The Taste of Place podcast is where we share inspiring stories from chefs, artisanal producers, and others who are working to preserve culinary culture and heritage. Join us as we meet and learn from these inspiring leaders in our field. Whether you are a seasoned professional, an entrepreneur, or a consumer with an interest in culinary culture and heritage, our podcast series will surely inspire. Hosted by the World Food Travel Association's Executive Director Erik Wolf.
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August 4, 202631 min
Ep 90. Ange Chew - Everybody Loves Dumplings
Connect with Ange on LinkedIn here . Photo Credit: Judith Laurel Photography . The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
June 17, 202647 min
Ep 89. Allison Robicelli - The City Whisperer
Allison Robicelli is a James Beard nominated writer, former celebrity chef and restaurant owner, and cultural intelligence consultant whose work sits at the intersection of food, media, and destination storytelling. She has written for The New York Times, Bon Appétit, Eater, Food & Wine, and The Washington Post, where she founded the publication’s first dedicated non alcoholic beverage column in major food media. In this conversation, she explores how overlooked and post industrial cities can become some of the most compelling food destinations in the world when approached with curiosity rather than convention. Drawing on her experience working with tourism boards, editors, and producers, she explains why traditional destination marketing is losing impact in an algorithm driven media landscape, and what replaces it. This episode is a sharp, often humorous look at how stories of place are found, shaped, and shared, and why the future of culinary tourism depends less on promotion and more on genuine human discovery. The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
May 6, 202640 min
Ep 88. Karl Wilder - Our Food is Our History
In this episode, we discuss: What is wrong with many food tours today Why culinary heritage and food history should never be separated The difference between authentic food experiences and tourist food Why Oaxaca may rival San Sebastián as one of the world’s great food destinations The surprising history of Mexican wine Why grandmothers are often the true keepers of culinary culture How American Italian cuisine evolved into its own food tradition The hidden labor behind great cooking and hospitality Why Milou the dog has become an unlikely ambassador for slow travel and human connection We also go far off script into stories about dubbing films in Italy, learning from local cooks around the world, and how food can connect people across politics, language, and culture. If you care about culinary heritage, meaningful travel, and the human side of gastronomy, this is an episode you will not want to miss. 🌍 Learn more about Karl Wilder and The Chef Tours: https://thecheftours.com Find them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefpjfoodtour Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557315088911 The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
April 9, 202643 min
Ep 87. Blanca Valencia - The Real Spain Isn't on the Menu
Learn more about Blanca on her website here . You can also meet her on LinkedIn here . And you'll also find her on Instagram here . The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
March 10, 202643 min
Ep 86. Marc Checkley - The Story Before the Sip
In this conversation, you will learn: Why storytelling matters more than marketing in culinary tourism How memorable experiences are built around people and place—not products Why sustainability and authenticity are essential for the next generation of tourism professionals How destinations can better collaborate with experience creators Visit Marc's website here . Connect with Marc on LinkedIn. The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
February 4, 202640 min
Ep 85. Mauricio Kusanovic - Patagonia Beyond the Postcard
Mauricio's business: www.lastorres.com Mauricio on LinkedIn The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
January 10, 202647 min
Ep 84. Santina Kennedy - Ireland Made by Makers
00:00 – 04:30 Early passion for food, growing up in agricultural Ireland, and choosing a “safe” banking career 04:30 – 07:00 Opening and running a café with limited resources - lessons in authenticity, service, and commitment 07:00 – 09:30 Transition from hospitality operations to food consultancy and returning to formal education 09:30 – 11:30 Finding a voice through gastronomy studies and stepping into leadership through knowledge 11:30 – 13:30 Telling Ireland’s overlooked food stories - workers, tenant farmers, and everyday heritage 13:30 – 18:30 Irish whiskey as cultural identity: history, grains, mash bills, resilience, and food pairings 18:30 – 21:00 Whiskey tourism experiences and changing Irish drinking culture 21:00 – 25:30 St. Brigid: goddess, saint, hospitality icon, and inspiration for food-led cultural events 25:30 – 30:30 County Wicklow’s food network - abundance, collaboration, and regional pride 30:30 – 33:30 Comparing Wicklow and Boyne Valley; celebrating Ireland’s regional diversity without competition 33:30 – 36:30 Why Irish food storytelling must start at home, not just with tourists 36:30 – 39:30 Hospitality labor, work-life balance, and sustaining Irish voices in food and tourism 39:30 – 44:30 Cuisine evolution, immigration, innovation, and respectful adaptation of tradition 44:30 – End Reflections on food tourism, gratitude, and the role of shared language in shaping a field You can learn more about Santina here . The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
January 2, 202636 min
Ep 83. Heike Winter - Why Artisanal Still Matters
00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – From Germany to Scotland 02:10 – Discovering the Isle of Harris 04:30 – A Dream, a Word, and a Business Idea 06:45 – From Concept to First Jar 08:00 – Changing How People Think About Mustard 10:05 – Producing Food in a Remote Location 14:10 – Organic Ingredients and Sustainability Challenges 17:15 – Visitors, Honesty Boxes, and Tastings 18:45 – Creating Unusual Flavours 21:30 – Recognition and Leadership 23:00 – Growth Without Becoming Mass Market 25:15 – The Future of Mustard and Clean Food 29:00 – Certification, Labels, and Consumer Choice 33:00 – Personal Growth and Finding One’s Calling 34:45 – Closing Thoughts Visit her website here . Visit her on Instagram here . The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
December 14, 202530 min
Ep 82. Daniela Sfara - Cooking by Heart Not by Recipe
This episode explores: • The power of intuitive cooking and ancestral knowledge • Why authenticity is often misunderstood—and misused—in modern food culture • The role of terroir, tradition, and memory in shaping true culinary experiences • How social media trends have distorted our understanding of real food • Why reconnecting with the sources of ingredients can transform how we taste • The importance of slowing down, sharing stories, and cooking together • Lessons from regional Italy that the world urgently needs today Instagram – @danielasfara https://www.instagram.com/danielasfara LinkedIn – Daniela Sfara https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielasfara The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
November 12, 202543 min
Ep 81. Veronica Peralta - The Sweet Taste of Ethics
1:00 – The Origins of Paccari 03:00 – Empowering Farmers 07:00 – Saving Biodiversity 08:00 – Distinct Flavors of Place 14:00 – Chocolate as Happiness 17:00 – The Raw Bar Revolution 18:00 – Beyond Business: A Social Mission 20:00 – Toward a Chocolate Map of Ecuador 23:00 – Economic Challenges and Climate Change 27:00 – Environmental Threats at Home 31:00 – Ethics and Consumer Power 33:00 – Recognition as the World’s Most Ethical Chocolate 35:00 – Industry Corruption and Hope for Change 39:00 – Knowledge Is Power Learn more about Paccari chocolate . Read the Ethical Consumer Magazine article (pages 10-17) about Paccari. NB: Paccari is the new spelling of the brand's name. Formerly, it was written as Pacari, which is a Quechua word meaning "nature" or "something that comes from the Earth". The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.
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