Real Food Traveler REAL Podcast

One of the biggest things that has come out of the global pandemic, is a rethinking of how we are spending our lives. When life feels so uncertain and we're on edge every day, it's only natural to start re-evaluating the what, why, how, and when of our lives. Diana Laskaris and Sue Reddel, founders of the FoodTravelist.com blog, were already thinking about their next big move in life when the pandemic hit. Listen to our podcast conversation with them in which we talk travel and food, Twitter chats, and making big changes.

It's 2021. I mean, 2022. It may feel like the same year all over again but there are a lot of great, new things coming our way and yours with Real Food Traveler. Our publisher and managing editor tells you why, despite the state of things, she's feeling really optimistic about 2022.

On a family camping trip in California a few years ago, parents Marsh and Jan Mokhtari watched their daughters playing, ocean within reach, and had an epiphany. Despite envious careers and success, the couple wanted to do something with their lives that would make a difference, and that be a good example to their kids. That idea to do something bigger than themselves starts with gin and ends with protecting the world’s oceans. An unlikely route for a business model? Listen to this Real Food Traveler podcast with Jan and Marsh and you’ll see why it makes total sense. Save this article and podcast about Gray Whale Gin to Pinterest. Photos courtesy Gray Whale Gin. Graphic by Real Food Traveler. Hungry for more? Plan a long weekend in Sonoma County. In our podcast conversation, we find out how this couple went from being fans of gin to making, distributing, and selling it. Jan and Marsh explain what’s so different about their gin (hint, it’s the surprising ingredients in their botanicals), what’s so important about where they source each one, and how they are helping California Gray Whales, but also many other creatures, and our very oceans – all through gin that comes from a beautiful, ocean-blue bottle. It’s a very interesting and honest discussion we think you’ll love. Citrus, pine needles, and other surprising ingredients go into Gray Whale Gin. Their commonality is that they are all foraged along the coast that the Gray Whale follows during their migration. Whether you love gin (or think you don’t), want to know more about what it’s like to start a business you’re unfamiliar with, or want to learn about the

We here at Real Food Traveler certainly felt the impact of the world coming to a screeching halt when the pandemic lockdowns began across the world. We are a digital magazine that focuses on travel, afterall. Fortunately, we also cover food extensively and had no problem covering everything from the bread-baking craze to recipes for pork chops from Dollywood to chai from India. But imagine what it’s like when your entire livelihood is based on being able to travel and write about those experiences for magazines, newspapers, websites, and books. That’s what happened to Carole Jacobs and Irvina Lew whose wonderful travel writing graces Real Food Traveler. I had the pleasure of getting Irvina and Carole together over Zoom for a podcast conversation about what this year has been like, what’s filling their travel dreams, and some excellent tips for packing and traveling better.  Save this article and podcast link to Pinterest so you can get great travel advice anytime. Meet Irvina Lew. Don’t miss learning how Irvina is tapping into her favorite European city from in her kitchen in this podcast. Irvina Lew, an award-winning food and travel writer, savors traveling the world to find places to sip wonderful wines, sup memorable meals, stay in haute hotels and spa in splendiferous wellness retreats. Irvina is an author who has been published in dozens of national and regional publications; she is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the Society of American Travel Writers and an alumnus of Travel Classics. The Long Island based widow is mom to three daughters, abuelita and grandmere to two granddaughters and former French, Spanish and ESL teacher to thousands of students. Here are a few of our favorite articles by Irvina that she has shared with Real Food Traveler readers: 

