Food, Wine, and Travel with IFWTWA

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Go around the world and across the country with Big Blend Radio’s ”Food, Wine & Travel” Show that features travel writers, photographers, and authors, as well as destination, tourism, and hospitality members of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). New episodes air every second Tuesday & Friday, and every third Monday.

  1. 4d ago

    Destination Dining at Sea with Holland America

    Why would a cruise line skip the hot seafood chowder in the Caribbean, then serve it on deck in Glacier Bay?  On this episode of BIg Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), host Lisa D. Smith sets sail with Emma Ciciriello, Senior Manager of Food & Beverage Product Development for Holland America Line and Seabourn, for a behind-the-scenes look at destination dining at sea. Emma explains how menus, cocktails, table settings and even a Panama hat help guests taste the place they are visiting, from Alaskan halibut and glacial ice cocktails to Caribbean rum and a global fresh fish program. We also visit Half Moon Cay, Holland America Line’s private Bahamian island, where a new beach club is bringing an all-inclusive day on the sand. Plus: Magnolia Bakery banana pudding, baked Alaska nostalgia, Marmite versus haggis, Emma’s perfect day of eating at sea, and tips for breaking into cruise food and beverage. MORE INFO: - Holland America Line: https://www.hollandamerica.com  - IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org  - More Food, Wine & Travel podcast episodes:  https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa  - Travel, Food & Wine Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine  Photos courtesy of Holland America.

  2. Oct 9

    Erin Coyle – Coffee, Culture & Calm in Oman

    Travel writer Erin Coyle takes us to Oman, where a cup of coffee is an invitation and hospitality is a way of life. On this episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), host Lisa D. Smith talks with IFWTWA member Erin Coyle, a freelance travel writer and ESP teacher who moved to Oman in 2018 to teach, started writing about travel during the pandemic, and now lives in Muscat. Erin shares what it’s really like to travel in Oman: the warm welcome, the customs worth knowing, the food, and the landscapes that pleasantly surprise first-time visitors. In this episode: - Why Oman feels calm and welcoming to travelers, and where it sits on the map - Erin’s path from teaching English in Sur to writing about travel - What an Omani wedding looks like, from the late-night start to the bride’s grand entrance - How to dress respectfully in a Muslim country, from wadis to mosques - Oman’s food: shuwa (goat cooked in the ground), mishkek kebabs, kabuli rice, and Paplou fish soup - Why coffee is the heart of Omani hospitality, plus dates, halwa, and the secret of shaking your cup - Modern Muscat versus traditional villages, falaj water channels thousands of years old, and a skyline with no skyscrapers - Wine and alcohol for travelers, wellness and breathwork, and nature from mountains to coast - Erin’s Hot Pot and the one-pot meals every culture shares It's the perfect episode to celebrate Global Diversity Awareness Month!  READ ERIN'S OMAN ARTICLE: - https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/oman-hospitality-things-to-do  CONNECT WITH ERIN: - https://erinshotpot.com  - https://www.instagram.com/erinshotpot/  - https://www.facebook.com/erintravelwriter  IFWTWA: - International Food Wine Travel Writers Association: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - More Food, Wine & Travel podcast episodes: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa  - Travel, Food & Wine Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine

  3. Sep 22

    Riviera Maya Uncovered: Sharon K. Kurtz on Lomas Hospitality's More Inclusive Escape

    On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine, and Travel" Show, in partnership with the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), travel writer and photographer Sharon K. Kurtz reports live from the Riviera Maya, where she's a guest of Lomas Hospitality at the adults-only El Dorado Royale. Sharon shares what makes Lomas's More Inclusive concept different from a typical all-inclusive stay, from cenote swimming and horseback riding at the Bonanza Ranch to snorkeling with sea turtles and stingrays off Maroma Beach. She also talks culinary culture at the Fuentes Culinary Theatre, Grupo Lomas's 45-year story as a Mexican hospitality company, and the range across the resort collection, from family-friendly properties to the adults-only, over-the-water Palafitos bungalows. Along the way, the conversation touches on safe, hassle-free travel for U.S. visitors, sargassum-free beaches, destination weddings, and why this stretch of Caribbean Mexico has become one of the most talked-about travel regions in the world. Learn more: - Lomas Hospitality: https://www.lomashospitality.com/  - Sharon K. Kurtz: https://www.sharonkkurtz.com/  - IFWTWA: https://ifwtwa.org/  - Big Blend Radio: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/

