Episode 030: The Wines to Watch in 2022
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 030: The Wines to Watch in 2022

This week we are unwinding with our very own host Roger Bissell!

Italian wine and travel expert Roger Bissell reflects on an unforgettable journey that culminated in the release of the first-ever, Wines to Watch 2022, a list of 40 carefully selected wine picks, inspired by a year of travel, tastings and visits with winemakers.

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Episode 029: Valfaccenda Is Roero
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 029: Valfaccenda Is Roero

This week we are unwinding with Luca Faccenda, vintner, Valfaccenda Winery.

Valfaccenda was founded in 2010 by husband and wife Carolina and Luca, respectively an engineer and an enologist.

Their vineyards are mostly in Valfaccenda, in Canale on the hills which line Le Rocche - a landmark in Roero - with a few old plots rented in Valmaggiore in Vezza, Madonna di Loreto in Canale and San Grato in Santo Stefano Roero.

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Episode 028: The Best Is Yet To Come
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 028: The Best Is Yet To Come

This week we are unwinding with Giulia Monteleone, vintner, Monteleone Winery.

After extensive research, Giulia and her husband Benedetto Alessandro, made the fateful decision to purchase an old, two-hectare vineyard near the river Alcantara in July of 2017.

The winery can be found at the foot of Mount Etna, less than 500 metres above sea level, and 30 metres away from the ancient Cuba di Santa Domenica, a rare and wonderful Byzantine jewel.

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Episode 027: The Slow Wine Movement...Today
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 027: The Slow Wine Movement...Today

This week we're unwinding with Deborah Parker Wong, the inspiring woman at the helm of the Slow Wine Guide.

Formally born in Italy, the Slow Wine movement recognizes wineries that respect and reflect their local terroir and practice sustainable methods that benefit the environment.

The Slow Wine Guide evaluates over 400 different wineries and personally interviews each one in order to create a well-informed, detailed review of the wines themselves and the people behind the production.

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Episode 026: Mongioia Wines - A Creative Laboratory of Inspiration & History
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 026: Mongioia Wines - A Creative Laboratory of Inspiration & History

The minute you begin to chat with Riccardo and Maria, you instantly feel their warmth and passion for their small but mighty winery, with its origins strongly rooted over the centuries and in tradition.

Their family has been producing wines in the Langhe for 6 generations. They sincerely believe that their cellar represents a creative laboratory where inspiration is strongly rooted in history.

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Episode 025: A Return To Her Roots: Alessandra Lauria's Sicilian Inspiration
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 025: A Return To Her Roots: Alessandra Lauria's Sicilian Inspiration

Today, Alessandra Lauria teaches pasta classes (online and live) to groups of all sizes, but her journey into food started at an early age, growing up in a very large, Sicilian family.

For the Laurias, cooking with good ingredients and making everything from scratch was the norm. Interesting enough, Alessandra was not allowed to cook when she was younger but learned by watching her mother and grandma make food in the kitchen from afar.

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Episode 023: From Bogotá To Brooklyn: Mariana Velásquez's Soulful Journey
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 023: From Bogotá To Brooklyn: Mariana Velásquez's Soulful Journey

To Mariana Velásquez, a native of Bogotá, the diverse mix of heritages, cultures, and regions that comprise Colombian food can be summed up in one simple concept: More is more.

No matter what rung of society, Colombians feed their guests well, and leave them feeling nourished in body and soul.

In her debut book, Colombiana, the award-winning recipe developer and food stylist draws on the rich culinary traditions of her native land and puts her own modern twist on dishes beloved by generations of Colombians.

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Episode 022: Ted Lemon’s Biodynamic Revolution
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 022: Ted Lemon’s Biodynamic Revolution

Prepare for your mouth to absolutely water with this week's deliciously fascinating conversation.

Bill Esparza, author of the book, LA Mexicano, and James Beard Award winner in journalism for his coverage of the LA taco scene, is considered one of the country's leading experts on Mexican food.

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Episode 021: For The Love Of Tacos
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 021: For The Love Of Tacos

Prepare for your mouth to absolutely water with this week's deliciously fascinating conversation.

Bill Esparza, author of the book, LA Mexicano, and James Beard Award winner in journalism for his coverage of the LA taco scene, is considered one of the country's leading experts on Mexican food.

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Episode 020: When Heritage, Tradition & Flavors Collide
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 020: When Heritage, Tradition & Flavors Collide

Chef Meza, the culinary darling behind Dallas favorites Tulum and Jalisco Norte, draws from his Mexican heritage and experience at some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and restaurants, including Mexico City’s number one restaurant Pujol, NOMA in Copenhagen, ranked as a four-time World’s Best Restaurant by World’s 50 Best, and Martin Berasategui, a Michelin three-starred restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain.

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 Episode 019: A Taste of Pācina With Maria Borsa
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 019: A Taste of Pācina With Maria Borsa

Located in the area of Castelnuovo Berardenga (in the province of Siena), you'll find Pācina, an incredible farm which boasts a long and rich history of sustainable agriculture that also respects tradition. It was in the 1970s when Maria Borsa's grandparents, Enzo Tiezzi and Lucia Carli, decided to move their family farm and put into practice their ideas of sustainability.

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Episode 018: Build Something Great With Jack Sadden
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 018: Build Something Great With Jack Sadden

When Bud Moore asked Jack Sadden to leave his perfectly good paying job to join him in launching Valesco it came as no surprise to many. The two businessmen had talked about owning and operating their own business for years…

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Episode 016: Alessandro Quadri’s Fashion Revolution
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 016: Alessandro Quadri’s Fashion Revolution

“Ethics” is absolutely the “verb” of Maledetti Toscani; nothing is created or thought without it.

Alessandro Quadri currently serves as Maledetti Toscani’s president, but the brand's story officially began with his grandfather in 1848 in the charming village of Montepulciano; the place where the historic shop still resides today.

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Episode 014: All Is Fair in Love and Pasta
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 014: All Is Fair in Love and Pasta

This week, we introduce you to Eva and Harper, an Italian and American couple passionate about sharing food and culture with each other and the world.

Together, they run the wildly popular YouTube channel "Pasta Grammar," where they explore their cultural and culinary differences through comedy and delicious cooking.

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Episode 013: Back To His Roots - Michele Faro, PietraDolce
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 013: Back To His Roots - Michele Faro, PietraDolce

Michele Faro is no stranger to no strangers to vines, roots, stock, grafts and scions.

In 2013, he and his brother Mario were recognized as “two of the world’s top experts in nursery gardening.” So it should come as no surprise that his winery Pietradolce (which was founded in 2005) embodies a respect for the territory, native grapes and especially for tradition.

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Episode 012: Growing Up Burgundy
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 012: Growing Up Burgundy

Growing up in Burgundy meant the table was the focal point and everyone dined chez Wasserman. Culinary luminaries like Richard Olney and The Troisgros Brothers (Jean and Pierre) were habitués so it was at the kitchen table where Peter Wasserman learned how to properly taste and pair. By the time he was five years old, he was bilingual and often sent to winery tastings to translate for guests.

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Episode 011: The Style of Life w/ Crawford Brock
Roger Bissell Roger Bissell

Episode 011: The Style of Life w/ Crawford Brock

Today's conversation is about style, taking chances and the power of betting on yourself. Crawford Brock is the epitome of excellence, perseverance and teamwork. The world may currently be in the midst of a pandemic, but you wouldn't know by observing the flurry of activity at Dallas' infamous retail destination, Stanley Korshak.

But achieving when others least expect it isn't a new concept for Crawford; his career has been built on it.

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