ExtraVirgin Food & Travel

Did you know that Berlin has more bridges than Venice?  Or that has a 160km bike trail along the former Berlin wall? Or that vintage shopping and "textile free" bathing are big? You'll learn more about these topics, plus where to eat, drink and play in this exciting, creative city in this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel's Postcard. So whether you're planning a trip to Berlin, or just armchair...

All over Italy, in tiny mountain and seaside villages, elderly women are making pasta by hand, as their mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers did before them. But with a shrinking world with accessibility to prepackaged food and supermarkets, and an ever-elderly population of nonnas, it's a dying art.  Since 2014, however, Vicky Bennison has taken it upon herself to document it. She laun...

Ola! This ExtraVirgin Postcard comes from the beautiful capital of Portugal -  Lisbon, one of Europe's oldest cities. Tour guide, travel and food writer and blogger Daniela Sunde-Brown moved to the city in 2018. In this postcard, Daniela shares with us the best of her adopted city, from the miradores offering the best views of the city, to where to eat and drink, including the famous Portuguese ta...

In April 2022, chef Adam Wolfers was riding his bike when he was struck down by a stroke, at just 38.  He lost movement on one side of his body, his sense of taste and had to learn to do the everyday things he once took for granted all over again. In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel, Natascha Mirosch catches up with this talented chef, who's worked under Wylie Dufresne in New York, and at...

New York City. "Everybody is here and everything is here for you. A lot of people are here to live out their dreams and make wonderful things happen." So says our guest in this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Podcast's "Postcard," Dena Levitz. Event organiser, yoga teacher and travel journalist, New Yorker Dena shows us her New York, taking us on an in-depth virtual tour. She tells us about l...

I nearly cancelled the whole thing, I really did. Mid-2022 and I'd booked a trip in September to France and Italy and it was causing me high anxiety.  The world is in turmoil. The Covid crisis seems to be easing, but is it? Will I get stuck away from home like so many others? What about the war in Ukraine? What about work, how can I be away that long? But I went and found the world still a beautif...

Laura Thayer is living a life most of us could only dream of. An American by birth, Laura is a travel writer based on Italy's Amalfi Coast.   In this postcard, Laura shows us around her Amalfi, a place that won her heart in 2007. She shares everything from her favourite beach, to where to buy the best pastries, how to get around to avoid the traffic and some surprising history about Amalfi.    As...

Italy. Art, culture, history. They're some of the topics Natascha Mirosch discusses with Dr Kathleen Olive, cultural historian, university lecturer and tour leader.   They discuss her first trip to Florence as a young PHD student, the best places to visit in Italy for art and culture lovers, how she'd spend 10 days in Italy and much more,  If you love Italy, art, history and culture, this is the e...

This ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Postcard wings its way to us from one of the world's most multicultural cities, Toronto, Canada. Our guest is lifestyle journalist Maryam Saddiqi who shares everything she loves about her city; from its lively art scene, to heritage districts and green spaces, its residents' love of sports, the live music scene, and of course, with the city about to get its own Miche...

Her classes sell out within minutes of being open for bookings; she is a regular guest chef on Masterchef and she has her own television programme, The Chocolate Queen. In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel, Natascha Mirosch talks with "The Chocolate Queen" herself, renowned patissiere, owner of Savour Cooking School  and international pastry judge, Kirsten Tibballs. Kirsten talks about how...

Travel writer Ute Junker travels all over the world, but it's Sydney, Australia she comes home to.  In this ExtraVirgin Food & Travel "Postcard," Ute generously shares her insider knowledge of one of the world's most beautiful cities; from its architecture to the culture, history, and of course, Sydney's fantastic food and drink scene. You'll hear about: The best coastal and bush walks, right in t...

Are you a planner or do you prefer to wing it when you travel? ExtraVirgin host Natascha Mirosch is definitely one of the former and in this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Podcast, she tells us why she prefers to leave nothing to chance.  Natascha also shares her tips and tricks; from getting the best out of frequent flyer points, to how to increase your chances of getting an empty seat next...

Nicole Brewer is from Detroit, Michigan, but now lives in the small town of Nizwa, just over an hour from the Oman capital, Muscat where she's a university teacher of English and a published author. Famous for its souks and its silver as well as traditional wooden sailing boats, called dhow, its deserts and beautiful beaches, as well as its warm, friendly people, Oman is a pearl that tourists are...

