Melvin Odoom

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

In this episode of Off Menu, hosts Ed Gamble and James Acaster welcome superstar DJ Melvin Odoom to the Dream Restaurant. The conversation t

Key takeaways

• Melvin Olamedo discusses his upcoming participation in Celebrity MasterChef.
• The hosts reminisce about the 'proving ground' of early panel shows like Sweat the Small Stuff.

Main topics

• Dream Menu Selection
• Ghanaian Culinary Traditions

Notable quotes

The best cook in the world for me is my mum.

Conclusion

A nostalgic and high-energy episode that celebrates food through perso

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) Hi guys, it's Ed Gamble here from the Off Menu Podcast, the podcast you're listening to right now. And I am going on tour next year with my brand new stand-up show, Fresh Hell, and I'm delighted to announce that we are adding two more shows at the incredible London Palladium. They are on Friday the 19th of March and Saturday the 20th of March. These are prime Palladium spots, Friday and a Saturday. You've got to get in there. Pre-sale for these shows is on Thursday the 1st of October. General sale Friday the 2nd of October. Go to my website, edgamble.co.uk for ticket details. Speaker 1 (0:49) Welcome to the Off Menu Podcast, taking the peaches of conversation, grilling them on the coals of humour, drizzling them in the honey of friendship, and a little dollop of the creme fraiche of the internet. What's that dish called? I don't know, grilled peaches with honey, I guess. I want it. Yeah. Speaker 2 (1:07) You could put basil on Speaker 1 (1:09) it as well, that Speaker 2 (1:09) would be quite nice. James Acaster, together we own a dream restaurant, every single week we're inviting a guest. And we asked them the favourite ever starter, main course, dessert, side dish and drink. Not in that order. And this week, our guest is Speaker 1 (1:19) Melvin O'Doom. We love Melvin. Speaker 2 (1:24) Melvin is superstar DJ. We have been on panel shows with Melvin when we started out. Started doing TV shows. He was so nice and welcoming, so funny. And so good to hang out with on those shows. So he's got a very special place in our heart. I'm so glad we finally got Melvin on the podcast. Speaker 1 (1:41) One thing I probably won't say to Melvin, because I don't want to bring up this gig, but I once did a corporate gig. Yeah. And you had to go on and do 20 minutes, but it was just people walking around like it was a party. So no one listened. It was all really awful people. Melvin was on DJing later. Yeah. And him and Ricky, who he DJs with, I went on and they literally stood right at the front. and watched the whole thing and laughed really loudly while everyone else was talking. Speaker 2 (2:09) Yeah, yeah. And Speaker 1 (2:09) I was just like, these two guys are total legends. Speaker 2 (2:12) They're absolutely, they're really supportive of everyone around them. If you're working with Ricky and Melvin, they've got your back. Yes, yeah, Speaker 1 (2:20) yeah. So we're very happy to have Melvin on. He's so funny. He's such a sweet man. Check him out on Celebrity MasterChef as well. Speaker 2 (2:26) Yeah. But listen, Melvin, we love you, but if you say the secret ingredient, we are going to kick you out of the dream restaurant. And this week, the secret ingredient is... Doom Speaker 1 (2:33) Bar! Doom Bar, Odum. Doom Bar, the beer. Speaker 2 (2:37) Doom Bar, the beer, Doom Bar. Speaker 1 (2:40) Odum's such a cool name, man. It's a real shame he's not entrenched in the heavy metal community because Odum would be perfect. It'd Speaker 2 (2:48) be really cool. Yeah. I mean, you can maybe introduce him to the heavy metal community. I think Melvin is such a, like, he does support everyone. If you did take him to a metal event, I think he'd Speaker 1 (2:57) really jump in. I'd take him to a Doom gig, a Doom metal gig. Doom metal, yeah, yeah. Odum