Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

Episode: Nikesh Patel

Release Date: February 25, 2026
Guest: Nikesh Patel (Actor: Starstruck, Indian Summers, Hunted)

Episode Overview

In this vibrant episode, actors and comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster welcome the charming Nikesh Patel into the "dream restaurant." True to the Off Menu format, Nikesh selects his ultimate dream meal—starter, main, side, dessert, and drink—while the hosts delight in playful banter, sidetracks into TV and personal anecdotes, and culinary nostalgia.

The conversation spans Nikesh's experience on Hunted, his eclectic food memories from across the world, parental food rituals, embracing vegetarianism and fatherhood, plus forays into games, drugs-in-desserts, and the ever-present genie shtick. The vibe is witty, relaxed, and occasionally anarchic, with all three riffing off each other's stories and food passions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Welcoming Nikesh & Hunted Stories

• [04:49–07:01] Introduction and playful interrogation of James’s “genie” character, with Nikesh questioning the character’s ambiguous blend of folklore and Kettering accent.
  • Nikesh: "I'd like to interrogate your process when it comes to playing the genie. You know, obviously a figure that's steeped in like, Islamic folklore and mythology..." [07:08]
• [09:40–15:27] Candid recap of their time filming Hunted together, with embarrassing confessions and behind-the-scenes context (COVID isolation, game-start mishaps, and Nikesh’s notorious bank card slip).
  • Nikesh: "You leave your flat, you go straight to the tube and use your bank card." [10:27]
  • Ed: "They give you all of these, like, challenges and rules and restrictions... but they don't explain them to the audience." [11:21]
  • Amusing tale of being chased through Birmingham, jumping into a random production van.
• [14:50] Victory and defeat banter—no one survived that Hunted series, and Nikesh’s wife is “livid” the couple didn’t outlast Ed and James.

The Off Menu Selections

Water

• [15:31–18:13]
  • Nikesh selects still water "poshed up" with a long, thin cucumber slice in the bottle, sparking debate about slicing techniques, magic, and whether the “work” matters if the presentation is right.

Bread

• [22:11–25:38]
  • Goes for roti canai (Malaysian-style flaky, buttery flatbread). Nikesh shares experiences filming in Penang—its food, colonial buildings, monsoon humidity, and dodging scorpions.
  • Nikesh: "Roti canai is basically like a version of a roti or a paratha, but it's more like crepe. Like it's like really buttery." [22:11]
  • Local London recs: Jolly (in NW London) and C&R Cafe in Soho.

Starter

• [26:07–28:13]
  • Picks chilaquiles—a comforting Mexican breakfast dish of crisped tortillas, refried beans, cheese, and sour cream (sometimes with egg).
  • Story of a Mexico trip with his now-wife, and the emotional satisfaction of chilaquiles.
  • Nikesh: "Apparently using slightly stale tortillas to get like crunchier chips. So you get the texture of that, you get the sour cream, the refried beans, and also just like lots of cheese." [27:10]

Main Course

• [35:33–39:19]
  • Chooses chili paneer—Indo-Chinese fusion dish, fried cheese cubes in a spiced sauce, with jasmine rice. Discusses the importance of texture (crispy outside, juicy inside), and nostalgic food runs on London’s Ealing Road.
  • Nikesh: "Good chili paneer has, like, the right combination of...the spices that you'll find in chaat...with Chinese spices as well." [35:33]

Side Dish

• [44:26–46:15]
  • Recommends okra fries from Bombay Spice in Kingsbury—light, crispy, highly seasoned, “like crack.”
  • Anecdotes of sending his dad for takeout, and the almost inevitable “tax” of fries going missing en route.
  • Nikesh: "My mum will be like, where's dad? ...He's been sent to get the...okra fries." [44:31]

(Bonus!) For the Table

• [52:46–53:56]
  • Honorable mention: his mum’s samosa chaat, a dish assembled with samosas, chutneys, sev, and herbs—the ritual being as important as the taste.

Drink

• [54:25–55:34]
  • Initially wants chai (“smells of home”), but after a recent visit to Dishoom’s Permit Room, upgrades to a chai espresso martini—coffee, spice, and a caffeine shot for new-dad energy. Praises its balance and rich foam.

Dessert

• [62:37–66:33]
  • At his wedding, chocolate samosas (filled with Nutella and served with ice cream) were a hit.
  • But in dreamland? Chocolate samosas with magic mushrooms (psychedelic, not culinary)—inspired by a friend’s story, “with a responsible adult present,” ideally the Genie or Simon Amstell.
  • Nikesh: “You get all the delight of chomping off the corners off a samosa and the texture of that, but basically filled with Nutella.” [63:07]
  • Sparks a whole riff about drugs in food, portion control, and who in his family would “hack it.” James gleefully threatens to send mushroom-takers to the Priory after the meal.