  4. Sep 11

    Snorkeling the Solomon Islands: Two Weeks Aboard the MV Bilikiki

    Author and adventurer Inga Aksamit returns to this Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" show with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) — to take us snorkeling for two weeks aboard the MV Bilikiki in the Solomon Islands.  From a camouflaged crocodile fish and venomous sea kraits to a floating village market and the Coral Triangle's marine biodiversity, Inga shares what it's like to spend eleven days snorkeling with Snorkel Venture on one of the South Pacific's most remote liveaboard adventures. SOLOMON ISLANDS SNORKLE ADVENTURE RESOURCES:   - Inga's article about her experience: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/snorkeling-solomon-islands  - Plan Your Own Snorkeling Adventure: https://snorkelventure.com/  MORE ON INGA & IFWTWA: - Inga Aksamit: https://ingasadventures.com/  - IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - Follow this podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-with-ifwtwa  - Read its companion magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine

  5. Sep 8

    Explore Tualatin Valley, Oregon: Where Wine Country Meets the Great Outdoors

    Just 30 minutes from Portland, Tualatin Valley is Oregon's underrated wine country — home to 40+ wineries, one of the state's most ethnically diverse food scenes, tax-free shopping, and a 21-mile paved trail past a giant wooden troll.  On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show," presented in partnership with the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Sylke Neal-Finnegan, VP of Communications and PR at Explore Tualatin Valley, gives us a conversational tour of the Willamette Valley's northwest corner. Beyond the vineyards, Tualatin Valley is shaped by a 50-year-old urban growth boundary that protects farmland and keeps its wine country sustainable including some dry-farming. Sylke also digs into the region's thriving arts scene — from the Broadway Rose Theatre Company to the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts — plus year-round outdoor adventure along the Tualatin River, Hagg Lake, and the fully accessible Banks-Vernonia State Trail. It's proof that this corner of the Willamette Valley offers a lot to experience. Featured image: David Hill Vineyards & Winery, courtesy of Explore Tualatin Valley. RESOURCES LINKS: - Plan your visit: https://tualatinvalley.org/  - Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - Follow the Food, Wine & Travel Podcast: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/food-wine-travel-podcast-ifwtwa  - Check out Big Blend Radio's "Travel Food & Wine: Digital Podcast Magazine: https://www.bigblendmediahouse.com/p/travel-food-wine-magazine

  6. Aug 21

    Glamping vs. 5-Star Luxury: Two Ways to Experience Halifax, Nova Scotia

    What's better: a glamping dome in the woods, or a five-star hotel on the boardwalk? Travel journalist and certified sommelier Darla Hoffmann didn't have to choose — she did both, fifty minutes apart, in Nova Scotia. On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Podcast with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Darla takes us inside Nalu Retreat, a geodesic dome on the North Shore with a hot tub, a fire pit, and a chef-prepared dinner waiting in the fridge, before heading into Halifax for the total opposite: Muir, a five-star hotel in the Queen's Marque District with a hidden speakeasy you have to knock to enter, an on-site restaurant called Drift, and boardwalk views from every room. Along the way, we talk Nova Scotia wine (crisp Tidal Bay whites, a standout red from the Lucie Kuhlmann grape), local food (buttery Wolffish, a proper Halifax donair), and the city's history, from Citadel Hill to the 1917 Halifax Explosion.  Darla also shares how a career in wine led her into travel writing, what she's working on next, and news on her upcoming book — a multi-year project pairing one wine with one signature dish from all fifty U.S. states. READ DARLA'S HALIFAX ARTICLES: - Salt Air, Scenic Hikes, and a Vibrant Food Scene:  https://fwtmagazine.com/salt-air-scenic-hikes-and-a-vibrant-food-scene-halifax-nova-scotia/  - Nalu Retreat: Your Next Serene Getaway Awaits https://luxebeatmag.com/nova-scotias-glamping-escape-into-nature-nalu-retreat/  RESOURCE LINKS: - More About Darla: https://www.aboutwineinaz.com  - Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - Follow the Food, Wine & Travel Podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/  - Big Blend Radio's "Travel Food & Wine: Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1