What do dance, food, and travel have in common? So much! I found that out when I had the pleasure of talking to the host of PBS’s Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi. We discussed what it’s like to be a travel professional who currently can’t travel, why dance is so universal, and why she’s not afraid to make mistakes when she’s dancing on her TV show. Enjoy my conversation with Mickela Mallozzi on the Real Food Traveler Podcast in the player, above. Keep this podcast conversation with the host of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi handy by pinning it to Pinterest. The TV show was the natural progression of Mallozzi’s personal travel experiences, which always involved connecting with people through dance. When I asked her about the commonalities of dance throughout the world, Mickela said, “It’s really the idea that through movement, people can communicate without opening their mouths. You can you read body language. Dance is a form of body language and to express joy.” For Mickela, dance is a door to connecting cultures. When talking about viewers of her show, Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, she explained that she hopes people “see how much fun it is to connect with other people… And the way we connect with the people is through my language of dance and music. And what I hope it does is inspires people to travel a little differently, especially once we can travel again.” Hear about Mickela’s special series about Carnival in the Guadaloupe Islands, filmed prior to the COVID pandemic, and why now is such an important time for the episodes to run. Find out about Mickela’s newest project, #BareFeetLIVE series that provides all of us a way to connect to other people and places through dance, wherever we may be at that moment. Follow “Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi” at @travelbarefeet on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. —  Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher/Managing Editor of RealFoodTraveler.com & host of the Real Food Traveler Podcast Hungry for more? Click to get Mickela’s very own recipe for Homemade Chai.

Many people love sausage. And many have preconceived notions about what it is and what goes into it. You’ll come away from this Real Food Traveler podcast understanding more and wanting Mulay’s Sausage in a big way. Listen and find out how they’ve always managed to be ahead of their time and food/health trends and what it’s like to be a woman running a sausage-making company. Meet Loree Mulay Weisman, owner and CEO of Mulay’s Sausage. Photo courtesy Mulay’s. Every Mulay’s Sausage package offers great recipes. You can subscribe to the Real Food Traveler podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and other listening services.

After a year like no other, this turning to a new year is like no other. Still carrying the fears of 2020, we head into 2021 with trepidation but also a lot of optimism. With all of that in mind, please click the link above to hear a special podcast message from Real Food Traveler’s Publisher and Managing Editor, Courtney Drake-McDonough. Click here to listen to the podcast about Mulay’s Sausage. You can subscribe to the Real Food Traveler podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and other listening services. .pf-button.pf-button-excerpt { display: none; }

It may seem too good to be true, but it’s just good and just true! A family-owned and operated Colorado company, Decadent Saint, has created a line of mixers that make it easy to play mixologist at home with some basic ingredients. They can be used to make anything from sangria to a hot toddy to an elegant sauce for cooking. Listen to this podcast conversation with Michael Hasler and his wife, Carolee Corey, as we discuss life, loss, chocolate, fresh fruit, and the art of a great cocktail. Learn more about the company on their website. Photo courtesy Decadent Saint. You can subscribe to the Real Food Traveler podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and other listening services.

Thanks to improved fishing practices, the old rule of only eating shellfish in months ending in “r” no longer applies. Now, you can enjoy high-quality, delicious oysters in Virginia Beach, Virginia any time of year. But in November, the famous Lynnhaven Oyster gets its own month of celebration. Enjoy this podcast conversation between Real Food Traveler publisher and managing editor, Courtney Drake-McDonough, and Erin Goldmeier, director of public relations for Virginia Beach, VA. Learn about what makes the Lynnhaven Oyster so unique, the way the locals eat them, some of the other seafood that abounds in the area, and the iconic cocktail you shouldn’t miss, by clicking on our link, above. Find out more about the history of the Lynnhaven Oyster in this article on Real Food Traveler. And to learn more about Virginia Beach, Virginia, visit their website. Virginia Beach’s Lynnhaven Oysters served on the half shell. Photo by Virginia Beach. Please note, this article is sponsored content provided by Virginia Beach, VA on RealFoodTraveler.com to serve as information and inspiration to our readers. You can subscribe to the Real Food Traveler podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and other listening services.

Find out what it’s like to dine at Perry’s Steakhouse and Grill, which got its start as a Houston neighborhood butcher shop. Food and travel writer, Ron Stern, talks to Managing Editor, Courtney Drake-McDonough about the vibe, the appetizer you must order, and that famous Perry’s Pork Chop that’s 7 fingers high! Read more and see pictures of the dining experience on this article. The famous Perry’s Pork Chop before it’s cut up and served, tableside. Photo courtesy Perry’s Steakhouse and Grill.