If you're a keen traveller, it's a good bet that you have a Frommer's Guide or two on your bookshelf. The highly respected guidebooks have been around since 1957 and the company is still family- owned. In this podcast, Natascha Mirosch talks with New Yorker Pauline Frommer , co-president of Frommer's Media, award winning-travel writer and editorial director of of Frommer's guidebooks, podcast host...

Our guest on this episode of ExtraVirgin Postcard lives an enviable life in La Paz on the Bay of California in Mexico. Travel writer Kristen Gill fell in love with the town on a work trip and made it her mission to move there. Now, as she tells us, she rides her bike along The Malecón, goes down to the seafront of a morning to watch the fishermen return with their catch, hikes in the desert and ex...

Writer and editor Julie Kleeman was on a hill in Dharamshala photographing monkeys when she met Yeshi Jampa. Yeshi had grown up in a semi-nomadic family in northern Tibet, living a traditional lifestle, taking care of their many animals. At 19, he made his way over the Himalayas in an arduous 24-day journey to the Indian town, now home to the exiled Dalai Lama. Their chance meeting saw love bloom,...

Venice has been on the wishlist of  travellers for centuries, but in this postcard, we're taking a tour of a Venice way beyond St Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge or the Grand Canal. Artist and writer Allison Zurfluh lives on the island of Burano, in the northern section of the Venice lagoon.  Passionate about her adopted home, she tells us a little of the history of the lagoon's islands and share...

Are you a foodie planning a trip to Australia? Or a local just looking to add to your dining bucket list? In either case, you'll want to listen to this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel. Our guests are Joanna Hunkin, editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller, and restaurant critic at The Australian newspaper, John Lethlean.  You'll find out what Joanna reckons is Australia's 'most fun' restaurant...

Thailand's capital, Bangkok is a large, sprawling city best known for its river, ornate temples and delicious street food. Our guest, Wisrute Buddhari has lived in Bangkok most of his life. Not only does he share the best time of the year to visit and what to see and do; from temple hopping to viewing the city from a boat on the Chao Praya river, as well as a secret beach only locals know about, b...

Have you ever taken a trip that changed your life? ExtraVirgin Food & Travel Podcast host and travel writer Natascha Mirosch certainly has. In this episode, Natascha shares five destinations that have had a huge impact on her life.  She reads from her diary, written as a 20 year old on her first overseas trip as an adult, explains  how she came to understand her roots better on a short break in an...

Headed to California? Or just California dreaming? Los Angeles is far more than just Hollywood, as this "Postcard" episode guest, Wendy Lee explains. Wendy, who has a blog, Empty Nesters Hit the Road , shares with us some of her favourite things to see and do in Los Angeles - you might be surprised to find out what a rich multicultural and cultural city Los Angeles is. Wendy tells us about its the...

No-one can deny the effects climate change is having on our oceans, with temperatures and sea levels rising. The world's biggest reef, Australia's Great Barrier Reef, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, is the canary in the coal mine and right now its health is of serious concern. The good news is, that while politicians argue about the way forward vis a vis climate change, scientists and t...

In this episode of E xtraVirgin Food & Travel "Postcards," we travel to Marrakech, Morocco's fabled pink city and a recent location star in the popular " Inventing Anna, " Netflix series. Our guest is Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki who has lived in Marrakech for the past 9 years, running her own food tour company.   Amanda shares what she recommends visitors to her city do, including :   - Enjoying the so...

Q. Where can you see kangaroos on a beach? Sleep under the water in the middle of the world's most colourful reef? Stalk 50kg birds in an ancient forest, rent your own private isalnd, kayak one of only two everglades in the world, or learn how to spear fish with a First Nation guide?   A . Queensland - home to a rich diversity of wildlife, beautful beaches, perfect weather and a vibrant and delici...

The island city-state of Singapore is sometimes dismissed by travellers as being a little 'sterile,' however, this postcard from expat Gaynor Reid, who's lived there for the past 9 years, shows us a completely different Singapore - one that boasts a plethora of green spaces and wildlife, history, street art and artisan boutiques. Gaynor shares with us her favourite walks,  rooftop bars to catch th...