Cultural and Comic Sidetracks

• Pokémon Go Crew Confessions:

  • [30:33–34:34]
    Nikesh, James, and Ed swap stories about their Pokémon Go playing days, cult-like group chats, raids at Brockwell Park, and the game’s ever-morphing complexity (“London’s changed”).
  • James: "You can never catch them all because they're constantly releasing new ones." [33:38]

• On Starstruck, Wedding Attire, and Indian Formalwear:

  • [36:39–42:23]
  • Comparing forgiving Indian wedding suits (drawstrings, loose fits) to the pressure of Western-tailored suits. Amusing speculation about wearing Indian outfits to Ed’s very-white family wedding.
  • Nikesh: “Indian formal wear is very forgiving...You just slip into this garment. Pull the drawstring until it fits around your waist...” [39:59]

• Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Social Faux Pas:

  • [47:30–51:04]
  • James shares (boasts) about blurting out Nikesh’s wife’s pregnancy at Glastonbury—how he “figured it out,” proud of his deduction, despite the major social no-no.

• Drug Desserts and the "Genie as Trip Sitter”:

  • [63:46–67:38]
  • Speculation on safely dosing mushroom samosas for wedding guests, the risks of drug-laced treats, and which of Nikesh’s parents could handle a trip.
  • James: “If you were like someone said, you've had too many of those, you go, don't worry. The genie's here.” [65:20]
  • Simon Amstell is magicked in as a responsible psychedelic chaperone.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hunted Failures
  • Ed Gamble: “Barely saw him on the show…no spoilers, but, you know, he didn’t get very far.” [05:14]
• On Okra Fries
  • Nikesh Patel: “There’s a place called Bombay Spice in Kingsbury that does okra fries that are like crack because they’re so... Moorish...” [44:31]
• On Pokémon Go Denial
  • James Acaster: “You can never catch them all because they're constantly releasing new ones.” [33:38]
• On Magic Mushroom Samosas
  • Nikesh Patel: “Dream version, it tastes delicious. You get a little buzz. You might see…”
  • James Acaster: “If you were like someone said, you've had too many of those, you go, don't worry, the genie's here.” [65:20]
• On Sharing Samosas with Parents
  • Nikesh Patel: “I think a very gentle dose...” [69:35]
• Summing Up the Dream Meal
  • James Acaster: “Would you like still water with a long-sliced cuke…roti canai from Penang…chilaquiles…a generous portion of chili paneer…okra fries from Bombay Spice… chai flavored espresso martini…magic mushroom chocolate samosas…” [72:33]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro + Genie Metacommentary → [07:02]
• Hunted stories/debacle → [09:40–15:27]
• Water with 'long bendy cuke' → [15:31–18:13]
• Bread: Roti Canai & Malaysian memories → [22:11–25:38]
• Starter: Chilaquiles & Mexico trip → [26:07–28:13]
• Pokémon Go digression → [30:33–34:34]
• Main Course: Chili Paneer & Wedding-wear → [35:33–42:23]
• Side: Okra Fries & Parental food rituals → [44:26–46:15]
• Samosa Chaat (bonus for table) → [52:46–53:56]
• Drink: Chai Espresso Martini → [54:25–55:34]
• Dessert: Magic Mushroom Chocolate Samosas → [62:37–66:33]
• Outro summary + Menagerie of drug chat → [67:07–73:34]

Episode Essence & Tone

• The conversation is cheeky, warm, and rapid-fire; hosts and guest tease each other mercilessly while sharing genuine food expertise and world-spanning stories.
• Nikesh comes across as thoughtful and self-deprecating, unafraid to poke fun at himself, whether talking about failing on Hunted, his vegan-to-veggie journey, or curiosity about psychedelics.
• James and Ed’s banter is especially sharp with recurring callbacks (e.g., “I figured it out” for his pregnancy guess, and riffing on the Pokémon Go “crew”).

For the Listener: Why Tune In?

This episode is for Off Menu fans and newcomers alike, blending food nerdery, pop culture, and personal mishaps. You’ll laugh at Nikesh’s tales of international shoots, nod at his Penang and Wembley foodie recs, wince at social gaffes, and maybe wonder what your own genie might look like. Whether you’re here for culinary inspo, comedic camaraderie, or to just escape into a magical (and occasionally chemically-enhanced) restaurant, this one’s bursting with flavor.

End of Summary