Italy Destinations

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…

My latest foodie travel guide is to the Italian city of Lecce in Puglia. We’ve been going to Lecce for 15 years and it’s one of our favorite places in Italy. The late Baroque Basilica di Santa Croce has one of the most magnificent facades in all of Europe. Then, there’s the food! Simple, rustic…

Discover the ultimate Bologna street food tour in Italy’s culinary capital! 🇮🇹 From a rum-soaked cake to tortellini en brodo, fresh pasta, and artisan gelato, Brent dives into the flavors that make Emilia-Romagna world-famous. Along the way, explore Bologna’s hidden gems: ✨ Early works by Michelangelo most tourists miss ✨ Elevated tombs & centuries-old history…

Need to cool off in hot Lecce? Don’t get a soda, have a coffee! Caffe Leccese origin story Lecce is in Puglia, the heel of Italy, where it gets hot. Like, Gates of Hell hot. 100 degrees isn’t uncommon in the summer. Once, it got up to 116! So, it’s no surprise that iced coffee…

Modena, Italy is a food lover’s paradise — and in this episode, Brent dives deep into its culinary treasures. 🇮🇹✨ 🍇 Authentic balsamic vinegar straight from the source 🍷 Sampling Lambrusco wine — the fizzy red with a reputation 🥐 A sweet pastry with a surprising filling 🥗 One of the best meals he’s ever…

Rhode Island is an amazing foodie city and its small size makes it easy to see and sample so much! Author Jamie Coelho is back on the podcast to talk to Brent about her new book “Rhode Island Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time”. She tells Brent about how…

A Michelin recognized chef has opened a humble-looking sandwich shop whose food is next-level. Sandwich Club Sampling deliciousness at Sandwich Club (photo: Karen L. Campopiano) Louise Bourrat is a French-Portuguese chef inspired by her grandmother’s Portuguese recipes. She won the 13th season of Top Chef in France in 2022. Image: Boubou’s Louise opened Boubou’s in…

Discover Ravenna, Italy — a city of dazzling 1,500-year-old Byzantine mosaics, medieval history, and incredible food you won’t find anywhere else. Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, Ravenna is also the resting place of Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy. In this episode, Brent explores Ravenna’s rich history and local flavors: 🍝…

Food doesn’t recognize borders, so Brent explores some of the best Transplanted Cuisine from around the world. There’s a famous dish from Sicily that got its start in northern Africa, a dish that came to Chicago via Hawaii, and so much great food from Indonesia in Malaysia. [Ep 353] About the Author Brent Petersen is…

One of the most popular dishes in Portugal is Bitoque, a steak dish you can get in any traditional Portuguese tasca. Bitoque origin story The invention of the Bitoque is disputed. Some say it was brought to Lisbon by a Spanish man from Galicia. Others say it first appeared in a humble tavern near Sintra…

Discover the hidden flavors of L’Aquila, Italy — a city that rose from the 2009 earthquake to become one of Abruzzo’s most vibrant food destinations. On this Italian road trip stop, Brent dives into: 🍯 Handmade torrone (Italy’s best nougat) 🥙 Traditional “meatless meatballs” from cucina povera 🥖 A rustic picnic in the park with…

Bruges is a gorgeous Medieval city in Belgium. Besides the centuries old site, we learn about the best eats and drinks from Patrick Verleye, a foodie from Tour in Bruges. He talks about how to find a great chocolate shop, why you should get mayo with your fries, lace cookies, and the best hot chocolate….