Afgespeeld

  • Today I’m joined by one of the world’s most influential and multi-award winning travel writers, the global editor in chief of Condé Nast Traveller UK and US, Melinda Stevens. She’s a trend setter, taste maker and considered by many to be travel royalty. 

    After beginning her writing career at Vogue Magazine, Melinda went on to become a columnist for the Sunday Times and Evening Standard, and the travel editor at Tatler, before taking the helm at Condé Nast Traveller.

    Reading Condé Nast Traveller - the way the writers would transport me to far flung places with the power of their words - was my inspiration for becoming a travel writer. So heading to its offices in the heart of London’s Mayfair, where the walls were lined with its iconic covers, was really thrilling.

    Unsurprisingly, Melinda has her finger on the pulse of the hottest destinations, which we of course discuss, as well as reflecting on some of the all time greats. And she gives a real insight into the makings of a top magazine. This is wanderlust guaranteed.

    Destination Recap:

    Frinton on sea, Essex, England The Long Mynd, Shropshire, England Bali, IndonesiaRoad trip from Seattle, Washington, through Idaho, Wyoming and MontanaRoad trip from Sun Valley Utah, through Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico Danakil Depression, EthiopiaKazakstan Charleston, South Carolina, USA                       The BahamasKerala, IndiaRajasthan, IndiaCala di Volpe, SardiniaAmilla Fushi, MaldivesHotel Escencia, MexicoLe Bristol, Paris The Mercer, New YorkLa Reserve, ParisHondurasBelgrade, Serbia Soviet Russia EgyptSleeper train from London to Scottish Highlands Belmond trainsJapan

    Condé Nast Traveller magazine is available in all good newsagents.

    You can follow Melinda's Instagram here, as well as the magazine here, for all the travel inspo you could ever need.

    Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. 

    Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com


    This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Today I’m joined by international treasure and culinary royalty, Rick Stein. 

    He’s graced our screens, and lined our bookshelves for over 25 years, cooking up cuisine from all over the world. Fish is his great love, served in his restaurant empire from Padstow, Cornwall to Sydney, Australia.

    Along with his travel diaries, we talk about the very surprising career path he originally pursued that had nothing to do with food; how the loss of his father led him on a real voyage of self discovery; and he reveals which destinations he’s tipping for this year’s culinary hit list. All that and more, coming up. 

    Destination recap: 

    Isles of Scilly, EnglandPadstow, Cornwall, EnglandCombrée, France Cantabria, Spain Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France Jura, France Collioure, France,Perpignan, France Alice Springs, AustraliaIceland Rajasthan, IndiaLucknow, IndiaSydney, Australia Tbilisi, Georgia Bologna, Italy Trieste, ItalyBuenos Aires, Argentina 

    Rick Stein’s Secret France is out now and his accompanying TV series is on BBC iPlayer.

    Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. 

    Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com


    This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Rachel Khoo is a cook, writer and TV presenter, who first rose to fame with her bestselling cookbook, The Little Paris Kitchen, a collection of recipes tested from her little Paris kitchen!

    The book was soon developed into her first TV series, and Rachel quickly became known by food lovers the world over, with several cookbooks and TV series that followed.

    Now, she lives in Stockholm with her Swedish husband and two children, and it’s this new beginning that’s served as the inspiration for her latest project, The Little Swedish Kitchen.

    Destination recap:

    Austrian borderLech, AustriaParis, FranceTokyo, JapanSydney, AustraliaLittle Brothers Bakery - Stockholm, SwedenStockholm, SwedenBrazilCornwall, England

    You can watch Rachel Khoo: My Swedish Kitchen on Thursdays at 9pm and 9.30pm on Food Network. 


    Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. 

    Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com


    This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Today, I’m joined by Gyles Brandreth. Summing up the life and career of Gyles is no easy feat. He’s a prolific broadcaster, actor, journalist, novelist, biographer and podcaster, and he was formerly an MP and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. You'll have seen him on Celebrity Googlebox; Countdown's Dictionary Corner hundreds of times, as well as on numerous TV panel shows. He's even the President of the Association of British Scrabble Players!

    Through all these different jobs Gyles has travelled the world several times over, from Sri Lanka and Dubai to former Soviet Russia and East Germany. As you’ll hear, though, it’s the British seaside staycation that Gyles loves most.

    Destination recap:

    Norderney, GermanyIsle of Thanet, Kent, England Broadstairs, Kent, EnglandSwitzerlandCorfu, GreeceFranceIceland Isle of Wight, EnglandSri LankaIndiaDubaiSardiniaSicilyMexicoBelfast, Northern IrelandSwansea, WalesRussiaEast Berlin, East GermanyMekong Delta, Vietnam and CambodiaHeaven!

    ‘Dancing by the Light of the Moon - over 250 poems to read, recite and relish’ is out now.

    Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. 

    Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com


    This is episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • On today’s season finale, I’m joined by one of the world’s greatest chefs, Raymond Blanc.

    Raymond had a very humble start to life in rural France and his journey to opening Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, the internationally-renowned Cotswolds country house hotel where he’s been the chef patron since it opened in 1984 is nothing short of extraordinary. For half of his life he’s held two Michelin stars - the only chef in the UK to have retained two stars for so long. And of course in time, with his success, he has travelled the world, and has many stories to tell. 

    I spoke to Raymond at the Cheval Three Quays apartments, looking out at the London skyline. I don’t think I’ve ever met somebody overflowing with as much passion and joie de vivre as Raymond. It came as no surprise to hear that 34 of his protégés have gone on to win their own Michelin stars, including Marco Pierre White and Michael Caines. His passion is infectious.

    Destination recap:

    Franche-Comté, FranceSwitzerlandProvence, FranceBesançon, FranceKuching, Malaysia Japanese Tea House Garden, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, EnglandBarocay, Philippines Hong KongNice, Provence, France

    Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons celebrates 35 years this year.

    Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. 

    Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com


    This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.