When I asked Jessica McCready to tell me about Camano Island and what life is like as a local, she painted a wonderful and enticing picture. As Executive Director of the Camano Island Chamber of Commerce, playing up what’s wonderful about the island in the Pacific Northwest comes naturally. But so does telling us about some of her personal favorite places to go, things to see, and local foods to eat. I especially loved her recounting of her initial impressions of the area when driving over the bridge for the first time as a prospective resident. It felt “right” to her and, from what she shared with me in our podcast interview, it could be just the right place for you to visit. Whidbey and Camano Islands has been a long-time advertiser on Real Food Traveler, even before I purchased the site January, 2018. I’m so honored to have their advertising featured on the site and to learn more myself (while sharing the information with you), about this unique area. Settle in, close your eyes, and listen to my podcast conversation with Jessica (or click the player above). She gives us some practical tips for how to get there, where to stay, and how to make the most out of a visit. Learn more about Camano Island on their website.  Hungry for more? Click to enjoy a podcast about a bee keeper on Camano Island. Shop for locally-grown produce on Camano. Photo by Visual Photography.

When I heard about Chef Pacheco’s lineage in Arizona, I knew I had to meet him. I mean, nine generations all in the same area, working in the food production and preparation industry? That’s a deep-rooted knowledge of and passion for what truly is local food. As Executive Chef of LON’s, the restaurant at The Hermosa Inn, Jeremy Pacheco brings that history and connection to the people responsible for the food in the area to the plates of the people who are fortunate enough to dine in his restaurant. I am honored to be able to bring you this podcast conversation for a true taste of Scottsdale, Arizona. Be sure to read our full article about our experience at The Hermosa Inn and many other stops, in Scottsdale, here.

On a recent trip to Park City, Utah, an historic mountain town just outside of Salt Lake City, we discovered an unlikely combination. Pie and distilled spirits. No, not served in the same vessel but definitely served side by side. Located down a set of stairs on Park City’s Main Street, behind a curtain, you enter another world. Part speakeasy, part mini-gin distillery, part pie shop and all sumptuous lounge, Alpine Pie Bar is a real experience. Here’s our podcast interview with co-owner, Sara Sergent, who also owns Alpine Distilling with her husband, Rob. Read more about Park City, Utah, in our recent article.

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” “As American as Apple Pie.” “Comparing apples to apples.” The delightful fruit is part of so many sayings, our culture, and our food options. There’s a huge variety of apples out there in the world but the Gravenstein Apple is rather unique to California. After a trip […]

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” “As American as Apple Pie.” “Comparing apples to apples.” The delightful fruit is part of so many sayings, our culture, and our food options. There’s a huge variety of apples out there in the world but the Gravenstein Apple is rather unique to California. After a trip to Sonoma County, California, we found out about the Gravenstein Apple Festival, which happens every August. In our podcast, we learn what’s so special about this apple, what’s unique about the fair, and what it means in terms of the whole agricultural scene in Sonoma County. Hint: It’s more than vineyards! Hungry for more? Sonoma County has a calendar full of unique culinary travel events. Here’s the list. And while we’re talking California, let’s talk Carmel-by-the-Sea too and the historic Hofsas House, a great place to stay.

No, we’re not proposing you drink your way across Santa Fe, New Mexico. Not really, anyway. But we do suggest you take advantage of the Margarita Trail program that enables you to try unique, hand-crafted Margaritas (in a very responsible way), at different restaurants and bars. Each Margarita has been conceived of to show off the personality, tastes, and vibe of the place serving it. So in that way, it’s a unique way to experience Santa Fe’s food and beverage/restaurant and bar scene – authentic cuisine you can sip! Hungry for more? Hop on the Margarita Trail while you’re in town for the Santa Fe Opera! See what is in the schedule for 2020, plus some other things to do while you’re there.

Old Salem, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina is this wonderful, unique slice of life (and history) that combines living history with regular, every day life! We wrote about our visit to Winston-Salem which included some time we spent in Old Salem. Learn more about the Moravian culture and the rich history in Old Salem in addition to what awaits you when you go, and when the best times of the year are to visit. Here’s the link to our Editor’s Pick article, Weekend in Winston-Salem. Meet Martha Hartley, Director of Moravian Research and Co-Chair, Hidden Town Project, Old Salem Museums & Gardens in North Carolina. To learn more about Old Salem and the Moravian culture, visit their website, here. The crafts people have examples of wood turning that they are working on, for people to see such as spindles for chairs or stair railings. Balls of cookie dough to roll out and bake for customers at Winkler Bakery in Old Salem.

