Jessie and Lennie Ware on cooking for Raymond Blanc, family meal times and the food that shaped them
Singer Jessie Ware and her co-host and mother Lennie chat about their own food podcast and why they spent 6 months planning their meal for Raymond Blanc
For singer-songwriter Jessie Ware and her mother, Lennie, food is at the heart of everything. As co-hosts of Table Manners, the hit podcast where they invite guests to share a meal and a chat, their conversations always come back to home cooking, family traditions and the pleasure of feeding people.
From childhood pressure cooker meals to extravagant roasts, their kitchen has always been a space of warmth and togetherness. We sat down with them to talk about the meals that shaped them, the best Table Manners guests, and why breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Discover Jessie and Lennie Ware's Mother's Day recipe edit. Listen to the full episode of the Good Food podcast then delve into the podcast archive for more culinary adventures.
On pressure cooker dinners and eating together
For Jessie, food has always been central to family life. “I just remember a lot of pressure cooker meals,” she laughs, recalling the quick dishes Lennie would throw together while managing a busy household. Lennie agrees: “I was always rushing. I’d do spag bol in the pressure cooker, but it would come out a bit watery.”
Despite the chaos, one thing remained consistent. “We always sat down to eat together. That was really important,” Lennie says. "It wasn’t just about eating—it was about creating a space where everyone could connect, no matter how busy life got."
That sense of community extended beyond their immediate family. “There were always people over. My best friend told me the other day that our house was always the party house. There were always loads of kids, and we were always eating.”
Jessie is determined to carry that tradition forward. “I want my home to be the house where all the kids come to. That way, at least I know what they’re up to!”
On cooking for esteemed chefs
As hosts of Table Manners, Jessie and Lennie have had some incredible guests—from Kate Winslet to Louis Theroux—but cooking for professional chefs is a different kind of pressure. “Obviously, any chef,” Jessie admits. “Jay Rayner, Nigel Slater… Raymond Blanc! We planned that meal for six months."
Lennie recalls the experience with a mix of pride and panic. “He took over the cooking in the kitchen, which, to be honest, we didn’t mind. He said to me, ‘You are a very good cook.’ And I said, ‘Oh, is there a little opening at Le Manoir?’ And he said, ‘I can also see you are very bossy.’”
They’ve had their share of mishaps, too. “Tommy Banks was a guest, and he told us, ‘The one thing I really hate is coconut.’ And guess what I made? A coconut cake.” Jessie groans. “It was desiccated coconut as well. Not even fresh. It was a disaster.”
Taking breakfast seriously
For the Ware family, breakfast is a ritual. “Breakfast was always a big thing,” Jessie says. “Mum used to make these incredible fry-ups on the weekends, but never with pork sausages. It was always beef, chicken or turkey sausages. And then she’d do tinned tomatoes, which she now pretends she never did.”
Lennie laughs. “Well, I also used to slow-cook fresh tomatoes! But yes, sometimes I did tinned.” The importance of a good breakfast has been passed down. “It’s something I’ve taken into my own family. We take breakfast seriously. It’s not just a bowl of Weetabix—it’s a proper meal.”
Chicken soup as love language
When asked about their favourite dishes, there’s no hesitation. “My chicken soup,” Lennie declares. “With matzo balls. Legendary.” Jessie agrees. “I don’t think I’ve ever had better.”
It’s a dish steeped in tradition and nostalgia. “My kids love it. They drink the broth straight from the bowl. And I love that,” Lennie says. Jessie adds, “Food is about memories. It’s about feeling safe and comforted. And nothing does that like Mum’s chicken soup.”
For Jessie and Lennie, food isn’t about complicated techniques or expensive ingredients—it’s about care. “You don’t need to overthink it,” Lennie says. “A great meal is about putting love into it.”
And for Jessie, that philosophy extends beyond the kitchen. “Whether it’s making music or making dinner, the best things happen when you do them with love.”
