Send us a text In this episode of Taste Toast Travel Tara sits down with Grant Garry, a filmmaker who turned his personal journey of grief and morning coffee ritual into a powerful exploration of coffee culture. Grant shares how this morning coffee ritual evolved from a moment of solace into a passion for storytelling—ultimately leading him to create a coffee documentary that connects people through the universal love of a good cup. From visiting a vertically integrated coffee farm in...

Send us a text We're breaking down Hilton’s 2026 Global Travel Trends Report and uncovering what’s next for travelers around the world. From the growing craving for peaceful, restorative getaways to the rise of solo travel and digitally planned trips, we're exploring how our travel habits are evolving in exciting new ways. Discover why quiet luxury vacations and slow travel are becoming top priorities, how family travel dynamics are shifting, and what these trends might mean for your own fut...

Send us a text Let's explore one of San Francisco’s most iconic landmarks: Alcatraz Island. Come with us on a night tour! As Bay Area locals, we're sharing our firsthand experience. From stepping onto the ferry to wandering through the eerie prison corridors—once occupied by infamous inmates like Al Capone and The Birdman. We're taking you through: ✈️ A walk through of our experience ✈️ Recommendations on things we would do again, or things to avoid ✈️ Considerations to keep in mind if...

Send us a text Today we're exploring Europe’s most haunted places! Continuing our spooky travel theme from last week’s episode on haunted places in the United States, we uncover the ghost stories, legends, and dark histories behind these iconic European landmarks. We're digging into: 👻 The Tower of London in England 👻 Edinburgh Castle in Scotland 👻 The Paris Catacombs 👻 Bran Castle in Transylvania 👻 Poveglia Island in Venice Join us on this journey through Europe’s most haunted destinations...

Send us a text Spooky season is here! In this episode of Taste Toast Travel, we're uncovering the most haunted places in the United States just in time for Halloween. From battlefields to prisons to historic hotels, we explore the chilling stories and paranormal encounters that make these spots legendary. Featured haunted destinations: 👻 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 👻 The Stanley Hotel, Colorado 👻 Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia 👻 Myrtle’s Plantation, Louisiana 👻 Salem, Massachusetts T...

Send us a text Dreaming of owning a home in Italy for just one euro? In this episode of Taste Toast Travel, we're doing a reality check on this! Join us as we dive into Italy’s €1 houses, and whether these deals are really too good to be true. We explore: 🇮🇹 How the €1 house auctions work 🇮🇹 Why so many of these properties are available (hint: demographics and history play a big role) 🇮🇹 The real costs of renovation 🇮🇹 Common pitfalls, from Italian bureaucracy to hidden legal hurdles 🇮🇹 Why ...

Send us a text Raise your steins and tighten your lederhosen—it’s Oktoberfest time! In this episode of Taste Toast Travel, Tara's taking the lead and diving into the history, traditions, and unforgettable stories behind the world’s largest beer festival: Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. From its royal wedding origins in 1810 to the modern-day celebration that draws over six million people each year, we’re exploring how Oktoberfest became a cultural phenomenon. You’ll discover: 🇩🇪...

Send us a text We're so excited about this episode, because we're diving into the autumn vibes big time. Join us as we explore how cultures across the globe celebrate the Fall equinox! From ancient monuments to seasonal feasts, this episode uncovers the history, spirituality, folklore, delicious foods, and traditions tied to the changing of the seasons. In this chat we're traveling to: 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Stonehenge in England 🇮🇪 Newgrange in Ireland 🇰🇭 Angkor Wat in Cambodia 🇵🇪 Machu Picchu in Peru 🇲🇽 C...

Send us a text Tara is taking the lead on this episode of Taste Toast Travel as she chats with Isabelle Lesschaeve, a distinguished sensory scientist and wine expert. Isabelle shares her inspiring journey through sensory science to the wine and non-alcoholic beverage industries, drawing from her academic and professional experiences in the US and Canada. We dig into: 🍷 Isabelle’s journey from France to North America and her career in sensory science and wine research. 🍷 How sensory evaluati...

Send us a text Today we're taking you to Siena, Italy! Siena holds a special place in our heart because we lived and worked at a winery just outside of the city for several months in 2018, and were married there in 2022. We're sharing stories, travel tips, and our favorite experiences in one of Tuscany’s most iconic destinations. From the heart-pounding excitement of the Palio di Siena horse race to the best city and countryside viewpoints, we dive into what makes Siena unforgettable and a no...

