Pour & Explore: Wine, Food & Travel Stories from Around The World

Travel is a physical sport. Whether it’s navigating the endless stairs of the Paris Metro or walking 10 miles through a vineyard, your mobility is the most important piece of gear you own. In this episode, Julie May shares her "moment of truth" at the Louvre, where she realized her physical condition was "struggle-busting" her dream of seeing the world. We discuss the raw, "dirt-tested" reality of international travel, the necessity of "training for your trip," and how to navigate global food cultures without losing your momentum.

Key Discussion Points:

Connect with Julie May:

Travel can often feel as intimidating and gated as the world of wine, filled with "luxury experiences" that feel about as authentic as a cardboard box. In this episode, Nick Elliott shares his personal field notes on how to ditch the tourist traps and find the real soul of any destination. From his "no-glam" rule for finding world-class local eats to the essential gear that actually belongs in your suitcase, this is your guide to traveling with confidence and curiosity.

The "Main Drag" Trap: Why you should avoid places with bright lights and English menus if you want to find where the locals actually eat.

The Market First Rule: Why visiting the local market is the first thing you should do to understand what’s in season and what should be on your plate.

Ground-to-Glass Tech: How to use tools like Gemini to find non-touristy wine bars and the true "soul" of a city in seconds.

Travel Manners 101: A much-needed PSA on sidewalk etiquette and why you shouldn't hog your server's time.

The Language Bridge: Why learning simple phrases like "Please" and "Thank you" is the difference between a cold shoulder and the best service of your life.

The "Wine Guy" Packing Kit: Essential gear you actually need, including travel clotheslines, universal adapters, and the one place you should never put your wine key.

The Permission Slip: Nick gives you official permission to stop overthinking, stop overpacking, and stop planning your trip down to the very minute.

🎧 Listen to the Show: https://www.thewineguy.vin/pour-explore

📥 Grab the Freebie: Download Nick's Travel Like a Pro Essentials Checklist at https://www.thewineguy.vin/downloads

In the wine world, it’s easy to get caught up in the "gated" feeling of unwritten rules and social anxiety. But here at Pour & Explore, our mantra is simple: Drink what you like. We believe wine is just fermented grape juice meant to be fun, and it's time to leave the snobbery at the door.

In this episode, host Nick sits down with Sage Toomey and Lucrezio, the duo behind the podcast Secret Lives of Sommeliers. They pull back the curtain on what really goes down behind the scenes in the industry, from "exploding" service disasters to the art of the career pivot.

The "Secret" Origin: How a podcast idea born at a bar turned into a platform for a younger, more laid-back generation of wine professionals.

The Great Career Pivot: Lucrezio and Sage share their journeys from engineering and other fields into the "universe of wine," proving it’s never too early or late to find work you love.

Service Horror Stories: A graduation season mishap involving high-end champagne and an accidental "explosion."

Predicting the Pour: Why Sage can often predict a customer's order within 10 seconds based on demographics alone.

Dismantling Wine Snobbery: Why being a "nice person" and using tangible analogies—like comparing wine styles to Coke, Sprite, or Capri Sun—is more effective than using "educated tannins" as a descriptor.

The "Ground-to-Glass" Connection: Nick reflects on his own journey from culinary school to planting vineyards and how that "sweat equity" informs his "no-snobbery" policy.

The Ultimate Pairing: Lucrezio describes a "duck carnitas chimichanga" with cherry pecan mole, paired perfectly with a chilled Chilean País.

Travel Hacks: Why you should always make reservations (especially in France) and why having a local "friend with a French phone number" is a game-changer.

Destination Spotlight: The accessibility of Oregon wine country and the "royalty" treatment found during car tours in Champagne, France.

Orange Wine: A resounding "Yay."

Worst Descriptors: "Afterbirth" and "Sweaty gym socks."

Favorite New Term: Nick’s new favorite descriptor: "Antique Store."

Daily Drink: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Provence Rosé.

