a career-defining experience that remains a true core memory for the whole Strictly fan base.

Armed with a decisive list of likes and dislikes, Chris wastes no time revealing some very particular views, especially when it comes to ginger beer. Luckily, we get it right, starting with a crisp, cold glass of Fentimans ginger beer and a bowl of moreish salt and vinegar Pringles to pair alongside it. It’s followed by the best cottage pie, a recipe by Martha Collison, with a side of Savoy cabbage. Angela also made a gluten-free version for Nick, substituting Marmite and Worcestershire sauce for gluten-free soy sauce. The British classic was paired with a No.1 Viña Lorea Reserva Rioja, a perfect match for the pie’s rich, savoury filling and creamy mash topping.

Although within minutes of sitting down, Chris is reviewing the Dish chair, he quickly settles in sharing his brilliant food takes on “swampy” hotel eggs, mayonnaise as sandwich glue, and why Italian food might sometimes be best enjoyed in Greece.

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We can’t all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she’ll try to answer in a future episode.

Dish is a Cold Glass Production for Waitrose

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