In Part 2 of my interview with Elaine and Scott Harris–Journalists, Sommeliers, and Hosts of Cuisineist Confidential and TheVegasFix.com–we discuss their favorite festivals and destinations. Hear what to do, eat, and drink in Switzerland, Ireland, New Orleans, Central Coast of California, and beyond. They also share advice on breaking into travel media and having a happy life.
We discuss finding and telling a compelling story/the craft of writing. For more on that see my online workshop and writing retreat for Summer 2022/23 in Morocco at
Follow Elaine and Scott at…
Cuisineist.com
IGTV Host Cuisineist Confidential
@TheCuisineist Cuisineist Instagram
Facebook
Cuisineist@Gmail.com
And please Subscribe to my YouTube channel and blog at SouthernGirlGoneGlobal.com.
*Audio podcast here:
01:24 Key to being a travel writer–Simply showing up led to 4 trips to Switzerland. Elaine was one of 7 US journalists chosen to cover the 2019 Festival of the Winemaker, held once every 25 years. Villagers prepare for a decade. They use the best costume designers, dance teachers, even an Olympic choreographer for this beloved celebration.
For Elaine, whose heritage is Swiss, seeing this performance was unlike anything in the US…life-changing.
The Glacier Express Luxury Train–dining through the Alps, IGNIV 20-course Michelin star restaurant tasting at IGNIV, Grand resort–theral spa with Helena pool
St. Gallen –Hub of Haute Couture
8:37 “This stuff you can’t make up. You can’t put a price tag on that…I step back and go, ‘Wow, this has to be the best gig in the whole world.”
9:12 Connecting with people around the world fuels their souls. “That’s why we keep doing this.”
9:46 “Gratitude goes a long way.”
Cindy’s first trip to Switzerland was life-changing, too.
14:10 Ireland, the Emerald Isle.
14:56 Immigration Museum–interactive, high tech
15:28 Christ Church and a new version of “Ring My Bell”
17:17 County Wicklow
17:33 My stay in Greystones
17:40 McNamara’s, famous Irish pub in Nashville, put Galway on my Irish Bucket List
18:12 Scott solves the mystery of why Guinness tastes better in Ireland
19:01 Cocktail specialists/kindred spirits–distilleries near Nashville and
Walsh distillery in Ireland
They judge contests–Vegas–of master mixologists.
21:00 NOLA Sazerac house–how cocktail culture has shaped the city and the world– FREE samples
They have a Distillery too.
22:23 If you’ve never been abroad, go to NOLA–a city older than the US and should be mandatory for anyone in the food/drink industry
Arnauds Galatoires
French Quarter Fest, Jazz Fest, 1920s Feel, 2nd Line Parades
La Fitte’s –oldest bar in the country
Discovery of old recipes and Oysters Rockefeller at Antoine’s . New Orleans is home to Banana’s Foster and Sazerac.
Commander’s Palace
Brennins
*My Guide to New Orleans
28:53 Houmas house Darrow, LA
Museum on history of steamboats, NOLA, River Road
Steamboats dock there. Coming in 2022 or 2023 Luxury steamboat
31:36 Recommendations for summer road trips
Carmel by the Sea
Los Olivos
32:09 Favorite Festivals
Vegas Uncorked
Wine and Fire
Taste Washington
The March of the Grapes in Switzerland
35:40 Advice for anyone wanting to be invited to these events as a travel writer
Practice travel and work on the craft of writing and storytelling.
Resources for long-form content/my course online
Professional Organizations
42:14 Elaine and Scott’s Personal Story and Advice for a Happy Life