Trends That Should Die: The "scam" of sulfite sticks and the misunderstanding surrounding "natural" wine.

"You won't just drink wine; you'll understand it. It transforms you from a passive consumer into an active storyteller at your own dinner parties." — Nick Elliott, The Wine Guy

Secret Lives of Sommeliers:

YouTube: @SecretLivesofSommeliers

Email: [email protected]

Follow Sage Toomey:

Instagram: @sage_toomey

TikTok: @sage_toomey

Follow Lucrezio:

Instagram: @lucreziooo

TikTok: @lucreziooo

Stop worrying about whether you’re holding your glass "the right way." In this episode, Nick Elliott (The Wine Guy) tears down the velvet ropes of wine culture. We’re separating the "rules" that actually help your wine taste better from the ones that are absolute BS. From the ice cube debate to restaurant anxiety, this is your permission slip to drink what you like, how you like it.

The Myth of "Doing it Wrong": Why your palate is the only critic that matters.

Glassware & Temperature: The two technical things that actually change your experience.

The Ice Cube Incident: Why chilling your Chardonnay isn't a crime

Please subscribe to my new Substack Newsletter! https://nickthewineguy.substack.com/p/why-comfort-food-is-the-ultimate

Ready to ditch the tourist traps and find the heart of America? 🇺🇸 In our latest episode, I’m sitting down with Crystal Statskey, the creative mastermind behind Dates in the States. From a five-week "make or break" road trip in a Mustang to becoming a self-published author, Crystal’s journey is all about intentional travel and finding hidden gems.

In this episode, we dive into:

🏙️ The "Must-See" US Trio: Crystal’s top picks for falling in love with the US in just three days (New Orleans is a non-negotiable!).

🏡 The $220 Travel Hack: How she stayed in Costa Rica for eight days for free using home swapping.

🥨 Quirky Festivals: From Lilac-flavored gin in Rochester to the "Pickle Capital" of the world.

📚 Mystery Date Books: How Crystal turned her travel blog into a successful series of self-published date-night guides.

Pro Tip from the Episode: If you want to eat like a local and save your budget, talk to the people who live there—and don’t be afraid to cook breakfast in your Airbnb!

Explore Crystal’s Guides: Mystery Date Books on Etsy

Travel Like a Local: Dates in the States Official Site

Budget Tools Mentioned:

HomeExchange: Stay with locals worldwide.

Flashfood: Save on groceries while on the road.

Travel App Deep Dive: Watch Crystal’s YouTube breakdown.

We want to see where you're headed next! Follow us both on social media for daily travel inspiration, small-town highlights, and the best wine-country secrets.

Follow Crystal Statskey: @DatesInTheStates

Follow The Wine Guy: https://www.instagram.com/the.real.wine.guy/#

In this episode of Pour & Explore, we aren't chasing Michelin stars or exotic luxury; we are chasing comfort. Join us as we take a culinary tour of four regions—the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Latin America—to uncover the stories behind the dishes that wrap around us like a warm blanket. We explore how comfort food is defined differently by culture, geography, and history, yet always leads back to memory and resilience.

In This Episode, You’ll Explore:

United States: The Language of Leftovers

How American comfort food reflects resilience and stretching ingredients.

The history of Mac & Cheese, tracing back to Thomas Jefferson and enslaved chefs.

The origins of Fried Chicken and the blend of Mexican spices and cowboy practicality found in Chili.

Europe: Old World Nourishment

Dishes born from peasant traditions that used every scrap, like Shepherd's Pie (leftover meat and potatoes).

How Pizza started as a food for the poor in Naples.

The transformation of tough ingredients into delicacies, like the French Coq au Vin ("rooster with wine").

Asia: Balance & Bowls

Foods that center around broths, rice, and noodles to soothe the spirit.

The evolution of Ramen from student food to art form.

The healing nature of Congee (rice porridge) and the protein-rich tradition of Indian Dal.

Latin America: Hearty & Celebratory

Comfort food as a communal identity tied to family gatherings.

