Eat, Drink and Be Merry

Wine country, waterparks, supper clubs, and yoga with alpacas: Wisconsin Dells has something for every season, and it’s not just a summer destination. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio’s "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), host/producer Lisa D. Smith talks with Ken Leiviska of the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bure...

Come hungry! Every third Sunday, Travel Avoyelles hosts Wilbert Carmouche and Mary Guillory join Lisa D. Smith for a visit to Avoyelles Parish in Central Louisiana. This time they brought a special guest: caterer John Ed Laborde of Panaroma Foods in Marksville, the creator of Crawfish Bread®. We talk crawfish étouffée, boudin and boucherie, cracklins, court-bouillon, sweet potato crunch, king cake...

Why would a cruise line skip the hot seafood chowder in the Caribbean, then serve it on deck in Glacier Bay?  On this shared 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 an...

Celebrate Pizza Month, Italian American Heritage Month, and Family History Month with pizza, wine, and Sicilian family stories in this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy" Podcast! Peggy Fiandaca, co-owner of Arizona's LDV Winery, starts with a fall update from the vineyard and the tasting room in Old Town Scottsdale, including a Burgundy wine talk, Petite Sirah in November,...

It's October, and that means The Peanut Patch is open! Donna George, owner of The Peanut Patch in Yuma, Arizona, joins producer Lisa D. Smith on this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "The Peanut Patch" Podcast, to celebrate the start of the season, with fresh peanut brittle and fudge back on the counter for Yuma locals, winter visitors, and road trippers passing through. Donna shares what it ta...

Enjoy this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wanderers Compass" Podcast! Three years after Joelle's first truffle hunt in the pouring rain with a cooking group of sixteen women, she and Ryan return to Buzet, Croatia, to sit down with Višnja Prodan Jekić of Prodan Tartufi — a family truffle business now heading into its fourth generation. It started in the 1960s, when Višnja's grandparents didn'...

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 shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel Show," presented in partnership with the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association...

Donna George of The Peanut Patch joins producer Lisa D. Smith to spice up the fall season — from the spicy side of Donna's product lineup to seasonal gift and shipping ideas as The Peanut Patch gears up for its October 1st store reopening. Then it's on to the kitchen for five recipes from The Peanut Patch's collection: Soft Ginger Peanut Butter Cookies, Ginger Date Wontons, Spicy Date Nut Loaf, Do...

Wine culture starts long before the glass is poured — it's rooted in family, food, and the stories we carry with us. On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy" Podcast, Peggy Fiandaca is joined by Julia Coney — writer, educator, speaker, consultant, and luxury travel advisor, and founder of Black Wine Professionals and co-founder of A Privé Journeys, a bespoke travel compan...

Discover Shelby County, Kentucky, just east of Louisville, with Janette Marson, President and CEO of ShelbyKY Tourism, on this shared 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, bo...

On this shared 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 adven...

Celebrate the flavors of late summer with Donna George, owner of The Peanut Patch in Yuma, Arizona, as she shares delicious ways to elevate sandwiches, charcuterie boards, brunches, and everyday meals using gourmet pickles, preserves, fruit butters, salsas, olives, local honey, and more. From peach butter and cherry butter to stuffed olives, pickled vegetables, artisan salsas, and classic peanut b...

Celebrate National Peach Month with this delicious and shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy!" Podcast. Peggy Fiandaca, co-owner of LDV Winery in Arizona, explores why peaches and wine are one of summer's most enjoyable pairings. Peggy shares vineyard updates as harvest season approaches, discusses how changing weather impacts vineyards around the world, and explains how "stone...

Discover what's fresh for late summer with Robert Schueller of Melissa's Produce, who joins Linda Kissam, "Food, Wine & Shopping Diva," on this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Sip, Savor & Travel" Podcast to share seasonal produce favorites, healthy snack ideas, and creative ways to make the most of late-summer flavors. From juicy Waterloupe melons and Jelly Drop grapes to Hatch chile...

In this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Eat, Drink & Be Merry" Show, we welcome back Chef Ivan Flowers and his wife, Tracy Phillips, for a lively "Getting to Know You" conversation that blends personal stories with practical advice on eating well without overspending. From rising grocery prices and smart shopping strategies to healthy meal planning and making the most of affordable ingredients,...

From legendary restaurants and iconic cocktails to world-famous festivals and unforgettable culinary traditions, this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) serves up A Taste of New Orleans with Mary Beth Romig, Assistant Vice President of Public Relations for New Orleans & Company Visit New Orleans  Disc...

What makes a picnic so much more than a meal outdoors? In this shared and uplifting episode of Big Blend Radio's "Soul Diving Sunday" Show, Shelley Whizin, the "Live & Die Happy Coach," explores how picnics, family reunions, and simple gatherings in nature can strengthen relationships, celebrate loved ones, and create lasting memories. Shelley shares how food is a beautiful metaphor for life a...

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, join Donna George, owner of The Peanut Patch in Yuma, Arizona, for a fascinating journey through the remarkable story of one of America's most beloved foods—the peanut. Discover how peanuts became an American staple, from their agricultural importance and the groundbreaking innovations of George Washington Carver to their role during wartime, family tra...

From the icy waters of Alaska to the vineyards of southeastern Arizona, this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy" celebrates the art of pairing exceptional seafood with outstanding wines. Peggy Fiandaca, co-owner of LDV Winery, welcomes special guest Sena Wheeler, co-owner of Sena Sea, a fifth-generation family-owned wild Alaska seafood company.  Together they explore how pre...

Happy Summer! On this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Eat, Drink, and Be Merry" Show, Robert Schueller of Melissa's Produce joins us for a virtual summer foodie shopping spree to stock the brand-new digital Big Blend Media House — pantry, fridge, freezer, wine cellar, backyard grill, poolside bar, and wellness retreat included. From Petite Pinkglow and Colada Royale pineapples to dragon fruit, tree-...

On this shared episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), travel writer, columnist, and author Cindy Ladage discusses her new book, "True Farm Girl Adventures," and shares stories celebrating rural America, agricultural heritage, small-town communities, and the people who keep these traditions alive. From...

We're heading back to Bells Up Winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley with winemaker and co-owner Dave Specter! In this Big Blend Radio "Getting to Know You" interview, Dave talks about turning a dead Christmas tree farm into a thriving boutique winery, the music-inspired story behind the Bells Up name, rare grapes you won't find anywhere else in the Willamette Valley — including a sparkling Seyval...

Get ready for National Herbs & Spices Day (June 10) with this shared flavorful episode of Big Blend Radio's "Food, Wine & Travel" show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), featuring Spuddy Faucheux — Cajun cook, instructor, entrepreneur, and owner of the Cajun Cooking Experience in Vacherie, Louisiana.  Located right along the historic Jefferson Highw...

Celebrate National Candy Month with this special episode of Big Blend Radio's "The Peanut Patch" Podcast featuring Matthew Luna, owner of Desert Freeze Dried and grandson of Donna George, owner of The Peanut Patch in Yuma, Arizona. Sitting in for Donna, Matthew shares his expertise in the fascinating world of freeze drying and the innovative ways this technology is transforming food preservation a...

In this special and shared "Getting to Know You" episode of Big Blend Radio's "Wine Time with Peggy" podcast, we go beyond the glass to learn more about Peggy Fiandaca, co-owner of LDV Winery and one of Arizona's pioneering voices in wine. From the unique terroir and volcanic soils of southeastern Arizona to the art and science of winemaking, Peggy shares the story behind her vineyard, her passion...