Tales from the Road [4Q 2025]
31 December 2025
Quarterly Updates from Ambassadors of the Association
ARUBA (Gerald Kock)
Savaneta Seafood Festival:
Savaneta Seafood Festival:
A Model for Community-Led Food Touri sm in Aruba
The inaugural Savaneta Seafood Festival, held on September 28, 2025, by Fundación Savaneta Prome Capital, marked a significant moment in Aruba’s culinary and cultural calendar. In the island’s first capital, seaside streets were transformed into a pedestrian-only celebration where food, music, and heritage came together as a powerful expression of local identity. Attracting an estimated 6,000 visitors, the festival demonstrated strong demand for authentic, community-driven experiences among both residents and travelers.
Central to the event was an “Ocean-to-Plate” revival. Twenty-four local vendors showcased seafood such as snails, conch, shrimp, and lobster, prepared using traditional family recipes and fresh local herbs. The festival also revived a local fishing tournament for the first time in 40 years. Approximately 30 boats and 100 fishermen landed a collective catch of 880 kg, reinforcing the connection between sea, community, and tradition. Part of the catch was donated and grilled on-site by local chefs, allowing visitors to experience the full journey from ocean to plate - a powerful symbol of sustainability, generosity, and shared pride.
Beyond gastronomy, the festival elevated local culture and entrepreneurship through art, crafts, and music, positioning Savaneta as a living example of how cultural heritage and economic opportunity can thrive together.
From the perspective of Food Tourism Ambassadors for the World Food Travel Association, the festival offers a replicable framework for Aruba’s future: a model in which each district expresses its distinct identity through food, storytelling, and place-based experiences. The Savaneta Seafood Festival stands as proof that culinary heritage can strengthen community resilience and support sustainable tourism. More than a single event, it presents a compelling vision of how small places can achieve meaningful global impact through food.
SLOVENIA (Rasto Kirn)
Maribor’s Ancient Vine and Culinary Legacy
As a native of Maribor, I invite you to the heart of Slovenia’s Podravje wine region, home to the world’s oldest living vine. This 450-year-old Žametovka, growing along the banks of the Drava River, was certified by Guinness World Records in 2004. Remarkably resilient, it has survived Ottoman sieges, World War II bombings, and the phylloxera plague, thanks to its riverside roots and the dedicated stewardship of Maribor’s vintners. Its endurance reflects Slovenia’s culinary heritage, shaped by centuries of Habsburg influence and expressed through dishes such as potica and the layered Štajerska gibanica.
Each September, Maribor honors this living symbol during the Festival Stare trte, now in its 25th year. The month-long celebration culminates on 28 September with a ceremonial harvest, when vintners from nearby Malečnik hand-pick approximately 68 kilograms of grapes, producing 50 liters of wine reserved for diplomatic gifts. The event takes place on Lent, Maribor’s historic riverfront, in front of the House of the Old Vine, restored in 2007 as a center for Slovenia’s winemaking heritage. Nearby tastings and exhibitions further immerse visitors in the region’s viticultural story.
The harvest is both a cultural and culinary celebration, bringing together Slovenian wine queens, European wine orders, international guests, and representatives from towns connected to the Old Vine. Market stalls feature local specialties such as potica, artisanal cheeses, handmade pasta, and smoked meats, paired with wines from family-run vineyards. Folk music and traditional dances complete an atmosphere that reflects Maribor’s deep connection between land, food, and community.
For food and wine travelers, Maribor’s Old Vine offers more than history; it provides an authentic gateway to Slovenia’s culinary culture. From festive markets to intimate cellar tastings, the city invites visitors to experience flavors rooted in tradition yet open to innovation. Maribor stands as a compelling destination for culinary explorers seeking meaning, heritage, and a sense of place.
