Travel That Matters CurtCo Media

Chef Richard Sandoval was and still is an instrumental force in the proliferation and elevation of Latin American cuisine across the globe. Born and raised in Mexico City—and once an aspiring professional tennis player—his journey into the world of culinary delights began early, setting the stage for a lifetime of epicurean exploration.

 

In this week’s episode, Travel That Matters sends you from the vibrant streets of Mexico City to surprising corners of the globe, showcasing Chef Sandoval’s adventures in authentic Mexican cuisine. Serbia, Dubai, Malta, Lima, Denver—he takes us on a whirlwind tour of flavors and shares several of his favorite spots worldwide.

 

Don’t forget to stick around for the wrap, where Bruce shares why everyone is talking about Mexico City, and why you should consider it for your next travel adventure.

 

A special thanks to Stonestreet Estate Vineyards for sponsoring the show today. Don't forget, listeners of the Master Chef series can receive exclusive access to Stonestreet wines and experiences including some unique sets chosen by Bruce, along with a complimentary Single Vineyard tasting for two at the estate. Head over to Stonestreetwines.com/Travel to access these incredible wines—and don’t forget to use code TRAVEL to book your complimentary tasting.

 

Thank you also to the MGallery Cures Marines and The Purist: Retreat and Spa for sponsoring this episode of the Travel That Matters’ Master Chef series. To learn more about the The Purist: Retreat and Spa at the MGallery Cures Marines, visit www.lescuresmarines.com.

 

 

To learn more about Richard Sandoval or any of his many projects, check out: https://www.richardsandoval.com/
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Chris Jackson of Stonestreet Estate Vineyards and Jackson Family Wines (Kendall-Jackson) joined Bruce to talk about all things wine, including why Healdsburg, California, is the best wine town to visit in America, the truth about how the family business got started (and how it was pretty much a “catastrophe”), and other wine destinations he loves and why you should visit them. Should Sonoma Valley be your first choice over Napa? 

Before revealing what regions the Jackson family feels represent the future of wine (and why a shift in wine regions proves climate change is real), Chris talks about what makes Stonestreet Estate and its 54,000 acres so unique, what wines you'll taste on the Stonestreet Mountain Excursion, why Stonestreet releases wines five years of age minimum, and how the Jackson family makes decisions centuries, if not decades, out. He then takes us on a wild tour of McLaren Vale and gives us a taste of his top spots in Italy and Oregon. Impress your fine-wine-loving friends by sending them this earthy and elegant episode! 

A special thanks to Stonestreet Estate Vineyards for sponsoring the show today. Don't forget, listeners of "Travel That Matters" can receive exclusive access to Stonestreet wines and experiences, including some unique sets chosen by Bruce, along with a complimentary Single Vineyard tasting for two at the estate. Head over to Stonestreetwines.com/Travel to access these incredible wines—and don’t forget to use code TRAVEL to book your complimentary tasting.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anne-Cecile Degenne is the executive corporate chef for Accor’s Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery, and Emblems hotel brands, overseeing more than 100 boutique restaurant concepts around the globe. Her work and personal travels—which include trekking through Mongolia for two months—have given her a unique perspective on global cuisine, which she shares in this fun and informative interview with Bruce.

Classically trained in France, Anne-Cecile has taken her talents from the Caribbean and New York to Korea and Vietnam. She shares her tips and tricks on how to discover the best authentic food culture in every new city she visits, as well as some of the lessons she’s learned about kitchen culture in different countries and how it has influenced her as a chef and traveler. 

Anne-Cecile also talks about a number of the exciting new hotel and restaurant projects from Accor, including a new Sofitel in Benin, an MGallery in Nairobi, and a Sofitel Legend in Panama.

Finally, Chef Degenne tells a story about her most memorable meal in Korea, one that many people might get pretty squeamish about!  

Thank you to Accor for being the exclusive sponsor for this episode. To learn more about any of the hotels, food concepts, or upcoming projects mentioned today, visit https://group.accor.com/. 
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Including a long list of restaurants in New Orleans, Nina Compton (James Beard award winning Saint Lucian chef currently living in New Orleans and 2nd place winner of Top Chef) gives listeners of this "Travel That Matters" episode countless travel tips for culinary destinations, including Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

As Saint Lucia is her home country, she dives deep into tasty local spots most tourists don't know about, what her Saint Lucian family eats for Christmas, and how her journey to becoming a chef started in Saint Lucia. (Fun fact: Nina's dad was the first Prime Minister of independent Saint Lucia!)

