Towpath: Recipes & Stories – Details, episodes & analysis

In Part 4, our final episode in the Towpath series, we learn what makes Lori and Laura's partnership work, and what it's been like to grow a business together for the last eleven years. Having started Towpath from scratch – with no business plan and no prior experience running their own place – Lori and Laura have had their fair share of adventures, changes and road bumps along the way. Through it all, they have found joy in lessons learned, and relish the community of people that have become part of the Towpath family. One of their dearest regulars is Turner Prize-nominated artist Enrico David, who speaks to Lori about his first grilled cheese sandwich, what attracted him to Towpath, and how he's had to step in on many a busy weekend morning to save the day! 

Find out more about Enrico David's work here.

Pick up their new book Towpath: Recipes & Stories from Bookshop.org or your favourite bookstore.

Follow Lori De Mori on insta @towpathlolo and Laura Jackson @towpath_laurajackson.

The producer is Hester Cant.

In Part Three Lori and Laura delve into what a season at Towpath looks like, from their opening day in March where everyone bundles up to survive the cold, onto the first warm weekend of spring when customers flock to Towpath to enjoy the long-forgotten sunshine, to the final days in November, where fireworks, dancing and festivities mark the end of the season. Laura is also joined by chef and food writer Olia Hercules to discuss their favourite dishes and the secrets behind some of Towpath's best recipes, including confit garlic and goat's curd, beetroot borani, crispy lamb with hummus, braised cuttlefish and more.  They're also joined by the talented photographer Joe Woodhouse, who documented Towpath over the last ten years for their recent book Towpath: Recipes & Stories, alongside photographer Scott MacSween. 

Pick up their new book Towpath: Recipes & Stories from Bookshop.org or your favourite bookstore.

Follow Lori De Mori on insta @towpathlolo and Laura Jackson @towpath_laurajackson. 

You can find Olia Hercules on insta @oliahercules and Joe Woodhouse @table_top_joe.

The producer is Hester Cant.

In Part 2 we hear from Lori and Laura about the beginnings of Towpath, from discovering three kiosks for sale on Regent's Canal to the many lessons learned in those early days of running a new restaurant with no on-site kitchen and no indoor seating. Lori also sits down with the talented wildlife cinematographer Sophie Darlington (who films for the likes of David Attenborough for BBC, Netflix, NatGeo, etc) and is a dear friend and regular of Towpath. Lori and Sophie discuss their careers, how their work has some surprising similarities and why Sophie rushes over to Towpath as soon as she gets back from a work trip, hungry for conversation, friends and Laura's wholesome food. 

Pick up their new book Towpath: Recipes & Stories directly from Towpath Café, or from Bookshop.org or your favourite bookstore.

Follow Lori De Mori on insta @towpathlolo and Laura Jackson @towpath_laurajackson. Sophie Darlington can be found on Insta @sophie_d_wildlife

The Producer is Hester Cant

Welcome to Towpath – a restaurant made up of four little kiosks along Regent's Canal in East London. Inspired by their recent cookbook Towpath: Recipes & Stories, founders Lori de Mori and Laura Jackson bring together the voices of Towpath’s dearest friends, loyal regulars, and the team behind the scenes, as well as the sounds of the bustling canal surrounding them.

Part 1 delves into how Lori and Laura started their careers in food, and where their inspiration for Towpath began.  Laura sits down with chef and food writer Rosie Sykes, who's had a huge influence on the Towpath kitchen, and is the source of some classic Towpath dishes such as their Bacon and Egg Pie with Rhubarb Ketchup. Laura and Rosie look at what the challenges and joys are of working in the Towpath kitchen, and how the food and menu has changed over time. 

Pick up their new book Towpath: Recipes & Stories directly from Towpath Café, or from Bookshop.org or your favourite bookstore.

Follow Lori De Mori on insta @towpathlolo and Laura Jackson @towpath_laurajackson. Rosie Sykes can be found on Insta @Rosiebluebell

A huge thanks to Hester Cant for producing this podcast.

A new podcast from London's iconic Towpath Café, capturing the ebb and flow of community, food, and the seasons. 

A lot has changed since Towpath first rolled up its shutters 10 years ago on the Regent’s Canal in London and everything but the toasted cheese sandwich was cooked from home across the bridge. And a lot hasn’t. With only outdoor seating, no phone or takeaway, and where electronic devices are frowned upon, Towpath is still one of the few places in London where time stands still. 

Inspired by their recent cookbook Towpath: Recipes & Stories, founders Lori de Mori and Laura Jackson bring together the voices of Towpath’s dearest friends, loyal regulars, and the team behind the scenes, as well as the sounds of the bustling canal surrounding them. Lori and Laura discuss the evolution of their food, and the influences on Towpath’s classic dishes with celebrated chefs like Olia Hercules and Rosie Sykes. They also delve into the importance of community and their commitment to fostering a warm and intimate space, where people can get to know one another. As Kiera Knightly writes, 'Towpath is one of the reasons I live in London. It s a jewel-like, dream of a place. Somewhere to sit and watch the world go by. It's the perfect mix of strength and fragility. A treat for each one of the senses.'

Subscribe and look out for the first episode arriving in your feed soon. 

Although Towpath has had to close due to government restrictions they will be opening again shortly. Check their opening times at Towpathlondon.com. 

Pick up their new book Towpath: Recipes & Stories directly from Towpath Café, or from Bookshop.org or your favourite bookstore. 

Follow Lori De Mori on insta @towpathlolo and Laura Jackson @towpath_laurajackson.

Find out more about Chelsea Green Publishing visit: www.chelseagreen.com. 

A huge thanks to Hester Cant for producing this podcast.