  7. Aug 17

    Discover Shelby County, Kentucky: Horses, Bourbon, Food, Farm & Outdoor Adventures

    Discover Shelby County, Kentucky, just east of Louisville, with Janette Marson, President and CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism, on this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). Known as the Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World, Shelby County offers an authentic Central Kentucky experience where horses, bourbon, food, farms, history, shopping and outdoor adventures come together. Janette takes us inside the region's remarkable horse culture, including more than 100 Saddlebred farms, Thoroughbred farms and the largest Icelandic horse farm in North America. We also explore the area's bourbon heritage, including Bulleit and the special mother-daughter team behind Jeptha Creed Distillery. Food is another big part of the story, from Kentucky barbecue and bourbon mash-fed livestock to Talon Winery, local restaurants, farm-to-table dining and family farms such as Mulberry Orchard and Gallrein Farm. We also talk about historic downtown Shelbyville and Simpsonville, antique shopping, family attractions, horseback riding, lakes, fishing, camping, golf, festivals and the region's growing appeal for road trippers and pet-friendly travelers. And because Shelby County is a four-season destination, Janette shares ideas for visiting throughout the year—from bourbon tours and horse farms to fall pumpkins, winter shopping and spring and summer horseback riding. - Explore Shelby County, Kentucky: https://www.visitshelbyky.com/  - Learn More About IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  - Follow the Podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/  - Check out the "Travel, Food & Wine" Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1

  8. Aug 11

    Sustainable Food & Farm Adventures in the San Juan Islands

    On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show "with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), Amy Nesler of the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau invites us to Eat Local First and discover the food, farms, producers, and sustainable traditions that make Washington's San Juan Islands so special. Beyond the spectacular scenery and outdoor adventures, the San Juan Islands offer a rich agricultural and culinary experience. Amy shares stories of family farms, heritage fruits, local wineries and cideries, sustainable seafood, farm-to-table dining, and the connections between island farmers, chefs, artisans, and visitors. We also explore the region's deep food heritage, including Coast Salish traditions, heritage agriculture, shellfish, reef-net fishing, and efforts to preserve and celebrate local foodways. The conversation highlights how choosing locally grown and produced foods can help visitors connect more meaningfully with a destination while supporting the communities they visit. Amy also shares details about Savor the San Juans, an annual celebration of local food and agriculture featuring farm tours, farm dinners, wine experiences, restaurant events, artisan producers, and opportunities to meet the people behind the food. If you're passionate about sustainable travel, farm-to-table experiences, local food, culinary adventures, and authentic community connections, this episode offers plenty of inspiration for your next San Juan Islands getaway. 👉 Visit the San Juan Islands: https://www.visitsanjuans.com/  🌐 Learn more about IFWTWA: https://www.ifwtwa.org/  🌐 Follow the Food, Wine & Travel Podcast: https://food-wine-travel.podbean.com/  📰 Check out the Big Blend Radio Travel Food & Wine Digital Podcast Magazine: https://online.fliphtml5.com/yhwzg/ekxy/#p=1

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Go around the world and across the country with Big Blend Radio’s ”Food, Wine & Travel” Show that features travel writers, photographers, and authors, as well as destination, tourism, and hospitality members of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). New episodes air every second Tuesday & Friday, and every third Monday.

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