Now she's been calling New Orleans home for over 8 years and gives us insider tips of where to eat and what types of food you can find in New Orleans, if you know what to look for. She also gives chef recommendations of what to order at her restaurant, Compere Lapin.

Of course, she also talks about her experience on Top Chef, and much more.

In the wrap, Bruce sits down with John Cox, preeminent contemporary Bahamian artist and executive director of arts and culture at Baha Mar.

John tells us about the Bahamas Culinary & Arts festival at Baha Mar this October and why the Bahamas (and all of the Caribbean) is an exciting place to be as an artist right now.

A special thanks to Stonestreet Estate Vineyards for sponsoring the show today. Don't forget, listeners of the Master Chef Series can receive exclusive access to Stonestreet wines and experiences including some unique sets chosen by Bruce, along with a complimentary Single Vineyard tasting for two at the estate. Head over to Stonestreetwines.com/Travel to access these incredible wines—and don’t forget to use code TRAVEL to book your complimentary tasting.

Thank you also to the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel Hotel and the Frame Brasserie for sponsoring this episode of the Travel That Matters’ Master Chef series. To learn more about the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel Hotel, visit pullmanparistoureiffel.com. Also, check out framebrasserie.com to book your Eiffel-tower-view table today.

Relevant Links: Bywater American bistro https://bywateramericanbistro.com/ Compere Lapin (New Orleans) http://comperelapin.com/ Addis Nola (Ethiopian New Orleans) https://www.addisnola.com/ Dakar (Senegalese New Orleans) https://www.addisnola.com/ Jewel of the South (Cocktails New Orleans) https://www.jewelnola.com/ Marjie’s Grill (New Orleans) https://www.marjiesgrill.com/ Fritai (Haitian New Orleans) https://fritai.com/ Fond Doux (Saint Lucian Resort) https://fonddouxresort.com/ Baha Mar Culinary Arts Festival https://bahamar.com/bahamas-culinary-arts-festival/ Alice Yard (Trinidad Art Collective) https://www.instagram.com/aliceyardinsta/ Fresh Milk (Barbados Art Collective) https://www.instagram.com/freshmilkbarbados/?hl=en

To learn more about Nina Compton or any of her projects, check out https://www.instagram.com/ninacompton/?hl=en

To learn more about John Cox, check out:  https://www.instagram.com/iamjohnedwardcox/?hl=en
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Hawaii, Burgundy, Australia, and California are just some of the places internationally known chef, TV host, entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author and chef-owner Curtis Stone talks about on this episode of "Travel That Matters" with award-winning travel writer and editor Bruce Wallin.

Curtis shares insider tips on all the amazing, unknown places in Australia he’s been to and what's special about the Australian cuisine and the traditions that accompany it. Curtis goes into detail about the foods and ingredients you need to eat when you’re in Australia and where to find them, because you won’t find them anywhere else.

Everyone knows Italy has delicious food, but Curtis shares tips on where to find new culinary experiences beyond the hot spots like Rome, Florence, and Sicily. In fact, he provides an actionable step you can take to find authentic food in all of the countries you’re visiting and shares advice on how to plan your next vacation.

Curtis also tells listeners about his latest projects and the new spots where you can find his delicious cooking.

In the wrap, Bruce sits down with acclaimed Michelin starred Chef George Mendes. Chef Mendes joins Raffles Boston, opening later this summer, as chef to open the signature restaurant Amar and lead the culinary program, which also includes a sleek day to night bar and terrace, and a street side cafe. He was previously the executive chef at the New York Michelin-starred restaurant Aldea. 

To learn more about Raffles Boston and the culinary program, visit https://www.raffles.com/boston

To learn more about Curtis Stone or any of his projects, visit https://www.curtisstone.com/

To find out more about George Mendes. visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-mendes-31b3281bb/

A special thanks to Stonestreet Estate Vineyards for sponsoring the show today. Don't forget, listeners of "Travel That Matters" can receive exclusive access to Stonestreet wines and experiences including some unique sets chosen by Bruce, along with a complimentary Single Vineyard tasting for two at the estate. Head over to Stonestreetwines.com/Travel to access these incredible wines—and don’t forget to use code TRAVEL to book your complimentary tasting.