Send us a text In this episode of the Taste Toast Travel Podcast, we’re raising a glass and celebrating California Wine Month! 🍷 From iconic varietals like Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to legendary regions including Napa Valley, Paso Robles, and Mendocino, we’re exploring what makes California a global wine powerhouse—literally, we’re 4th in the WORLD in wine production! The conversation uncorks everything from the economic impact of California wine to the industry’s resilience post-COVI...

Send us a text It’s happy hour on the Taste Toast Travel podcast! This week, we’re diving into two iconic cocktails: the Mai Tai and the Aperol Spritz. We explore: 🍹 The intriguing and unexpected histories behind the Mai Tai and Aperol Spritz 🍹 Tips on how to make the perfect versions of each cocktail 🍹 Fun variations and alternatives you can try at home 🍹 Our travel experiences sipping these drinks around the world To wrap things up, we take you to Siena, Italy, for a look at the Palio di Si...

Send us a text Join Tara as she chats with Moira Khan, a Grief Coach, educator, and seasoned traveler whose journey has taken her from New Zealand to the UK and now to sunny Spain. In this inspiring conversation, Moira shares: ✈️ How she navigated expat life in Spain and adapted to cultural differences. ✈️ Her experiences moving across continents with her family. ✈️ The importance of community and connection when living abroad. ✈️ Insights into Spanish culture, including the warm hospitality...

Send us a text This week, we’re unpacking a handful of headlines in the food, drink, and travel industries, including Wine Enthusiast’s top Napa Valley wineries to visit (and adding our own insider picks you won’t want to miss!). We’ll also spill the tea on: 🧳 The dirtiest spots in hotel rooms, and even your suitcase 🍺 Why so many Irish pubs are named after people, and the quirky history behind it 🩷 Meghan Markle’s brand-new rosé wine launch making headlines 🍷 A wine heist in London that's st...

Send us a text In this crime lovers episode of Taste Toast Travel, we’re unpacking two shocking true crime stories from Northern California’s wine country in Napa. First, we investigate the infamous French Laundry wine heist in Yountville, CA, where thieves made off with over $300,000 in rare, high-end wine—a burglary of a Thomas Keller restaurantthat rocked the food and wine world before unraveling in an unexpected twist. Then, we turn to the murder-suicide of vintner Robert Dahl and busines...

Send us a text In this flavorful episode of Taste Toast Travel, Tara sits down with acclaimed Bay Area chef and restaurateur Paul Iglesias, the creative force behind Oakland, California hotspots Parché and Jaji. Known for weaving Colombian and Salvadorian heritage into every dish, Paul takes us on a journey from his roots in Washington, D.C., to the global flavors that shaped his culinary philosophy. ✨ Hear how his mother inspired his artistic approach to food, and how his travels throu...

Send us a text Today we’re breaking down notable travel changes, including the new TSA policy that finally ends the dreaded shoe removal at airport security. Then, things take a turn as Tara shares how an order of fried chicken led to the downfall of the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde. Finally, we’re exploring the top-ranked U.S. and international cities for food and drink—revealing which culinary hotspots made the list, which ones definitely shouldn't have, and where you should plan your ...

Send us a text Struggling to choose the right bottle of wine without spending a fortune? In this episode, Certified Sommelier John shares expert wine buying tips to help you shop smart—whether you're browsing the aisles of Trader Joe’s, Costco, or your favorite wine shop. We break down exactly how to choose a great bottle of wine on a budget by decoding wine labels, understanding regions, and knowing what really matters when it comes to: Wine regions and origin (Italy, France, Spain, and the ...

Send us a text We’re digging into the infamous 2013 Carnival Triumph disaster, also known as the “Poop Cruise”. We dive into the chain of events that led to the catastrophic engine fire, the subsequent power and plumbing failures, and how 4,200 passengers were left stranded in unsanitary and dire conditions for five days. This (disturbing) tale includes firsthand accounts from crew members, interviews, and reflections on the shocking response from Carnival with look at the legal and f...

Send us a text This week we're so excited to be chatting with Sunduri Malcolm and diving into her truly inspiring journey, from her birth in New York to adventuring through countless states and countries in between, to her current home in Germany. Sundari shares her background growing up in Harlem, and this exciting conversation dives into her travels, solo trips, her time living in a tiny home, in a bus traveling across the U.S., and her multiple moves along the way. She offers such valuab...