It started with some sips of whiskey around the family table. For Bev Heising, her husband, and adult kids, a simple “what if” became a thriving distillery business on an island off of the state of Washington. Listen to my conversation with Bev about the process of starting Whidbey Island Distillery, what life is like there, and what you’re in for when you visit. Hungry for more? Listen to our podcast with the Chief Bee Wrangler on neighboring Camano Island, and one about the Organic Farm School on Whidbey Island which is growing future farmers, as well as food.

You know the old saying: “Birds of a feather flock together”? It certainly applies to the great Crane Migration is one of the major animal migrations in the world. How lucky for those of us who live in the U.S. that it comes straight up through the middle of the country, giving so many of us the opportunity to experience this natural wonder. We spoke with Nebraska’s Director of Conservation Research at the Crane Trust, Andrew Caven. He has a front row seat to the migration every year, and studies the birds year ’round. There’s a lot more to the event than just seeing a bunch of birds. Andrew tells us about the work of the Crane Trust, why Nebraska has been a favorite stopover for the birds (you won’t believe how long this has been going on), and some of the birds’ unique behaviors, including how they romance each other. Photo courtesy of the Crane Trust.

Chef Shahin Afsharian, currently living, working and discovering the food scene in Savannah, Georgia. Whenever we visit a new place or move to a new city, part of the thrill is getting to know the restaurant scene. Imagine, then, what it’s like to be a chef who has lived all over the world, getting to know the food scene – with an insider’s perspective! We spoke to Chef Shahin Afsharian who recently moved to Savannah, Georgia and is happily getting to know knew ingredients, new methods, new people and new restaurants. Listen in on my conversation with him about what it’s like to be a foodie, exploring the foods of the world.

Dr. Jennifer Short of Camano Island Honey. You’ve heard of beekeepers, but have you ever met a Chief Bee Wrangler? That’s what Dr. Jennifer Short, DVM, MBA is. Camano Island Honey at Sanctuary Farms Apiary on Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest is ensuring the health, success, and purpose of bees. And she’s helping other people do it to. There has been a lot of “buzz” about the importance of bees in the world today. I had a really interesting and informative talk with Dr. Short about the whole bee scene and learned a lot. I bet you will too. Take a listen. A nice summer day at Camano Island Honey. Photo by Dr. Jennifer Short.

How do we get our food? Farmers are an enormous part of that answer. Important as the industry is, the number of farmers is dwindling. That’s where the Organic Farm School comes in. Meet Judy Feldman, Executive Director of the program. Let’s talk farming and the future. Learn more about the Organic Farm School on their website, here.

Wisconsin is cheese country. But it isn’t about mass quantities for the masses. It’s also about the art of making it. When we visited, we met a man who has made cheese his life, building a business (and the building that houses it), while pursuing the art of cheesemaking in Door County, Wisconsin. Meet the owner of Door Artisan Cheese Company, Mike Brennenstuhl, who we talked to about pursuing dreams later in life and the extent he went to provide excellent cheese experiences. After listening to this podcast, you’re going to want to visit Door County. Here are a couple of RealFoodTraveler.com articles that will help you plan your trip: Three Perfect Days in Door County, Wisconsin and Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant.

We’ve heard the name, of course, and even had it several times in restaurants. But we really didn’t know what it meant in terms of what the cow is like, what it means in terms of raising them and feeding them. And, since it is something of a delicacy, and more expensive than regular beef, we wanted to know how to prepare it well at home and how to order it well at a restaurant. So, what’s Wagyu Beef all about? All of this Wagyu curiosity was prompted by an annual event at Angel Fire Resort in Angle Fire, New Mexico, called the Wine & Wagyu Weekend. In 2018, it takes place August 24-26. Visit our main article to get details about it. But to learn more about the main focus of the event, the beef, we had a chat with two folks from the ranch supplying the beef, A Bar N Ranch, Katie Bolner and Chef Al. Take a listen and learn about this very special beef and a very special event honoring it. What’s Wagyu Beef? It’s more than just a name. It’s a way of ranching, and eating.