Thank you also to Accor and Girafe restaurant by Paris Society for sponsoring this episode of "Travel That Matters." To learn more about Girafe, visit https://girafe-restaurant.com/

Links and mentions:


Maude: https://www.mauderestaurant.com/
Gwen: https://www.gwenla.com/
Marques de Riscal: https://www.marquesderiscal.com/en/marques-de-riscal-reserva 
Belmond Hotel, Maroma: https://www.belmond.com/hotels/north-america/mexico/riviera-maya/belmond-maroma-resort-and-spa/
Indian Star: https://www.indianstar.com.au/
Topanga Social: https://www.eatplaytopangasocial.com/
Amar, Raffles Boston (Opening Summer 2023): https://www.raffles.com/boston/dining/amar/
Long-Bar, Raffles Boston: https://www.raffles.com/boston/dining/long-bar-and-terrace/
Girafe: https://paris-society.com/en/table/girafe/

"Travel That Matters" is a CurtCo Media Production:


Host: Bruce Wallin
Producer: AJ Moseley
Marketing Director: Catrin Skaperdas
Music: Joey Salvia
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Gregory Gourdet is an American chef, writer, restaurateur, and former finalist on the twelfth and seventeenth seasons of Top Chef. His first restaurant Kann was named America’s best new restaurant at the 2023 James Beard awards.

Gregory shares his experience on Top Chef and how it inspired him to travel around the world. We also get a sneak peek of his work guiding global travel experiences with Modern Adventure. We learn about what part of the world Gregory is most passionate about right now. We hear what trendy country in South America is unlike any other place on earth in terms of unique ingredients and flavor. Gregory shares one of his favorite travel experiences up in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. He also shares his thoughts on why his restaurant Kann has been so well received. We learn about Haiti and why Gregory thinks it’s poised to become a hot travel destination again. We find out what his “last meal” would be if he had to pick only one! Gregory shares his favorite nonfood-related trip, and why it’s such an ultra experience. Finally, we hear what and where Gregory’s best meals of the year have been. 

In the wrap, Bruce welcomes chef Wayne Brown to the show. Wayne heads up operations of Carte Blanched – Ennismore’s in-house F&B development and concepting studio. We learn what goes into the concept development with Carte Blanched projects. Wayne also shares how Carte Blanched tailors each concept to its unique region and culture. We get a sneak peek into an exciting upcoming mixology project opening in Barcelona. We hear more about the new Mondrian Singapore Duxton food concepts coming to life, and how “the greatest butcher in the world” Dario Cecchini is building their new restaurant Bottega Di Carna. Finally, Wayne shares some interesting stories about his travels to Asia, and how those trips led him to who he is today. 

To learn more about Gregory Gourdet or any of his projects, visit https://gregorygourdet.com/ 

To find out more about Wayne Brown and Carte Blanched, visit https://carte-blanched.com/ 

A special thanks to Stonestreet Estate Vineyards for sponsoring the show today. Don't forget, listeners of the Master Chef Series can receive exclusive access to Stonestreet wines and experiences including some unique sets chosen by Bruce, along with a complimentary Single Vineyard tasting for two at the estate. Head over to Stonestreetwines.com/Travel to access these incredible wines—and don’t forget to use code TRAVEL to book your complimentary tasting.

Thank you also to Accor and the Mondrian Singapore Duxton for sponsoring this episode of the Travel That Matters’ Master Chef series. To learn more about the Mondrian Singapore Duxton and their Bottega Di Carna restaurant visit https://book.ennismore.com/hotels/mondrian/singapore-duxton/dining 

Links and mentions:


Modern Adventure: https://modernadventure.com/
La Picanteria (Peru): https://picanteriasdelperu.com/
Kann (Portland): https://kannrestaurant.com/
Sousol (Portland): https://sousolbar.com/
Tatiana (NYC): https://www.tatiananyc.com/
Skybar Condesa (Mexico City) https://book.ennismore.com/nightlife/skybar/condesa
Cleo Mediterraneo: https://book.ennismore.com/restaurants/cleo
Mondrian Singapore Duxton: https://book.ennismore.com/hotels/mondrian/singapore-duxton
Hyde Hotel, Niko (Ibiza): https://book.ennismore.com/hotels/hyde/ibiza/dining
Bottega Di Carna (Singapore): https://book.ennismore.com/hotels/mondrian/singapore-duxton/dining 

Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media Production.

Host: Bruce Wallin

Producer: AJ Moseley

Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

Music: Joey Salvia
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.