France Destinations

Perched on a mountaintop in the middle of a national park, Monte Sant’Angelo is a pilgrim destination with several unique foodie items.

Once an abandoned textile factory, LX Factory in Lisbon has transformed into one of the city’s most vibrant creative hubs. Join Brent as he explores this repurposed industrial space filled with street art, indie shops, amazing restaurants, rooftop bars, and a legendary bookstore inside a former newspaper press.

🍴 Food Highlights: Authentic Lebanese cuisine bursting with…

So many places in Europe are suffering from overtourism; massive crowds, overpriced hotels, and grumpy locals. So, we’re giving some tips to avoid the crowds in hotspots like Florence, Dubrovnik, and Rome. [Ep 365]

I just wanted a slab of Focaccia Barese. Hopefully, I won’t get roughed up.

I was standing in the street, patiently waiting my turn, as the toughest, meanest bouncer I’d ever seen stood guard at the door. And, just in case there was any question about Rino’s intentions, yes the bouncer’s name is Rino, there’s a…

Embark on an Italian coffee crawl with Brent as he explores Italy’s most delicious and unique espresso drinks! 🇮🇹 From bold single-origin espresso to creamy, chocolatey Espressino, and even an anise-infused coffee, this road trip is a caffeine lover’s dream. Along the way, Brent discovers regional specialties like Caffè Leccese from Puglia and the indulgent…

Ruixi Hu has brought her passion for delicious local food to her company Lost Plate where she takes hungry visitors to the best spots in Shanghai and other cities in China. Ruixi tells Brent about a unique coffee drink made with fermented rice, something called exploding fish, the city’s craft beer scene, a carb-tastic breakfast,…

The 4th century saint lived and preached in present-day Turkey. Somehow, his bones ended up in Bari.

Join Brent as he explores Palmela, Portugal, uncovering hidden gems you won’t find in any guidebook! 🇵🇹

🥐 First stop: a secret bakery tucked away on a dirt road high on a hill — known only to locals and serving some of the most delicious Portuguese bread around.

🏺 Then, step back in time with a visit…

New York Times bestselling author Katie Parla talks with Brent about her adopted hometown of Rome and her new book Rome: A Culinary History, Cookbook, and Field Guide to the Flavors that Build a City and dishes like braised pig skin and beans, pizza tongues, and Roman rice balls. Plus, why Jewish Roman dishes are…

A rough and tumble port city, Bari’s charm lie in its culinary culture, especially several unique street food items. Foodie Bari For me, Bari is the most exciting food city in all of Puglia. And, it has one of the best street food scenes in all of Italy. From the carbtastic Focaccia Barese to the…

Ever seen a library inside a refrigerator? 👀

Brent takes you to a unique free pop-up library in Setúbal, Portugal — a community project he and Karen helped sponsor.

Brent met up in Dublin with Gráinne Lawlor from Flavour Trails last summer where she told Brent about the little rooms in pubs called snugs and the new tours she has planned for her company. Now that those tours are live, Gráinne is back to tell Brent about the storytelling tour and storytelling tradition, creatures…

Arriving in the Puglian town of Trani, I had one beverage-based mission. Find and sample the local sweet wine, Moscato di Trani.

Get ready for one of the wildest and most unique festivals in Portugal! Brent travels to Setúbal to witness the Banheiras e Insólitos Regatta — also known as the Bathtub Regatta of the Sado River. 🛁🚤

In this hilarious and unforgettable event, locals build homemade boats out of bathtubs and creative materials. Some sink, some…

Heimata Hall from Tahiti Food Tour has a fascinating story. Born in Tahiti, Heimata was destined to work in his family’s lucrative pearl business. But, fate intervened and he found his own way, first in Hawaii and then in his home of Tahiti. Heimata tells Brent about Tahiti reclaiming its culinary heritage and getting out…

A quaint town on the Adriatic, Trani held great importance in the Middle Ages. Today, it’s more sleepy with a lovely port and a sweet wine named for the town.