Metal. Take him to see Yob. Speaker 2 (3:05) But yeah, if he picks that, he's Speaker 1 (3:06) out. Yeah, yeah. See you later, Melvin. Sorry and thanks for the support. This is the Off Menu Menu. Melvin Odum. Speaker 1 (3:22) Welcome, Melvin, to the Dream Restaurant. Easy. Welcome, Melvin O'Doom, to the Dream Speaker 2 (3:27) Restaurant. I've been expecting you for some time. Speaker 3 (3:29) You know what? It's mad because I was thinking about this on the way here that I kind of have watched you guys blow up into these big superstars. Do Speaker 1 (3:39) you Speaker 3 (3:39) remember that show that we did years ago called Sweatless Small Stuff? Yes, absolutely. When I was like a team captain and you both came on as guests and I just both thought... I thought both of you were so hilarious. And to now watch you go into these massive superstars is such a big deal. I'm just almost, I don't know if proud is the right word. You can say proud. I Speaker 1 (3:58) can Speaker 3 (3:58) say proud? Yeah. I am proud Speaker 2 (3:59) of you. You were very, very supportive. Yes. I didn't do anything. I Speaker 3 (4:04) remember Speaker 2 (4:04) doing Sweat the Small Stuff. We hadn't done much TV. That was Speaker 1 (4:08) my first panel show ever. Yeah. My first panel show ever. Speaker 2 (4:11) And you were very, yeah, you could have just been like, okay. Speaker 1 (4:14) Right. another couple of whippersnappers coming on this. Speaker 2 (4:17) I'm annoyed at these like super green comics week after week. Some people would have that jaded attitude, Melvin, but you were really laughing. You'd say afterwards, oh man, you're so funny. You were Speaker 3 (4:28) both genuinely funny. And when I think back to that show, there were so many comedians on there who are doing great things now. Like Romesh did it as well. Rob Beckett did it. Tom Allen. There's so many names that came through and that would have been the first time I saw them on TV as well. So you're, part of that fraternity, I feel. It Speaker 1 (4:45) was a good proving ground. It was a good sort of first TV thing for a lot of comics. Without wanting Speaker 2 (4:50) to sound like an old man comic, there's not that many young comedians anymore on TV. Well, Speaker 3 (4:55) now it has started with the SNL UK. Yeah. But you're right, prior to that, there hasn't been anything for young comedians. They Speaker 2 (5:02) have the same cast every week. Yeah, true. This was like, every comic, go on this, learn how to do a panel show, you know, I mean, now, sadly, Grimmie. who hosted that show is our enemy. Speaker 1 (5:14) He's a rival food podcast. We Speaker 2 (5:18) can't Speaker 1 (5:19) be complimenting Grimmy on this. You never Speaker 2 (5:22) mention him. Speaker 3 (5:23) For the first time he's ever Speaker 2 (5:24) been mentioned. Speaker 3 (5:25) Would Speaker 2 (5:25) you have him on the podcast? No. Speaker 1 (5:28) Never. Speaker 2 (5:28) Who Speaker 1 (5:29) started Speaker 3 (5:29) first? We did. Absolutely. Speaker 2 (5:33) We've had Angela on. Speaker 1 (5:35) Angela's fine. No, we regret that now. Speaker 2 (5:38) It was before they had their podcast. Speaker 1 (5:40) We didn't Speaker 2 (5:41) know we had a Speaker 1 (5:41) spy here. Speaker 2 (5:42) And if Speaker 1 (5:43) you're spying on us right now, Speaker 2 (5:44) and you're going to start some food-related stuff. Definitely not. So help me. Even though you encouraged us when we were new comedians before we were mega superstars, we won't be happy with you, Melvin, if you're spying on us right now. This is a spy mission. Speaker 1 (5:57) If Speaker 3 (5:57) you're going to Speaker 1 (5:57) call Grimmy as soon as this finishes. I do love Grimmy. Speaker 3 (6:00) He does his show next door to us, actually. Does he now? Yeah, because he's six music and Radio 1, so he's like about two studios away. Do Speaker 1 (6:06) you Speaker 2 (6:06) still see him a lot? Do you