Friday Dec 15, 2023

Jim Walters: Roast chicken

In the run-up to the holiday season I thought it would be appropriate to have a spiritual leader...

Jim has one of the most interesting jobs at the LSE: formally he is the Chaplain, but he is also the director of the all-religions Faith Centre as well as a professor in the department of International Relations. Recently, his time has been consumed by the Gaza conflict, in a region where he has been taking students to for over 10 years. More broadly he looks at 'religious entanglement in global conflict'.

Food has played a part in Jim's life in unexpected ways: as a means of bringing communities together as well as helping his struggling mother develop a weekly routine of roast chicken.

In part 2 my daughter Valentine and I briefly give credit to the traditional roast chicken, but quickly move on to two 'extreme' versions: low and slow versus high and fast. Which one is the winner?

As usual we provide numerous tips on how to roast without stress and to a good level of competence. There is also a special section on making the best sauce for your bird.

Bon Appetit.

“Food is an incredibly important tool in bringing people together and showing hospitality and in expressing shared religious sentiments” – Jim Walters

You’ll hear about:

01:59 – The many roles Jim has

08:27 - Why we need a nuanced approach to Israel-Palestine

09:51 – The role food has played in Jim’s life

16:21 – The virtues Jim looks for in team members

18:57 – Jim’s last great home dish

22:42 – Part 2 – Why roasting can seem daunting

26:03 – Two approaches to roasting chicken perfectly

37:50 – Three types of sauces

Episode resources:

Find out more about Jim:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-walters-b7879594/