Wolfgang Puck, the Austrian-American culinary legend, takes host Bruce on a journey through his favorite food and travel spots, full of laughter and unexpected tips.

Wolfgang shares the serendipitous creation of his signature dish, shares his first memories of getting the travel bug, and describes his initial impressions of the United States. He relives the opening night jitters of Spago (Beverly Hills), defines what he calls "California cuisine," and tells us how to cook 120 pounds of camel meat.

Wolfgang also discusses his favorite destinations, from the hidden gem of Bahrain (Asia) to the orphanage his wife established in Ethiopia (Africa). Plus, he reveals his favorite restaurants in Capri and Vienna (Europe), including hidden gems and family-run spots.

This episode is a delicious blend of Wolfgang's culinary wisdom, travel adventures, and insider tips – perfect for foodies and travel enthusiasts alike!

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You can find out more details about the locations below mentioned in the episode:

• Zozobra Festival: https://burnzozobra.com/
• Spago: https://wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants/spago-beverly-hills/
• Hotel Goldener Hirsch (Salzburg, Austria): https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/szglc-hotel-goldener-hirsch-a-luxury-collection-hotel-salzburg/overview/
• Steirereck (Vienna, Austria): https://www.steirereck.at/steirereck.en.html
• Amador (Vienna, Austria): https://www.restaurant-amador.com/
• Hospice Alm Hotel (St. Christoph, Austria): https://www.arlberghospiz-alm.at/en/
• Bachelor Gulch Ski Resort (Colorado, USA): https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/whrrz-the-ritz-carlton-bachelor-gulch/overview/
• Hotel Arlberg (Lech, Austria): https://arlberghotel.at/en/
• La Scoglio (Nerano, Italy): https://www.hotelloscoglio.com/en/restaurant
• Noma (Copenhagen, Denmark): https://noma.dk/
• F. X. Pichler (Wachau Valley, Austria): https://fx-pichler.at/en/vineyards-wines/
• Schrader Vineyards (Napa Valley, California, USA): https://schradercellars.com/
• The Vegetable Shop at Chino Farm (Rancho Santa Fe, California, USA): https://www.instagram.com/chinofarms/?hl=en

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To learn more about Wolfgang Puck, check out his website https://wolfgangpuck.com/

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Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

Host: Bruce Wallin

Producer: AJ Moseley

Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

Music: Joey Salvia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting people to think differently when deciding where to travel next is a specialty of the travel journalist Andrew Nelson, a writer for two decades with National Geographic Travel and a two-time Lowell Thomas prize winner. Andrew joins Bruce on the podcast to discuss places in his new National Geographic book, Here Not There, revealing 100 alternative travel destinations to the ones we've probably all heard about 1,000 times.

Andrew tells us about the places that are overlooked and why they're worth visiting, in addition to the obvious benefit of often being less crowded and less expensive. He guides us to the Miami of the North, the Amsterdam of the Midwest, and a place he describes as the most accessible yet mysterious places he's ever visited. He'll even tell us where you can dance until dawn and drink (responsibly) like a fool.

Andrew doesn't just list places in this Travel That Matters episode, but tells us about the history, the tours and events you can attend, and the food that's there for you to enjoy. He emphasizes the element of surprise in travel, while adding in bragging rights that come with being among the few who have traveled to some of these alternative destinations.

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You can find out more details about the locations below mentioned in the episode:

• Zozobra Festival: https://burnzozobra.com/
• The Secret Stairs of Los Angeles https://secretstairs-la.com/
• San Cassiano, Dolomites https://www.altabadia.org/en/italian-alps-dolomites/villages/san-cassiano.html
• Kotor, Montenegro https://www.turismomontenegro.es/ciudades-de-montenegro/kotor/
• Alamos, Sonora https://www.gob.mx/sectur/articulos/alamos-sonora
• Bottleworks Hotel: https://www.bottleworkshotel.com/

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To learn more about Andrew Nelson, check out his website https://andrewtnelson.com/

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Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

Host: Bruce Wallin

Producer: AJ Moseley

Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

Music: Joey Salvia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Embark on an adventure through South Africa with Liam Tomlin (Cape Town chef), Deborah Calmeyer (ROAR Africa founder), and Tiago Sarmento (managing director of Belmond in Southern Africa), whose stories and insider tips on crafting the ultimate travel experience will have you hooked on this something-for-everybody destination.

On his recent trip to Cape Town and Tswalu Kalahari reserve in South Africa, Bruce caught up with Tomlin and Sarmento to talk about Cape Town’s culinary delights, under-the-radar gastronomic and adventure tours, going on safari with children, and other unique experiences beyond the ordinary.

Bruce also spoke with safari expert Calmeyer, who shares tips for first-timers, malaria-free areas, the best farmer’s market in Cape Town, and a two-week blowout itinerary.

You’ll also learn where locals from Cape Town go for vacation—hint: there’s great whale watching—and get fun facts like where you can order half a goat in a car wash. Whether you’re a seasoned safari-goer or planning your first trip, whether you’re going with kids or just adults, this episode has something for you.

Listen and catch the full details of why South Africa is a must-visit, and hear Bruce give his email for anyone who would like his help with planning a safari experience. Wait until the end to hear Bruce share a few of his favorite picks for safari adventures in South Africa and beyond.