talk about the small stuff with Grimmie? He doesn't really talk about that just because he's got this superstar lifestyle where Speaker 3 (6:12) he knows all the big celebrities. Yeah, he knows some big celebs. I mean, you guys know some names. Yeah, we have some Speaker 1 (6:18) good celebs Speaker 3 (6:19) as well. Speaker 1 (6:19) Have you done Dish? I haven't done Dish. Right, but you're on this one, so... I Speaker 3 (6:23) won't do it now. Speaker 1 (6:24) Yeah. Speaker 3 (6:24) Yeah. Speaker 1 (6:25) That's actually in Speaker 3 (6:26) your contract. Really? You're Speaker 1 (6:27) not allowed to Speaker 3 (6:28) do Dish. Speaker 1 (6:28) Is that for real? Forever, yeah, yeah, yeah. Speaker 2 (6:31) You can't do it. Okay, fair. That's why Dish has never had Huge Davis on. Speaker 1 (6:35) Yeah. We had Speaker 2 (6:36) him and he can't Speaker 1 (6:37) do Speaker 3 (6:37) Dish now. I wonder if you guys fight for guests. Speaker 1 (6:40) Yeah, I mean, sometimes we'll get an availability check for a guest and then not hear anything back and then they pop up on Dish and... I've got to say, it puts me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Okay, good Speaker 3 (6:49) to know. Yeah. Pretty annoying. Yeah. Okay. So note to self, don't do dish. Speaker 2 (6:54) Don't do it. And note to everyone, not just to self. Don't do dish. Can I Speaker 3 (6:58) mention to Grimmy that I've done this? Speaker 2 (6:59) Yeah, yeah, definitely. Make sure he knows. Rub it in his Speaker 3 (7:02) face. Okay, cool. Say it was great. Let's take some pictures and I'll show him off. Yeah. I'll do it tomorrow. Get Speaker 2 (7:07) him. Do you like cooking? I think Speaker 3 (7:09) I'm an okay cook. I'm doing a cooking show at the moment. I'm doing Celebrity MasterChef. Speaker 1 (7:17) That's a big show, man. I can't give anything away. That's, I mean, to be cooking on a national stage like that is quite intimidating. Yeah. Speaker 3 (7:24) I wasn't nervous until you said that, but yes, you're right. Have you Speaker 1 (7:28) filmed it already? Speaker 3 (7:29) Yeah, I have, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Speaker 1 (7:32) But Speaker 3 (7:32) when it goes out, they're going to watch you. Everyone's going to see it, Melvin. Everyone's going to see your cooking. Speaker 1 (7:36) Okay. And it's everyone in the nation. Speaker 3 (7:39) Okay, Speaker 1 (7:39) yeah. Speaker 3 (7:39) Everyone in the nation. That doesn't help again. No. No. And I can't say anything without giving it away. Yeah, you don't want to give anything away. Speaker 1 (7:47) But you look pretty confident sat here, I'll be honest. I can see it in your eyes. Speaker 3 (7:50) Well, I love food, which is why I'm here. So I've kind of learned enough to get away with cooking for myself and making sure things taste delicious. But the best cook in the world for me is my mum. I think no one can beat my mum. Is your mum being on Speaker 1 (8:05) dish? Speaker 3 (8:05) She's never been on Dish. No, so you'd like her Speaker 1 (8:07) as well. Speaker 3 (8:07) Maybe we'll get your mum on here. Yeah, after. You should get rid of me right now and have her Speaker 2 (8:11) on the podcast. Happily, we can do that if you want, Benito. Speaker 3 (8:15) Can Speaker 2 (8:16) we do Speaker 3 (8:16) that? Get Speaker 2 (8:16) rid of Melvin. Speaker 3 (8:17) She lives in like, North London, so it'd take about an hour and a half for us to get there. And she'll Speaker 1 (8:22) need Speaker 3 (8:22) to get Speaker 1 (8:22) ready Speaker 3 (8:22) to figure out where we are. Speaker 1 (8:24) So Speaker 3 (8:24) she's cooking Speaker 1 (8:25) Ghanaian food? Speaker 3 (8:26) Yeah, and like, in Ghanaian, do you have many Ghanaian friends? We've had a couple of Ghanaian heritage guests on. Speaker 2 (8:32) We have, yes. I mean, a nice pivot there from whether we've got Ghanaian friends. We've met some Ghanaians. Speaker 1 (8:39) Everyone