The history of Tamales (ancient Aztec food), Feijoada (Brazil's national dish born from scraps), and the daily staple of Arepas.

Resources Mentioned:

Free Download: Comfort Foods Around the World & Wine Pairings Guide – A curated list of the dishes discussed in this episode paired with recommended wines to make them shine. Click the link for access: https://www.thewineguy.vin/downloads

Memorable Quote: "Comfort food is never just about the ingredients. It’s about memory, family, resilience, and culture."

On this episode of Pour & Explore, we sit down with Shelly Najjar, a Nutrition Mindset Coach and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. We move beyond calorie counting to discuss the sensory experience of eating and how to cultivate a healthy relationship with food. Shelly breaks down the "All Foods Fit" philosophy, explains the biological reaction to different macronutrients, and offers practical tips for maintaining mindfulness while traveling. Whether you are a "foodie" documenting every meal or someone looking to break free from food guilt, this conversation is packed with nourishing insights.

Key Takeaways:

The "All Foods Fit" Philosophy: Shelly explains that there are no morally "good" or "bad" foods. While a carrot and carrot cake digest differently, choosing one over the other doesn't make you a better or worse person.

The Purple Elephant Effect: Shelly uses a "purple elephant" analogy to demonstrate how trying not to think about a forbidden food (restriction) actually makes you obsess over it more.

Eating with Your Senses: Satisfaction comes from more than just taste. Visuals, textures, and even the environment play a huge role in how satisfied we feel after a meal.

Travel Nutrition Tips: Maintaining routine on the road is hard. Shelly suggests packing snacks like trail mix to avoid sugar crashes and focusing on "satisfaction" when dining out in new places.

Biology 101: We discuss the physiological difference between eating a doughnut (carbs/fats) versus nuts (protein/fats) and why pairing carbs with protein helps prevent energy slumps.

Guest Bio: Shelly Najjar is a Nutrition Mindset Coach who helps people care for themselves and fully enjoy their lives while reaching their goals. She draws on thousands of hours of training as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, holding a Master's degree in Public Health Nutrition. Her specialty is addressing the "why" and "how" we eat, blending mindset with practical tips to make nutrition and self-care easier.

Links & Resources:

Website: ConfidentNutritionNow.com

Instagram: @confidentnutritiontravels

Facebook: Confident Nutrition with Shelly Najjar

YouTube: Shelly Najjar

Memorable Quote:

"One, you're not alone... and two, that usually happens because of restriction. That out of control feeling is very common. It's not your fault." — Shelly Najjar

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The "Day 1" Rule: Why Lorraine always schedules her cooking classes for the very first day of a trip (and why you should too).

Read the Menu: How to avoid disappointment by checking the fine print—if you don't like fish stew, don't book the standard Portuguese class!

Market Magic: The difference between visiting the famous "tourist" markets (like in Florence) vs. the hidden neighborhood gems.

Wine Revelations: A story from Austria that challenges the "I hate Chardonnay" mindset and the debate between American Oak vs. Stainless Steel.

Mobile Photography Tips: How to transition from a bulky camera to a smartphone without losing quality, plus the one app Lorraine swears by for editing on the go.

Resources & Mentions:

App Mentioned: Snapseed (for photo editing).

Book Mentioned: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.

Guest’s Podcast: More Than a Few Words (Marketing conversations for business owners).

Memorable Quote:

"You don't like fish stew? Maybe you shouldn't go to the fish stew class... Reading the details is really important." — Lorraine Ball

Food is history, and a dish you love might have traveled centuries and crossed continents to land on your plate. In this episode of Pour & Explore, we dive into the incredible, universal stories of three comfort dishes—dumplings, noodles, and meat pies—and trace how they've been adapted across the globe. From Chinese Jiaozi and Polish Pierogi to Italian Pasta and Vietnamese Pho, these simple foods carry the flavors of migration, resourcefulness, and tradition. You’ll never look at a bowl of ramen or a handheld meat pie the same way again.

The Host's Challenge: