WEBINAR: Adventures in Fermentation
The science of fermentation, zero-waste fermentation, fermentation as a tool for sustainability, fermentation in the world's best restaurants, fermentation as innovation.
Webinar: December 3, 2025, 3 pm GMT, 8 am PST
Join the conversation live or watch the recording at your leisure
Imagine a world without bread, butter or wine. Without soy sauce or chocolate. What if we also take away cheese, coffee and even antibiotics? This is what life without fermentation would be like.
Fermentation is so much more than a current health trend, it has shaped the world we live in, the bodies we inhabit, the staple foods we eat and even has the potential to shape our future. The truth is, when we ferment, we’re tapping into a collaboration thousands of years in the making between humans and a hidden microbial cosmos, one which we’re only just beginning to understand.
Throughout his career, and in his book Adventures in Fermentation, Johnny lifts the lid on the power of this ancient practice, exploring how it has been utilised in different cultures across the globe and how we can do the same. With irresistible wit and verve, chef and scientist Dr Johnny Drain illuminates the vast and unsung possibilities that microbes bring to the table, sharing stories that will entertain and delight attendees as they embark on their own journey of discovery.
Dr. Johnny Drain
Dr Johnny Drain has spent the past decade being the secret weapon of many of the world's Michelin-starred and 50Best restaurants and bars. He is a fermenter, cook and scientist who has pioneered the use of fermentation to turn food waste and by-products into delicious things to eat and drink.
His clients and collaborators have included Noma's Nordic Food Lab, Mirazur, The Waterside Inn, Dandelyan, Lyaness, and even Prada. He was the director of fermentation for zero-waste chef Douglas McMaster's London restaurant, Silo, before co-founding food tech company Win-Win, who used fermentation to bring the world's first cocoa-free chocolate to market.
His first book, Adventures in Fermentation, diving into the science of fermentation and gut health, and charting his journey through the world's best kitchens, was published by Penguin Random House in 2025.
IG @DrJohnnyDrain