who's been on the show is our friend. Speaker 3 (8:42) Okay, good. Well, in that case, you would know that in Ghanaian culture, food is a big, big deal. It's how we make everyone feel welcome. I feel like Ghanaians are the most welcoming people. If it was to go to my dad's house right now, he'd start making you a sandwich and sit you down in front of the table. just get you to feel comfortable. And we do that with food. And I'd say like, there's a different food for each mood and for each feeling. So if I'm sick, my mum would make you her hot pepper soup or something like that. Or there's a thing called banku, which is quite a starchy, it looks like a bowl. And you kind of like pound it together and you have it with like hot pepper stew or fish or meat and stuff like that. So yeah, my mum's food is like my number one thing. Speaker 2 (9:25) Wow. So will it feature on the menu or do you not want to do any spoilers? It's going Speaker 3 (9:28) to feature later on, yeah. Good. I Speaker 1 (9:30) love different food for every mood. Speaker 3 (9:32) Yeah, yeah. Speaker 1 (9:33) Also, the first mood you mentioned was sick. Yeah, because I didn't want to ruin my happy mood. Yeah, okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's your mood today? Sick. Speaker 2 (9:48) I'm in a sick mood. Speaker 1 (9:49) Yeah, sick's not really a mood, is it? Yeah. Speaker 3 (9:52) You're right, okay. Fair play. It could be. It could be. I'm Speaker 1 (9:57) in Speaker 3 (9:57) a sick mood. It depends because there's sick as in a... Speaker 2 (9:59) That's a sick Speaker 3 (10:01) outfit you're wearing. Yeah. Speaker 2 (10:03) You said you've been hanging out with Craig David recently. If you told Craig David you're in a sick mood, he'd be pretty happy to Speaker 3 (10:07) hear that. Speaker 2 (10:07) He'd Speaker 1 (10:08) love that. Yeah. And he's Speaker 3 (10:10) a Speaker 1 (10:10) lovely man. Have you ever been for an ice cream with Craig David? And if you have, would you say, what's your flavour? Speaker 3 (10:19) You knew this was coming, didn't you? Because I thought he was going to do something to do with the days. What Speaker 2 (10:23) day? Speaker 3 (10:23) Yeah, well, we could do that now. Yeah. Speaker 2 (10:27) What day was it on and what's your flavour? Speaker 1 (10:32) Sunday, I'm trying to do. Huh? Speaker 2 (10:34) Sunday, ice cream Sunday. Oh, yeah. But Sunday he's having sex. Sunday, yeah. Is he having Speaker 1 (10:39) sex on Sunday? Speaker 2 (10:40) Yeah, yeah. No, he shows on Sunday. He shows on Sunday, which Speaker 1 (10:42) is Speaker 2 (10:42) perfect. Yeah. Speaker 3 (10:44) See, I'm really bad with like jokey puns. Yeah. Can I try now? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've got one, but I need to fill you in. Okay. Oh. That was it. That's good. Yeah. Did you miss it? Yeah. Speaker 1 (10:55) No, I really liked it. I feel it's better. For Speaker 3 (10:58) a Speaker 1 (10:58) while, I had to like quickly in Speaker 3 (10:59) my Speaker 1 (10:59) head Google Craig David. Yeah. Like stuff. Speaker 3 (11:01) And Speaker 2 (11:02) I was like, oh yeah. Speaker 3 (11:02) First ever tune from him. Yeah, yeah. I think we've done the main three. Yeah, those are the top ones. Speaker 1 (11:07) We haven't really done the one that he did the... Well, I don't know which... Sometimes you get mixed up with Craig David. I'm like, what was him and what was Bo Selector? Yeah. Speaker 3 (11:16) Never say that to him. Speaker 2 (11:17) No, never bring up Bo Selector. But obviously the first song I heard him do was the one that he says... Fill me in. Now, I can't actually remember the lyrics to it because people used to sing it to a kid in my class at school and change the lyrics to make fun of the fact he had BO. So in my head... Speaker 1 (11:34) Rewind. Speaker 2 (11:35) R-E-Y. Oh. And the crowd say Bo, selector. And Speaker 1 (11:38) the crowd say B-O, selector. Speaker 2 (11:39) Yeah, that was, yeah. And they didn't say selector, they said sweater because this kid sweated a lot. Speaker 3 (11:45) So I was the B-O kid. Not because I smelled, but because I was small. Yeah. I would always get, people would make fun of me. Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, it's all right. Speaker 2 (11:57) Still a sparkling water mouth. Speaker 3 (11:59) Initially, I wanted to go still, but this is my dream menu, right? Speaker 1 (12:03) So Speaker 3 (12:04) I'm going to go for sparkling because I feel like it's more of a treat. Speaker 1 (12:08) Yes. Speaker 3 (12:08) And it reminds me of like my family home. My mum would have a little bottle of Perrier water by the side with a twist of lime. You don't see that anymore. Speaker 1 (12:18) And Speaker 3 (12:18) we weren't allowed to have it. So anytime she left the room, I would sneak in. and have a few sips of it. Because that Speaker 1 (12:25) was her water. That was her water. It was almost like Speaker 3 (12:28) an elixir. Yeah. It was like a special divine type of water. Speaker 1 (12:32) Yeah. Speaker 3 (12:32) And so, yeah, mum's Perrier water with a twist of lime would be my go-to. Speaker 1 (12:36) Did it almost taste better because it was stolen? I have a... Not stolen. Well, she told you to not have it and it was her water and she went out the room and you had a sip of it. He's such a squirt. I like to use the Speaker 3 (12:47) word Speaker 1 (12:47) borrow. You were gobbling it back into the bottle? Speaker 3 (12:50) Well, we've got the same saliva, same DNA. So it doesn't really count. It's like if your brother or your siblings were to use your toothbrush, that'd be fine, no? Speaker 2 (13:03) No, not fine. It happened to me once. Speaker 3 (13:05) Really? Speaker 2 (13:06) Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was bad. Me and my brother discovered that we'd unknowingly been using each other's toothbrushes for the same toothbrush for months. Speaker 3 (13:12) So you didn't even notice though, because it's the same mouth. Speaker 2 (13:15) Same mouth. Same DNA. Yeah, sure, same mouth, same DNA. But it was bad when I was brushing my teeth with the door open. And I turned around and my brother stopped in the corridor and looked at me and goes, that's my toothbrush. And I looked at him and went, this is my toothbrush. And both of us at the same time went, oh no. Speaker 1 (13:30) I will challenge Melvin's idea that you have the same mouth. Yeah, we don't have the same mouth. Same DNA, Speaker 3 (13:37) same Speaker 2 (13:37) saliva. I don't think exactly the same because if I did a crime... Yeah, Speaker 3 (13:41) right. Wouldn't it work if you took it? And the cops Speaker 2 (13:43) got my DNA. They wouldn't go, oh, it's a member of the Acaster family, but we don't know which one because they've all got exactly the same DNA. So does that Speaker 3 (13:49) only work for urine if you're trying to give, like, a sample? Like, let's say if they do, like, drug tests at your workplace. Yeah. For example. For example. I'm not saying Speaker 2 (13:59) I'd do that. Speaker 3 (13:59) But Speaker 2 (13:59) with that, they're not testing, like... I think they're just testing what's in the urine. They're not going like, is this your urine or not? So you can use any urine, is what you're saying? Speaker 3 (14:09) Yeah, clean urine. Some people use clean urine. Do people in the films always use someone that's related to them? Speaker 2 (14:15) I think it's someone who would do it for them. Who would go, yeah, okay, I'll do that to help you. Okay. But they don't go like... For when the cops test it to see if it's a med drum. They're Speaker 1 (14:24) just Speaker 2 (14:24) testing Speaker 1 (14:25) for drugs, they're not testing for whose urine it is. Speaker 3 (14:26) That's good to know. We've learnt a lot. All of us do. Speaker 1 (14:29) But that's why they always make them Speaker 