Okay, 2024 might not officially be over but some of us are already planning a trip/s for 2025. In this podcast, the last for the year, travel writer Natascha Mirosch talks a little about where she visited in 2024 but also offer some suggestions of trips and destinations you might like to put on your wish list - from cruising the Amazon to a new Orient Express luxury train journey, visiting the home of the world’s most famous cartoon dog and more. You'll find links to the places mentioned in the podcast on the ExtraVirgin Food & Travel website. Â
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18:03
This Delicious Life, with Food Writer Sonya Gellert
Sonya Gellert has the enviable job of being a full-time food writer. She’s done a host of fabulous things throughout a career that's taken her from Australia to Japan, the UK and back to Australia. She's been a travel editor, restaurant reviewer, editorial food and drink writer, copywriter and recipe editor. She’s written for Table Magazine UK, Escape magazine, delicious Magazine, Vogue Living, Huffington Post and more and worked with food luminaries such as Rachel Khoo and Donna Hay. We're going to hear about Sonya's career trajectory, what she likes to cook and eat, what makes a good recipe, her favourite cookbook and foodie travel destination, what are the most searched-for recipes and more.Â
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32:44
Episode 104: Sicily - A Food Tour in the Land of "White Lotus"
Thanks to the incredible popularity of the show White Lotus, Sicily is red hot right now. In this episode, Natascha Mirosch chats with Carmel Ruggeri, former restaurateur-turned-tour guide, who runs extremely popular tours to a part of Italy not only blessed with natural beauty, but some of the country's best regional cuisine (cannoli anyone?)  Carmel and Natascha chat about everything from the places you shouldn't miss, to the hand signs you should, never ever use, to the regional food specialities you just have to try.   Carmel tells it how it is, with humour and refreshing honesty, her love of Sicily shining through in this (very entertaining) episode.
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42:00
Australia's Guy Grossi and "La Cucina Italiana"
Guy Grossi has carved out a distinguished career and made a significant contribution to the hospitality scene over the last forty years, both as a restaurateur and chef. In fact, in 1996, Guy was awarded the L'insegna Del Ristorante Italiano by no less than the president of Italy, for his dedication to presenting and promoting "La Cucina Italiana" and the Italian lifestyle. He’s written four cookbooks and has been on a slew of television programs, from "Food Safari" and Iron Chef, to "My Kitchen Rules." He also runs a small empire of highly regarded restaurants countrywide, including his flagship, Grossi Florentino. In this episode of ExtraVirgin, Natascha Mirosch and Guy chat all things food and hospitality, as well as Italian travel. They discuss why Italians don’t like penne lisce and the difference between fast and slow dried pasta, what’s wrong with the hospitality scene and how the financial crisis is affecting it, his favourite dishes from his Pugliese father and Venetian mother; who he'd invite and what he'd serve at a fantasy dinner party and more. Guy also gives us some great Italy travel and food tips - from the Amalfi Coast to Florence and Puglia. Â
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45:00
How to Buy a Property in Italy and Those One Euro Houses
We've talked about those one Euro houses in Italy in a previous podcast (episode 81) but in this episode we’re about to revisit the subject (and the topic of buying property in Italy as a foreigner in general) with Michele Capecchi, a lawyer based in Florence, who has extensive experience in guiding foreigners through the red tape that is buying a property in Italy. Michele is managing partner of Studio Legale Capecchi , teaches International Business Law at at the European School of Economics and has been a a legal columnist with The Florentine, the international magazine of the expat community in Florence for over 10 years. Michele discusses with Natascha:  The positives and pitfalls of the one Euro homes scheme The legalities of foreigner home ownership in Italy Where are good places to buy? How much are you likely to need to realistically spend, plus more.  If you're keen to find out how you can be enjoying la vita bella in Italy in your own home, you'll enjoy this episode. And don't forget to sign up for the ExtraVirgin newsletter "The Olive," on the website.   Â
ExtraVirgin Food & Travel is a podcast for adventurers, armchair travellers and gourmands. Join your host, food and travel journalist Natascha Mirosch, as she chats with amateur travellers and dedicated explorers, food experts, cooks and producers.
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