Taste Toast Travel
Hey, friends... welcome to the Taste Toast Travel Podcast! We're your hosts and resident foodies and lovers of all things travel and exploration, John and Tara. John is a certified Sommelier and a Certified Specialist of Wine, and has worked in the wine and hospitality industry for over 10 years. Tara has worked in the wine industry for eight years both in hospitality and digital marketing. When we first met, we bonded over our love of eating, drinking, and traveling the world. That passion has only grown over time, now we want to share this passion with you from an insider perspective. On this podcast, you can expect a wide range of topics on all things food, travel, and beverage. This includes non-alcoholic drinks, too, because we don't discriminate here! That means we'll dig into things like where to go, where to stay and what to eat or drink along the way. We'll be serving tea on hot topics and big news, pop culture, the cultural significance and impacts that food, drink, and travel have on our lives, and bring on guests and experts who are just as excited, passionate, and knowledgeable about tasting, toasting, and traveling as we are. and have a lot more in store that we can't wait to share with you all. Grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable, and enjoy the journey with us. Cheers!
Episodes
Raise your steins and tighten your lederhosen—it’s Oktoberfest time! In this episode of Taste Toast Travel, Tara's taking the lead and diving into the history, traditions, and unforgettable stories behind the world’s largest beer festival: Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
From its royal wedding origins in 1810 to the modern-day celebration that draws over six million people each year, we’re exploring how...
We're so excited about this episode, because we're diving into the autumn vibes big time. Join us as we explore how cultures across the globe celebrate the Fall equinox!
From ancient monuments to seasonal feasts, this episode uncovers the history, spirituality, folklore, delicious foods, and traditions tied to the changing of the seasons.
In this chat we're traveling to:
🏴 Stonehenge in E...
Tara is taking the lead on this episode of Taste Toast Travel as she chats with Isabelle Lesschaeve, a distinguished sensory scientist and wine expert.
Isabelle shares her inspiring journey through sensory science to the wine and non-alcoholic beverage industries, drawing from her academic and professional experiences in the US and Canada.
We dig into:
🍷 Isabelle’s journey from France to North A...
Today we're taking you to Siena, Italy!
Siena holds a special place in our heart because we lived and worked at a winery just outside of the city for several months in 2018, and were married there in 2022. We're sharing stories, travel tips, and our favorite experiences in one of Tuscany’s most iconic destinations.
From the heart-pounding excitement of the Palio di Siena horse race to the best city and country...
In this episode of the Taste Toast Travel Podcast, we’re raising a glass and celebrating California Wine Month! 🍷
From iconic varietals like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to legendary regions including Napa Valley, Paso Robles, and Mendocino, we’re exploring what makes California a global wine powerhouse—literally, we’re 4th in the WORLD in wine production!
The conversation uncorks everything from the economic impa...
It’s happy hour on the Taste Toast Travel podcast!
This week, we’re diving into two iconic cocktails: the Mai Tai and the Aperol Spritz.
We explore:
🍹 The intriguing and unexpected histories behind the Mai Tai and Aperol Spritz
🍹 Tips on how to make the perfect versions of each cocktail
🍹 Fun variations and alternatives you can try at home
🍹 Our travel experiences sipping these drinks around the world
To wrap things up, ...
Join Tara as she chats with Moira Khan, a Grief Coach, educator, and seasoned traveler whose journey has taken her from New Zealand to the UK and now to sunny Spain.
In this inspiring conversation, Moira shares:
✈️ How she navigated expat life in Spain and adapted to cultural differences.
✈️ Her experiences moving across continents with her family.
✈️ The importance of community and connection when living abroad...
This week, we’re unpacking a handful of headlines in the food, drink, and travel industries, including Wine Enthusiast’s top Napa Valley wineries to visit (and adding our own insider picks you won’t want to miss!).
We’ll also spill the tea on:
🧳 The dirtiest spots in hotel rooms, and even your suitcase
🍺 Why so many Irish pubs are named after people, and the quirky history behind it
🩷 Meghan Markle’s brand-new rosé win...
In this crime lovers episode of Taste Toast Travel, we’re unpacking two shocking true crime stories from Northern California’s wine country in Napa.
First, we investigate the infamous French Laundry wine heist in Yountville, CA, where thieves made off with over $300,000 in rare, high-end wine—a burglary of a Thomas Keller restaurantthat rocked the food and wine world before unraveling in an unexpected twist.