3 (14:30) go in the toilet. I feel like we've collectively learnt that. Yeah. Because they always go Speaker 1 (14:35) in there and do the sample. Right. And then the person will have like a bottle strapped to their leg or something. Yes. Because they have to do it, the way they're trying to make sure it's theirs is by them doing it sort of in front of them. Speaker 3 (14:45) Okay. Right, okay. But also, Speaker 1 (14:47) I just don't, yeah, brothers don't have the same mouths. But the same DNA. I think you can differentiate. Speaker 3 (14:54) Different DNA. Yeah. Well, have you tested it? You're saying this, but have you lined up, like, let's say, like, do you have a brother? Yeah, Speaker 1 (15:01) but he's half-brother, so there's... It doesn't count. I need a full brother. And Speaker 3 (15:05) then would you get your partner, and then you blindfold them, and then you'd both kiss the partner and see if they could tell the difference. Why is that the Speaker 2 (15:13) first test you come up with? Speaker 3 (15:14) Scientific. It's the first test. I'm not a scientist. It Speaker 2 (15:17) is, if it was my science exam. Speaker 3 (15:18) That is Speaker 2 (15:18) science. Speaker 3 (15:19) Yeah. Speaker 2 (15:20) It's biology. I get my brother to kiss my girlfriend. Speaker 3 (15:22) And then see if they can tell the difference. Because it's the same mouth. Same mouth. We haven't tested Speaker 2 (15:27) it, Speaker 3 (15:27) so we don't know the results yet. That's all I'm saying. Speaker 1 (15:29) And that's a good idea for a TV show. Exactly. Have Speaker 3 (15:32) you got a brother? I have a half-brother called Speaker 2 (15:34) Isaac in America. Well, maybe you could half-kiss your wife. Speaker 1 (15:43) We can test that out, yeah. This is a great TV show, guys. Yeah. Yeah? Speaker 2 (15:47) Yeah. Speaker 1 (15:47) I feel like Speaker 2 (15:48) we Speaker 1 (15:48) need to... It's called That's My Brother. That's My Brother. I Speaker 2 (15:51) think we need to contact the people who made Naked Attraction. They'd make this. How did Speaker 3 (15:57) they have Speaker 2 (15:57) so many Speaker 3 (15:57) Caesars of that show? Speaker 2 (15:59) Because it's people naked getting revealed slowly. Because all genitals look different. Speaker 3 (16:03) No, that's not the thing that I'm confused about. I've got a friend who was a researcher on that show. She was like, it's the hardest show to... to book Speaker 1 (16:10) because Speaker 3 (16:10) people pull out all the time. Not in that way. Yeah, yeah. But because of the embarrassment during the show. So I was like, how have you got so many people? And you know they don't get paid for it. Speaker 2 (16:21) Right, I didn't know that. They get Speaker 3 (16:22) expenses. Yeah. I Speaker 1 (16:23) should be giving away all these secrets. But apparently, this is what I heard about the show, is that sometimes people would just not show up who were supposed to be on it. So they'd have to just go out onto the street and be like, can Speaker 3 (16:32) you come in and do... And Speaker 1 (16:32) get someone. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Speaker 3 (16:34) Do you know another little secret? Please. The studio stinks. Speaker 2 (16:40) Serious, serious. You've picked the right people to share that secret with. That's funny. And apparently freezing cold as well. Oh, Speaker 1 (16:48) really? A Speaker 2 (16:49) lot Speaker 1 (16:50) of people would try and get themselves Speaker 2 (16:51) beforehand. Yeah, I would want to. Would try and get themselves a bit. But they weren't allowed on camera if they were fully hard. Speaker 1 (17:00) So Speaker 2 (17:00) they would have to try and like... get themselves to that sweet spot. And sometimes they would go over the sweet spot and they would get told they can't go on and they'd be really angry and gutted but while fully erect. Speaker 3 (17:11) Wow. Speaker 1 (17:13) I mean,