Forget Pastel de Nata—Portugal’s pastry game goes way deeper! 🍩✨ Join Brent as he travels across the country tasting legendary convent sweets in Évora, nautical-inspired treats in Aveiro, a one-of-a-kind tart in Beja, and plenty more hidden gems. If you love food, desserts, and travel adventures, this guide to Portuguese pastries will make you want…

Avik Mitra from A Chef’s Tour is back on the podcast to talk about the cuisine of the Bengal region of India. Avik tells Brent about the surprising Persian origin of Biryani, samosas from Uzbekistan and momos from Nepal. Plus, we fit in a little Eric Clapton and Beatles talk. [Ep 360] About the Author Brent…

When you go to Puglia (the heel of the Italian peninsula), you’re sure to see Taralli. They’re everywhere! Taralli are made with just a few ingredients. The plain ones are just flour, white wine, olive oil, and salt. The dough is rolled into a rope, cut into pieces and formed into a circle like a…

🇵🇹 Brent is in Setúbal, Portugal for the annual **Bocage Day celebration**, honoring the city’s most famous poet, **Manuel Maria Barbosa du Bocage**. Once jailed for his bold verses, Bocage is now a beloved cultural icon — and every September, Setúbal celebrates his life with music, food, and community spirit. 🎉 In this video, experience…

Avik Mitra is a foodie tour guide from Kolkata (aka Calcutta) India. He tells Brent fascinating stories from his childhood including his favorite dish, his Grandma’s lobster shrimp curry. Avik also talks about the exotic Kolkata spice market, a deep fried sweet called Gulab jamun, and water apples. Plus, dodging wild tigers! [Ep 359] About the…

In Polignano a Mare, they pay tribute to their favorite son, Domenico Modugno. Who was Domenico Modugno? In 1958, there was no bigger international star than Domenico Modugno. Dominico was an Italian songwriter and performer who co-wrote “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” commonly known as “Volare.” The song was a worldwide hit, spending five weeks…

Get ready for the ultimate sugar rush in Portugal! 🇵🇹 Brent goes on a sweet adventure to taste some of the country’s most famous and unique pastries. From the chocolate-filled Tripas in Aveiro to the creamy Torta de Azeitão, this food tour will leave you craving more. Whether you’re a foodie planning a trip to…

Lima, Peru is one of the top rated food cities in the world, recently boasting the best restaurant in the world and attracting talented and creative chefs. Samantha Lewis of Lima Gourmet Company tells Brent about the city’s ascension and the amazing dishes to try when visiting. There’s 4,000 varieties of potatoes, 400 kinds of peppers,…

A coffee drink in Puglia is as delicious as it is decadent. Coffee in Italy I’m always amazed at the amount of espresso Italians can put away. When I ask, they’ll oftentimes tell me that they have five or six espressos daily! When the coffee’s this good, I guess you want it all the time….

Experience one of Portugal’s most colorful festivals in Viana do Castelo! Brent explores the Romaria de Nossa Senhora da Agonia, a week-long celebration full of vibrant parades, traditional salt carpets (made overnight by locals), live music, street parties, and delicious food. From cultural traditions to seaside relaxation, this video captures the heart of northern Portugal….

Brent revisits some of his favorite conversations about street food around the world. There’s the famous Arepa Lady in Jackson Heights, New York, the queen of street food in Palermo, Sicily, and delicious treats in the Chinatown neighborhood of Sydney, Australia. Plus, everything on a stick in Seoul, South Korea. [Ep 357] About the Author Brent Petersen is the…

If Lecce is the sophisticated historical center of Puglia and Bari is the rough and tumble port, Monopoli is the chill seaside city featuring a lovely Lungomare (promenade) and Blue Flag certified beaches. But, there’s a lot more to Monopoli than just flopping on the beach. After all, the beaches aren’t that big, facilities are…

Portugal is home to one of the world’s wildest sandwiches — the Francesinha! 🍴 In this video, Brent heads to the Francesinha Festival in Setúbal, Portugal to taste the legendary Portuguese sandwich smothered in rich beer sauce. From traditional meat-packed versions to surprising vegan takes, this festival has it all. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB1fBQLde7s About the Author Brent…

Food and wine expert Gabor Banfalvi from Taste Hungary is back to talk about Hungarian wine. He tells Brent about the history of winemaking in Hungary, why so little Hungarian wine is exported, and the country’s unique grape varieties. Plus, fine wine tasting on the tram, a liqueur called Unicum, and Hungarian fruit brandy. [Ep…