In Search of Flavor

In this episode we talk about:

• How Francesco’s international upbringing and time spent in 16 countries have shaped his career and life path
• How an inkling to build a small river cruise ship in the Peruvian Amazon turned into being in the right place at the right time
• Aqua’s ethos and how they achieve a magical mix of luxury, simplicity, and authenticity
• Why the Amazon is a place that everyone should experience and structure of Aqua’s excursions
• The design process of their ships and a growing appetite for small ship cruising and soft adventure in remote places
• Aqua Expeditions commitment to fine dining and their collaboration with top Lima chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino in Peru
• Why Francesco’s motto of “Think Globally, act locally” embodies Aqua’s mission of sustainability and social responsibility

Resources:

Aqua Expeditions

@aqua_expeditions

Fitzcarraldo: a must watch movie!!

Jungle Love

Travel in the Amazon with LCCWE

In this episode we talk about:

• Camila’s culinary background and fascination with fermentation
• The emerging cheese culture of Chile
• Building community education and economic co-operation with dairy producers
• The bane of pasteurization
• Some fun cheese tips to enhance your eating pleasure

Resources:

@ColectivoFermento

@camilacuisine

https://www.colectivofermento.cl/

Comida para Todos

Fundacion Gastronomica Social

Cheese & Vino, please!

In this episode we talk about:

• Lucia’s roots in appreciating food and cooking
• The foundations of her culinary career with Argentine celebrity chef Francis Mallman
• Lucia’s path as a chef and restaurateur in Uruguay
• Her flavorful, elemental, produce-driven cooking style
• How her food philosophy and approach in her Montevideo restaurants tie into the larger Uruguayan, and South American, food scene
• Lucia’s other pursuits as being a judge on Masterchef and cookbook author

Resources:

Lucia Soria Instagram

Jacinto Restaurant website

Jacinto Restaurant IG

Pizza Rosa IG

Pizza Rosa website

Relatos y Recetas

In this episode we talk about:

• Stephanie upbringing between the UK & Ecuador and as a world traveler
• How a holiday on the Galapagos sparked a dream--and life project
• Building the safari camp on a remote island from the ground up
• How a land-based trip to the Galapagos can be more than a bucket list trip and a transformational life experience
• Why the Galapagos is a perfect destination for family travel and why untouched nature is cathartic
• What sustainable travel means to them, and the travel industry today
• The impact of Covid on Ecuador, the Galapagos, and the future of travel

Resources:

Galapagos Safari Camp

@Galapagos_Safari_Camp

In this episode we talk about:

• Sven’s background in agriculture and viticulture and how his time at UC Davis changed everything
• Breaking into the Chilean wine industry as it began booming
• Australia’s profound influence on Sven and how Syrah became his passion
• Many nerdy things about Syrah, terroir, and the love of that grape
• Founding the Movement of Independent Vintners (MOVI)
• The business of selling wine
• Challenges and lessons learned in winemaking

Resources:

Polkura

@Polkura

@movichile

In this episode we talk about:

• How the inspiration for their hotels was born on a family trip to Uruguay
• Why the beach village of Jose Ignacio was the perfect spot to bring their dreams to life
• How Carrie & Alex Vik’s appreciation of art became a passion
• The concept behind Vik property and creative process of designing and commissioning local artists for the hotels
• Why aesthetics and beauty are the heart of their guests’ experience
• Carrie’s valuable lessons learned in the design, and hospitality, business

Resources:

The Art of Chilling Out (Jose Ignacio, Uruguay)

From Garden-to-Table, and Straight from the Heart (Vik Chile)

Viña Vik: Birthing New Terroir in Cachapoal

Contact:

https://www.vikretreats.com/

@vikretreats

In this episode we talk about:

• How an unexpected family tragedy sparked Tomas’s creative path to design
• The noble intentions behind his sustainable brand and how it’s a tribute to his late father
• What it takes to create a new luxury brand in a noisy (fashion) market
• Place-based design in home, fashion, and art in Latin American
• The craftsmanship, artisans, and local materials behind Verdi Designs
• Value-driven, socially responsible business
• Challenges and lessons learned in the design business

Resources:

Why Artisans Matters

TheColombian Collective

Contact:

https://verdi.com.co/

@verdidesign

In this episode we talk about:

• How Jake became interested in coffee via international humanitarian work
• His experimental coffee roasting that led to founding his business
• The concept of “specialty coffee” in a world of mediocre brew
• The process and criteria for sourcing premium beans
• Our conditioning, and reconditioning, of taste in culture and food
• Challenges on his entrepreneurial path and why seed-to-cup is his coffee philosophy--and why it should be yours, too!

Resources:

A Coffee Affair with Colombia

Coffee with Legs Santiago Style

Contact:

@coffeeculture_cr

In this episode we talk about:

• How Santiago turned a passion for learning about wine into a wine business
• Why Achaval Ferrer became such a disruptor of the Argentine wine industry
• The concept of the terroir of Malbec
• Wine as an evolving art form
• The latest chapter in winemaking for Santiago
• The future of wine in Argentina
• The business side of creative passions
• Challenges and lessons learned in winemaking

Resources:

What is terroir really?

Mendoza terroir 101

The Farm Winery

Contact:

Bodega Matervini

@matervini