"Design Your Italy" travel planner - intimate, unique and authentically local
Release Date: 08/04/2025
Bologna Food Through Local Eyes: Eating, Walking, and Learning with Taste Bologna
Flavor of Italy podcast
Bologna food has a way of pulling people in quietly and then never quite letting go. It isn’t flashy, it doesn’t shout, and it doesn’t rely on trends. Instead, Bologna food reveals itself through repetition: the rhythm of fresh pasta made by hand every morning, the clink of glasses in a neighborhood osteria, the steady hum of markets that have fed the city for centuries. That is exactly what emerged in my recent podcast conversation with Andrea Chierici, the founder of Taste Bologna.
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How to Train Your Palate - Simple Techniques to Taste and Pair Food Better
Flavor of Italy podcast
If you’ve ever wished you could taste more deeply, pick up subtle flavors in wine, or understand why certain foods work beautifully together, you’re not alone. The idea of improving how we taste has captured the curiosity of cooks, wine lovers, and travelers worldwide. It’s the perfect moment to embrace the idea of how to train your palate, and perhaps even make it your New Year’s resolution. Imagine entering the coming year with a heightened appreciation for food, wine, and ingredients—and the skills to pair them more confidently.
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Passito di Pantelleria, a Sweet Italian Island Wine for the Holidays
Flavor of Italy podcast
Discover why Passito di Pantelleria is one of Italy’s most extraordinary wines—a liquid expression of sun, wind, and volcanic rock. Helen describes drinking it as “holding a Mediterranean sunset in your glass,” and in this episode you’ll find out exactly why. We explore the ancient Zibibbo grape, the heroic sun-drying tradition that shapes every bottle, and the rugged island landscape that makes this wine unlike any other. You’ll also learn how to serve Passito in surprising ways, from classic sweet pairings to bold savory combinations that reveal an entirely new side of this...
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Honoring November 25 in Italy + My Italian Winter Table Recipe E-Book
Flavor of Italy podcast
Every week on the Flavor of Italy Podcast, we explore the food, wine, history, landscapes, and everyday stories that shape life in Italy. But every now and then, a moment calls for reflection — and today is one of those days. Because today, Tuesday, November 25, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It’s a global day of awareness and remembrance, but here in Italy it carries deep cultural, social, and historical significance. And yet this week is also Thanksgiving week — a time of cooking, gathering, connection, and gratitude, especially for my...
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Homestyle Farm-to-Table Pig Butchering in the Heart of Northern Tuscany
Flavor of Italy podcast
This episode is a special re-release of one of my most engaging and talked-about podcast conversations ever—an unforgettable look into true farm-to-table life in northern Tuscany. James Martin brings to life one of his richest memories: a homestyle pig butchering carried out with his dear friend Armando in the most unassuming of places—Armando’s mother’s garage. Armando has since passed away, but the spirit of this story, and the tradition it captures, lives on as one of James’s best. James describes how he, Armando, and a handful of local men gathered at dawn, working...
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Italianish by Danny Freeman
Flavor of Italy podcast
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when classic Italian-American comfort food intersects with modern creativity, look no further than Italianish by Danny Freeman. The term Italianish perfectly captures what Danny stands for: dishes rooted in Italian and Italian-American traditions but expressed with a playful, contemporary twist. His food is not bound by rules but inspired by heritage, simplicity, and joy.
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Choosing the Right Wine Glass Shape this Holiday Season
Flavor of Italy podcast
The shape of your wine glass isn’t just decorative—it actively affects aroma, taste, texture, and even how your guests perceive the wine. This year, make sure that when the cork pops and the wine pours, you’re not just enjoying the bottles—you’re enhancing the moment by choosing the right wine glass shape. This fun and insightful podcast conversation - (and video soon to be on the Flavor of Italy YouTube channel) - with sommelier and Italian wine expert Cynthia Chaplin, shares the key take-aways so your table shines and your sip delivers with just the right glass this holiday...
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Red Sauce: How Italian Food Became American
Flavor of Italy podcast
There’s something deeply comforting about a bowl of pasta drenched in red sauce. That rich tomato-based goodness—whether spiked with garlic and herbs or served with hearty meatballs—is so ingrained in the American dining experience that it’s easy to assume it came straight from Italy. But the story is far more fascinating. Understanding red sauce means understanding the immigrant story. Italian-American food tells a tale of adaptation, resilience, and cultural pride. It’s a cuisine shaped by memory—by what immigrants brought with them, what they left behind, and what they built...
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Bari, the Heart of Puglia
Flavor of Italy podcast
The true heart of the Puglia region is Bari—a vibrant, living city that perfectly embodies Puglia’s soul. Check out all the things to do in Bari Puglia! When you think of Puglia, the first images that come to mind might be whitewashed hill towns, centuries-old olive trees, turquoise seas, and meals that seem to stretch blissfully into the afternoon. But the true heart of the region is Bari—a vibrant, living city that perfectly embodies Puglia’s soul. In this week’s Flavor of Italy podcast, I’m taking you to Bari: the capital of Puglia, a city of fishermen and pasta makers, sea...
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Italian Heritage Tours
Flavor of Italy podcast
Exploring one’s roots can be one of the most meaningful journeys of a lifetime, and for Italian Americans, Italian heritage tours offer a chance to connect with family history, rediscover ancestral towns, and experience the culture of Italy in an intimate way. In my recent Flavor of Italy podcast episode, I spoke with Cherrye Moore, founder of My Bella Vita Travel, who has been helping Italian Americans reconnect with their past for nearly two decades. What makes Italian heritage tours unique is the emotional depth of the experience. Many travelers embark on these journeys in honor of...
info_outlineDesign Your Italy is a highly personalized one-woman travel consultation company that helps travelers discover Italy in a way that is intimate, unique, and authentically local. On this episode we chatted about some of Sicily's most evocative destinations—from the hilltop town of Erice to the windswept volcanic islands of Pantelleria and the Aeolian archipelago. If you're looking for the ultimate Italy travel planner to help you explore Sicily, Vanya is a name you should know. Tune in to learn more and explore Italian islands with us - think Sicily, Pantelleria, the Aeolian islands....