Then, we tu...
In this flavorful episode of Taste Toast Travel, Tara sits down with acclaimed Bay Area chef and restaurateur Paul Iglesias, the creative force behind Oakland, California hotspots Parché and Jaji.
Known for weaving Colombian and Salvadorian heritage into every dish, Paul takes us on a journey from his roots in Washington, D.C., to the global flavors that shaped his culinary philosophy.
✨ Hear how his mother inspired hi...
Today we’re breaking down notable travel changes, including the new TSA policy that finally ends the dreaded shoe removal at airport security.
Then, things take a turn as Tara shares how an order of fried chicken led to the downfall of the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.
Finally, we’re exploring the top-ranked U.S. and international cities for food and drink—revealing which culinary hotspots made the list, which ones...
Struggling to choose the right bottle of wine without spending a fortune? In this episode, Certified Sommelier John shares expert wine buying tips to help you shop smart—whether you're browsing the aisles of Trader Joe’s, Costco, or your favorite wine shop.
We break down exactly how to choose a great bottle of wine on a budget by decoding wine labels, understanding regions, and knowing what really matters when it ...
We’re digging into the infamous 2013 Carnival Triumph disaster, also known as the “Poop Cruise”.
We dive into the chain of events that led to the catastrophic engine fire, the subsequent power and plumbing failures, and how 4,200 passengers were left stranded in unsanitary and dire conditions for five days.
This (disturbing) tale includes firsthand accounts from crew members, interviews, and reflect...
This week we're so excited to be chatting with Sunduri Malcolm and diving into her truly inspiring journey, from her birth in New York to adventuring through countless states and countries in between, to her current home in Germany.
Sundari shares her background growing up in Harlem, and this exciting conversation dives into her travels, solo trips, her time living in a tiny home, in a bus traveling acro...
We’re kicking off Cocktail Conversations on the podcast!
We’re exploring the origins, deliciousness, and nuances of two classic cocktails: the Aviation and the Negroni.
We start with Tara’s favorite gin-based drink, the Aviation, detailing its Prohibition-era roots that will give you all the 1920’s feels. Then, we dig into John’s Italian favorite, the Negroni, tracing its origins back to one of our most favorite cities...
Today we’re breaking down Clarkson's Farm Season 4! We’re chatting about everything from his entertaining (and sometimes questionable) farming practices to his challenges in opening his new restaurant The Farmer’s Dog, to our frustrations and favorite moments.
We also introducing a new game to the podcast. We’re kicking off “Keep, Swap, Trust”, essentially our version of “F*ck, marry, k*ll”: food, drink, and trave...
Join us as we break down and recap our recent trip to Maui, including what we would and wouldn’t do if we could do it again.
And, we also dig into how it was traveling with our 16-month-old and share what helped (and hindered) us as we traveled with her. We’re sharing where we'd recommend going—and where to avoid—based on our trip (just our opinions!), restaurants to enjoy, drinks you can’t miss, and more.
Download...
We’re joined by Andrea Lemieux, an expert on Turkish wines! We’re digging into all things Turkey in this conversation.
Join us as we explore the overlooked world of Turkish wine, chat about native grape varieties that many wineries are trying to save, the challenges faced by local wineries from a legal and governmental perspective, and the burgeoning wine tourism industry in Turkey.
Andrea shares her personal journey fr...
We’re digging into another handful of hot topics!
✈️ How McDonalds has the best coffee (according to fans)
✈️ The chaos and issues happening at Newark airport
✈️ Takeout etiquette—do you tip, or not?
✈️ A 24 person Carnival Cruise brawl
✈️ To cruise or not to cruise
✈️ The U.S. city with the best multicultural cuisine
✈️ The #1 place to retire in the U.S.
Download our free guides! https://tasteto...
We’re digging into a variety of topics spanning wine, food, and travel industries!
🍷 Parisian cafes swapping expensive wines for cheaper alternatives.
🍷 The most heartwarming fear or flying Reddits
🍷 Tips for surviving the middle seat on a plane
🍷 Middle seat armrest etiquette
🍷 Ways to keep comfy on a flight
🍷 Airplane facts with Max
🍷 Wine futures and big news going on Bordeaux
�...
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