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You can find out more details about the locations mentioned in the episode below:

Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, https://www.belmond.com

Chef’s Warehouse, https://www.chefswarehouse.co.za

ROAR Africa, https://www.roarafrica.com 

Tswalu Kalahari, https://tswalu.com

Delaire Graff Estate, https://www.delaire.co.za

Oranjezicht Farmer’s Market, Cape Town

Singita Sabi Sand, https://singita.com

Cheetah Plains, https://www.cheetahplains.com

Singita Grumeti, https://singita.com

Selinda Reserve / Great Plains Conservation, https://greatplainsconservation.com

Wilderness Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp, https://www.wildernessdestinations.com

Belmond Savute Elephant Lodge, https://www.belmond.com

Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, https://www.belmond.com

Pigcasso, https://pigcasso.org

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Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

Host: Bruce Wallin

Producer: AJ Moseley

Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

Music: Joey Salvia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're recommending a Pushkin podcast, A Slight Change of Plans, where Maya Shankar blends compassionate storytelling with the science of human behavior to help us understand who we are and who we become in the face of a big change.

In this episode, Dr. Richard "Harry" Harris is an anesthesiologist and expert cave diver who was tasked with a seemingly impossible mission: to rescue a boys' soccer team trapped 2.5 miles deep within a flooded cave in Thailand. He talks with Maya about his decision to heed the call.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Divia Thani is an incredible and inspiring source of information on how best to explore the many different regions of India, from the Himalayas in the north to Chettinad in the south.

In this episode of Travel That Matters, Bruce speaks with Divia, the Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast Traveler, about her home country of India, inclusive of the bustling scene in Goa, the best time of year to visit, where to find the best jewelry, and the thrills of a tiger safari (and how it’s different than the safari experience in African countries).

Divia gives useful tips like how to see India without falling into a tourist trap, if you should see the Taj Mahal or skip it, where to go if you have particular hobbies such as hiking or skiing, and how to find authentic food in India.

Divia also tells us about her favorite Indian dish, mentions a few specific restaurants in India that you'll want to try, and talks about Indian cuisine in London, where she lives today.

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You can find out more details about the locations mentioned in the episode below:

• NAAR (Chef: Prateek Sadhu)
• BiBi (Chef: Chet Sharma)

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Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

Host: Bruce Wallin

Producer: AJ Moseley

Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

Music: Joey Salvia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our love of travel and food converge in spectacular fashion in this exploration of Mexico and its many regional cuisines with chef and TV host Pati Jinich. As the host of the 3x James Beard Award-winning PBS television series “Pati’s Mexican Table,” resident chef at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C., and a cookbook author, Pati is the perfect person to lead us on a culinary adventure through the country, diving into its regional specialties, under-the-radar restaurants, and the Mexican dishes foreigners don't know about that they should seek out.

This episode is packed with specific foods you'll want to try when you're in Mexico—from cochinita pibil (a personal favorite of both Bruce’s and producer AJ’s) to the exceptional shrimp of Sinaloa—and Pati's explanations of exactly how some of these dishes are made will leave your mouth watering. She includes important details like why some Mexican dishes can be re-created deliciously in other countries around the world, while others need to be tasted at the source because of the ingredients and techniques.

Pati’s passion for Mexican culture and cuisine is contagious, as she takes us from a remote family restaurant in Halachó in the south to the modern streets of Monterrey in the north—a city that surprised even her! In addition, she teaches us what malinchista means and why the cuisine of Mexico making it to the UNESCO list has helped the people of Mexico gain a new appreciation for their traditional foods and techniques. She also talks about how to stay safe while visiting Mexico’s most popular and more remote regions.

Listen to the end to find out what Bruce's favorite places and foods are in Mexico!

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You can find out more details about the locations mentioned in the episode below:

• Niddo
• Cara de Vaca
• Ya'axche (Chef Wilson Alonzo)
• La Fina Cocina del Barrio
• Sonorita
• Pepe’s Taco
• Pancho’s Takos
• Doña Chela
• Mercado Cleofas Mota Tequila

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To learn more about what Pati is up to, be sure to check out her website: https://patijinich.com/

Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

Host: Bruce Wallin

Producer: AJ Moseley

Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

Music: Joey Salvia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're recommending a podcast for Scotland-lovers by award-winning travel blogger Kathi Kamleitner. This clip is of her conversation with Mark Williams, a forager and foraging tutor with over 30 years of experience.

Originally from the Isle of Arran, Mark lives in Galloway these days and runs foraging classes and workshops all over Scotland.

In the episode, Kathi and Mark cover...
      •     How Mark became a full-time forager
      •     His favorite plants, mushrooms and seaweeds to forage
      •     Tips for aspiring foragers in Scotland (and beyond)
      •     What he loves most about foraging
      •     What foraging and traveling have in common
      •     Tips for a lovely trip to Galloway

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Tara Stoinski, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund President, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer, joins Bruce to discuss the fascinating scientific and conservation work the organization does in the mountains of Rwanda, as well as the fund’s brand-new Ellen DeGeneres Campus—a facility that will not only change how we study and protect mountain gorillas but also enhance what is already one of the world’s epic travel experiences.

Continuing the work of the legendary Fossey—who was murdered in Rwanda in the 1980s—Stoinski and her team of scientists have piloted what is one of the rare success stories for a critically endangered species. The foundation has monitored six generations of mountain gorillas over the years, and in that time the estimated population in the wild has gone from 240 specimens to more than 600.

Stoinski discusses why mountain gorillas—which also reside in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda—are so important to protect, including the fact that they are the “gardeners” of the rainforest, helping to take care of these critical ecosystems through their foraging. She also talks about poaching, snares, and some of the other challenges gorillas face, as well as the effective measures the Rwandan government has taken over the past years to ensure their recovery.

Stoinski also talks about one of the most impactful travel experiences you can have—and one that is sure to convince anyone that mountain gorillas must be protected.

Learn More:
Go2Africa: https://www.go2africa.com/
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund: https://gorillafund.org/
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This episode was first published in March of 2022.

Travel That Matters is a CurtCo Media production.

Host: Bruce Wallin

Producer: AJ Moseley

Marketing: Catrin Skaperdas

Music: Joey Salvia

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.