Italy Destinations

There is a small church overlooking the ocean in Ericeira where the royal family of Portugal said goodbye to their homeland forever. Ericeira The small city of Ericeira, Portugal has a population of about 10,000 people, but that number swells when the surf is high. Ericeira has been designated as a World Surfing Reserving, the…

Brent is in the Azores and the city of Ponta Delgada to visit the local market in an underground parking lot and try the delicious local produce. Plus, he visits some of the best restaurants in the city for an incredible eggplant dish, a delicious lunch with chic pea salad and yummy roll ups, and…

For Christmas we’re celebrating with Bûche de Noël in France, walking off the meal in Rome, a Glühwein crawl in Germany, and the huge Christmas dinner in the Philippines. [Ep 316] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO1BepdOxQc About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel…

Ericeira is a traditional fishing village in Portugal that now shares with water with surfers who visit to ride the waves of Europe’s only World Surfing Reserve. When you visit, be sure to seek out the local pastry, called Ouriço.  Ericeira Being right on the Atlantic Ocean, Ericeira has been known for centuries for it’s…

Brent is in the capital of the Azores to try the best drinks. He samples the famous local liqueur made from passion fruit as as well as a hard-to-find blackberry spirit. Then he tries a beer made with the real passion fruit. Plus, he talks about why some people call the Azores the “Hawaii of…

Lyon is called the gastronomy capital of France. Virginie Jandet from Food Tour company Tasty Lyon tells Brent about the amazing food of the city including a candy honoring silk workers, a market named for a legendary chef, and a red colored praline. Plus, the characteristic rustic restaurants called Bouchon and the surprising origin of…

Brent is on the island of São Miguel in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean for a foodie trip to a pineapple farm where he tries all kinds of pineapple concoctions, including a pineapple Pastel de Nata! He also enjoys tea from leaves grown right on the island. And, sneaks in to an abandoned hotel…

We’re sampling some of the best cheese from around the world. Amazing blue cheese from Nova Scotia, pecorino from Sardinia, raw milk cheese from Australia and many more! [Ep 314] https://youtu.be/Kd2W66_yEbk About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat  Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt”…

Portugal’s coast is dotted with lighthouses that have been guiding ships to safe harbor for centuries. Praia da Barra Lighthouse (Farol de Aveiro) origin story Portugal’s tallest lighthouse (62 meters, 203 feet) is on the Costa Nova of the Atlantic Ocean, not far from the city of Aveiro. The beacon was constructed between 1879 and…

Brent visits the thermal baths of Furnas, Portugal for a warm dip. Then, he tries the famous local bread and checks out the boiling and steamy Caldeiras. And then, it’s time for dinner at a restaurant where the food is cooked underground in the craters heated using natural geothermal heat! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbdWk16_9C0 About the Author Brent…

Milli Kumar and Jeni Matheson are the founders of Eat Kinda ice cream in New Zealand, a company that makes ice cream using a totally unique ingredient; cauliflower! And no, it doesn’t taste like cauliflower, just delicious premium ice cream. Milli and Jenni tell Brent about how they came upon cauliflower as a base for…

There’s a beach town where you can get a delicious treat named after pig’s guts. Don’t worry, there’s no porcine innards involved. Tripas origin story For a couple generations, the family of José Oliveira’s wife had a cookie business, selling “American Cookies” from a stall in Costa Nova, just a few minutes from Aveiro, Portugal….

Brent visits the famous Livramento Market in Setubal and buys some of the most delicious fruit and veg, honey, pastries and sauces in all of Portugal! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99BuCZOIYfI About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat  Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the…

Scott Weiner is the founder of Scott’s Pizza Tours and owner of the Guiness World Record largest pizza box collection. Scott recently returned from the birthplace of pizza, Naples, Italy, where he judged an international pizza contest. Scott tells Brent about the different pizzas he sampled, teaching baby to love pizza, and some recommendations for…

Ovos Moles may be tiny, but they’re delicious! And, they have a tie to Portuguese royalty. Ovos Moles origin story The sweet little treats called Ovos Moles were invented by the nuns of the Mosteiro de Jesus in Aveiro, a Dominican convent built in 1461 by Papal decree. The monastery is famous because this is…

Brent visits several incredible markets in Lisbon. From organic markets to covered food halls to Lisbon’s best wine & cheese shop it’s foodie heaven! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa4yWKSwTPo About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short…