Hot Springs is not just a name for the destination in Arkansas. It’s a vast history – geological, social, economic, and more. Recently, we got a glimpse into what a perfect day would be in Hot Springs from writer Jamie Siebrase. And we found out about the unique ingredient to be found in the beer. We found it so interesting, we called up Tom Hill, Museum Curator for Hot Springs National Park and asked him to tell us more about what makes Hot Springs such a great place to visit. Stay tuned for an upcoming article about Hot Springs’ very unique beer scene! Tom sent along a few photos from what it was like inside some of the bath houses. The photos are National Park Service images, courtesy of Hot Springs National Park. We have more podcasts for you to enjoy from RealFoodTraveler.com journeys. Enjoy them here and be sure to subscribe on iTunes.

It’s so easy to love Carmel-by-the-Sea and Hofsas House Hotel. Photo by Courtney Drake-McDonough. In our expanded post about Carmel-by-the-Sea, we said that visiting Carmel is like coming home, even if you’ve never been there before. It’s such a charming, small-scale, safe, friendly place. Part of that feeling of “home” comes from where you call your home base during your stay. For us, that was the utterly charming Hofsas House Hotel. Pretty in pink, European, and just a short walk to the core of the village and to the ocean with white sand beaches, it’s ideal. We spoke to Carrie Theis, one of the owners and the general manager of Hofsas House, about Carmel-by-the-Sea. She told us some very interesting tidbits about the village including why none of the houses have street addresses, why the whole place feels like it’s right out of a fairy tale and the artistic roots of Carmel. She also tells us more about Hofsas House including her childhood memories of this family-run hotel. Carrie provides a wonderful preview for any visitor to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Let her words be your guide.

Paola Legarre, owner of Sage Creations Organic Farm in her beautiful lavender fields in Palisade, Colorado. Lavender plants have a long and storied past. They have been used for centuries for food, health and beauty purposes. And beautiful it is, in varying shades of blue, growing in mounds in vast fields. Colorado will host its annual Lavender Festival June 29-July 1, 2018 in Grand Junction, on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains. Learn more about the festival, the plant’s history and what it’s like to grow lavender in our latest podcast. Our guest this time is Paola Legarre, owner of Sage Creations Organic Farm. Learn more about Paola and her farm on her blog:  https://sagecreationsorganicfarm.com/category/blog/

Devil’s Thumb Ranch is only about an hour outside of Denver, yet the Colorado ranch feels a world away. It’s the perfect place to get in touch with your inner cowboy or cowgirl (that you might not have known was lurking). You can read more about it, here. We had the opportunity to sit down with former Executive Chef Josh Bettis who, relatively new to the Ranch and to Colorado, is responsible for a staggering amount of meals in the Devil’s Thumb Ranch family of eateries. After our chat for this podcast, Chef Bettis took me into the kitchen to show us how he and his team assemble a pretty darned amazing steak dinner. He also threw in some great meat-cooking tips we can use, whether grilling outside or in a cast iron skillet as he was. Check out the video, here.

Typically, when one wants to have a camping experience, they need to hit the road, head to the hills or otherwise be pretty isolated from the rest of civilization. But there’s a new type of camping area, just minutes from the heart of Savannah, Georgia that allows people to get in some wilderness time (with leanings toward glamping), yet take in some shopping, strolling and dining in the city, nearby. Listen to this podcast to get to know CreekFire Motor Ranch. Beautiful trees, sprawling expanses of grass and a lake ringed with a path are at the heart of CreekFire Motor Ranch. — Courtney Drake-McDonough, Managing Editor, www.RealFoodTraveler.com Get another glimpse of CreekFire Motor Ranch, here.

When Lia Huber came to town on her book tour, I was so ready to meet her! I’d gotten a good start on her book, “NOURISHED: A Memoir of Food, Faith & Enduring Love (with Recipes),” and loved it. She did such a wonderful job of describing her travels, her issues and the food she experienced that I felt like I was right along with her. We met at a coffee house downtown, with construction trucks all around. Turns out, those background sounds would become part of the story. Get to know Lia Huber and her book along with me. And be sure to learn more about her book and get a delicious recipe, in our article, too. — Courtney Drake-McDonough, Managing Editor, www.RealFoodTraveler.com