In this episode, Erik Wolf speaks with Santina Kennedy, an award-winning Irish food consultant, producer champion, and storyteller whose work bridges food history, culture, and contemporary experience design. Santina shares her unconventional journey from banking to café ownership, and ultimately to a vocation that did not exist when she was young: interpreting Irish food culture through storytelling, events, and strategic collaborations. She reflects candidly on delayed purpose, entrepreneurship without capital, and why genuine hospitality matters more than polish or scale. The conversation explores Ireland’s overlooked food narratives - from tenant farmers and kitchen workers to everyday staples like potatoes, butter, and bread - and how these stories can be brought to life through immersive experiences in galleries, estates, and public institutions. Santina also dives deeply into Irish whiskey, explaining how history, resilience, terroir, and innovation are expressed in mash bills, grains, and pairing traditions. A standout theme is Santina’s advocacy for St. Brigid as Ireland’s original food and hospitality patron, and her work elevating Brigid’s legacy through food, drink, poetry, and craft. The episode concludes with a thoughtful discussion on regional food networks, particularly County Wicklow, and why Ireland must first teach its own people to value their food culture before expecting visitors to understand it. This is a rich, reflective conversation about identity, resilience, and the power of food to tell the true story of a place. You can learn more about Santina here . The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org . 🎙️ Available now on Spotify, iTunes & your favorite podcast platforms (Search for "Taste of Place") 📺 Prefer video? Watch it now on our YouTube channel . Or listen here now:
REGISTER NOW As interest in local food cultures continues to grow, destinations face increasingly complex choices. Tourism can support culinary heritage by strengthening local economies and raising awareness of food traditions. At the same time, poorly managed promotion can simplify, commodify, or distort cultural practices. This webinar brings together perspectives from across the system to examine how tourism and culinary heritage can coexist more responsibly. Panelists: - Janice Ruddock, Executive Director, Ontario Craft Brewers Association - Sean O’Rourke, President, Eat & Walkabout Tours - Niclas Fjellström, Executive Director, Culinary Heritage Network - Erik Wolf, Executive Director, World Food Travel Association The discussion will be moderated by Marc Checkley, a Lausanne-based storyteller, journalist, and experienced event host with a background in food, wine, travel, and cultural programming. Topics include: Recognizing culinary heritage as living culture rather than a static product Understanding how tourism and markets influence tradition over time Identifying where destinations most often struggle to find balance Applying practical principles for responsible promotion and stewardship This session is relevant for destination marketers, tourism offices, policymakers, producer associations, educators, and anyone working at the intersection of food, culture, and place. There is no cost to attend. REGISTER NOW
In 2025, the World Food Travel Association focused on strengthening culinary culture as living heritage, supporting the people and practices that sustain it, and building informed global collaboration rooted in values rather than prestige. Advanced the Taste of Place Movement and Alliance We clarified and communicated the purpose of the Taste of Place Movement — a global effort dedicated to safeguarding culinary heritage and empowering the keepers of food culture in alignment with the Declaration for the Preservation of Culinary Heritage . The Taste of Place Alliance framework was defined to support destinations, organizations, and practitioners who share these values. We also invite those who support this mission to join the Movement through philanthropic contributions. Do you represent a destination? Please contact us to learn how your destination can participate. Delivered Strategic Advisory and Destination Engagement Work We conducted destination-level analysis and advisory engagement in diverse regions, including the Bothnian Bay area of Sweden and Finland and with Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission , to help partners explore how food culture, regional identity, and cooperation can contribute to responsible cultural and economic resilience. Updated Professional Training Programs All certification and training programs were updated with current research, terminology, and real-world cases. Regular refresh cycles ensure that practitioners receive instruction that reflects the most accurate and relevant information available. Built Relationships Through Targeted Engagement We engaged