Mohamed is a photographer and foodie travel guide in Morocco. His company Moroccan Food Tour takes curious travelers to see and taste everything his country has to offer. Brent talks with Mohamed about the unique spices of Morocco and the many different markets of Marrakech. Plus, Mohamed’s favorite dishes to make at home, different kinds…

Brent talks about people threatening to leave the United States after the most recent election results and why most will never do it. He outlines some of the reasons people say they are leaving and how Portugal compares to the U.S. on those issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTsxor0BXCI About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination…

Lucian Reed-Drake first visited Bangkok as a teenage backpacker. Today, he calls the bustling city his home. He tells Brent about co-founding his tour company A Chef’s Tour and the best things to eat and drink in Bangkok including mango sticky rice, miang kham, and khanom tuay. Plus, the story of a Portuguese woman who’s…

The vast majority of visitors to Mafra come for one reason: The Mafra National Palace. And, for good reason. It’s spectacular! Mafra National Palace origin story The king of Portugal, João V, made a promise that if his wife produced an heir, he would build a magnificent convent. When Maria Bárbara (the future Queen of…

In the U.S., November 11th is Veteran’s Day. But, in Portugal and much of Europe, it’s St. Martin’s Day. Serving roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes at St. Martin fest in Setubal, Portugal (photo: Brent Petersen) November 11th is St. Martin’s Day, a feast day celebrated throughout Europe to commemorate Saint Martin of Tours, a Roman…

Brent visits one of his favorite cafes in Lisbon to talk about the difference between Immigrants and Expats. Which one is the correct descriptor? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMa7Axf8yXI&t=337s About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat  Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent has written the novel “Truffle Hunt” (Eckhartz Press) and the short story…

Brent explores some of the best coffee from around the world including Colombia and Vietnam. Plus, great coffee recommendations in the birthplace of Starbuck, Seattle, and 3rd wave shops in New York City. [Ep 309] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksZHvANLHdQ About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent…

Maria is in Lisbon and meets Brent for an episode of the podcast. She tells Brent about her first trip to mainland Portugal, her love of the city of Guimarães, The Douro Valley, and a scary escape from the Portuguese wildfires. Maria also talks about her new cookbook and some of her family recipes. Plus,…

San Sebastián (also known by its Basque name, Donostia) is one of the most famous foodie cities in the world, boasting their delicious take on Tapas called Pintxos and Txokos gastronomy clubs. But, for me, Basque Cheesecake is reason enough to visit San Sebastián. Basque Cheesecake at La Viña (image: Brent Petersen) Basque Cheesecake origin story…

Brent takes a boat ride to stunning Berlenga Island, off the coast of Peniche, Portugal. He marvels at the views of the island’s castle and 19th century lighthouse. Plus, there’s the incredible caves and rock formations! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzbQnj1gV5U&t=3s About the Author Brent Petersen is the Editor-in-Chief of Destination Eat  Drink. He currently resides in Setubal, Portugal. Brent…

Jian Tayaban is an expert on the food and culture of Manila. He shares the best dishes to try in his city in off the beaten track neighborhoods. Jian tells Brent about Manila’s street food and dishes called Dynamite and Lumpia as well as a Dim Sum tour in the world’s oldest Chinatown. Plus, ordering…

Brent takes a day and visits the beautiful Arrabida Nature Park. He dangles from a cliff (not really), explores a centuries old convent, finds a shrine in a cave, visits an abandoned military battery, and has lunch on the water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG61Uv6Bkpc Convento de Nossa Senhora da Arrábida https://www.foriente.pt/a-fundacao/co… Galeão   / o-gale%c3%a3o-100057097764145   About the Author Brent Petersen…

Aveiro is called the Venice of Portugal, but that might be unfair to Aveiro. The city has so much to offer besides just being compared to the Italian city. Yes, there are canals and cool boats, but there’s also great food like a local pastry and a delicious treat named after pig innards (yes, really)….

Far and away the most popular attraction in the Basque region (and the 10th most visited in Spain) is the Guggenheim Museum of Bilbao. Guggenheim Museum and Jeff Koons’ “Puppy” (photo: Brent Petersen) Guggenheim Museum origin story The Guggenheim Foundation was looking for a city to build an museum to display modern masterpieces. Famous tourist…