directly with destinations, stakeholders, and partners through site visits and industry events, including exploratory meetings in Umbria, Italy and participation in World Travel Market , to listen, assess alignment, and foster partnerships grounded in cultural integrity. Expanded and Recognized Leadership Within Our Global Network In 2025 we welcomed new Ambassadors from diverse regions, including Chef Dela Acolatse ( Ghana ) and Gerald Kock ( Aruba ), and named Mabel Esther Vega Montaño ( Colombia ) as our first Taste of Place Guardian, recognizing her lifelong commitment to ancestral knowledge and rural food culture. These appointments reinforce our values as articulated in the Declaration for the Preservation of Culinary Heritage. Interested in becoming an Ambassador or Guardian in your area? If you share our values and commitment, please get in touch . Honored Outstanding Contributions to the Field We awarded the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Francesc Fusté-Forné (Girona, Spain) in recognition of his distinguished career advancing food tourism research, education, and understanding of culinary culture. We also invited the community to nominate other individuals whose work has made enduring contributions to our field. Provided Global Advocacy Through Editorial and Media Platforms We continued to interpret and elevate global developments in newsletters and digital content, and through the Taste of Place Podcast , which released 11 episodes in 2025 featuring inspiring leaders. Notable episodes included “Peace Through Food” with Paula Mohammed, “The Sweet Taste of Ethics” featuring Veronica Peralta on ethical chocolate, and “From Tunisia With Flavor” with Jamie Furniss on repositioning Tunisian cuisine for travelers. By sharing these conversations, we reinforced food as cultural heritage and connected listeners with makers and culture bearers.
🎧 New Podcast Episode Alert! Episode 83: “Why Artisanal Still Matters” featuring Heike Winter What happens when you completely reinvent your life at 50—and return to the culinary traditions that shaped you? In Episode 82, host Erik Wolf speaks with Daniela Sfara, the Canadian-Italian chef, cultural ambassador, and founder of ITALUS whose mission is to preserve the disappearing regional foodways of Italy. Daniela shares her extraordinary personal transformation from a 20-year jewellery career to becoming a respected voice in culinary culture, hospitality excellence, and immersive food experiences across Italy, Dubai, Europe, and North America. Daniela’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and deep cultural stewardship. Whether you work in food, tourism, hospitality, or simply love Italian cuisine, this is an inspiring reminder that food is identity, and preserving culinary heritage is an act of service to future generations. 🎙️ Available now on Spotify, iTunes & your favorite podcast platforms (Search for "Taste of Place") 📺 Prefer video? Watch it now on our YouTube channel. Or listen here now:
🎧 New Podcast Episode Alert! Episode 82: “Cooking by Heart, Not by Recipe” featuring Daniela Sfara What happens when you completely reinvent your life at 50—and return to the culinary traditions that shaped you? In Episode 82, host Erik Wolf speaks with Daniela Sfara, the Canadian-Italian chef, cultural ambassador, and founder of ITALUS whose mission is to preserve the disappearing regional foodways of Italy. Daniela shares her extraordinary personal transformation from a 20-year jewellery career to becoming a respected voice in culinary culture, hospitality excellence, and immersive food experiences across Italy, Dubai, Europe, and North America. Daniela’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and deep cultural stewardship. Whether you work in food, tourism, hospitality, or simply love Italian cuisine, this is an inspiring reminder that food is identity, and preserving culinary heritage is an act of service to future generations. 🎙️ Available now on Spotify, iTunes & your favorite podcast platforms (Search for "Taste of Place") 📺 Prefer video? Watch it now on our YouTube channel. Or listen here now:
Born in Las Raíces, San Juan del Cesar, Colombia, Mabel Esther Vega Montaño honors with her life the name of the place where she was born. A rural teacher and guardian of traditions, she combines formal education with the transmission of ancestral knowledge about respectful cultivation and harvesting of the land. Through fique weaving, she connects communities and promotes rural tourism intertwined with local gastronomy, where the wooden pestle, the totumo achiotero, and the wood-fired stove accompany the preparation of traditional dishes that celebrate the living memory and deep roots of the territory to which she has devoted her life. Learn more about our new Taste of Place Movement and how you can support it and the work done by Mabel and others like her.
