extravirginfoodandtravel

Nicole Brewer is from Detroit, Michigan, but now lives in the small town of Nizwa, just over an hour from the Oman capital, Muscat where she's a university teacher of English and a published author.

Famous for its souks and its silver as well as traditional wooden sailing boats, called dhow, its deserts and beautiful beaches, as well as its warm, friendly people, Oman is a pearl that tourists are just now starting to discover, Nicole says.

In this "Postcard," we learn a little bit about life in Oman and in Nicole's adopted hometown of Nizwa; from the Friday goat market to touring the nearby mountains by 4-wheel drive, taking in a show at the opera house, shopping, or sampling the local cuisine. 

The island city-state of Singapore is sometimes dismissed by travellers as being a little 'sterile,' however, this postcard from expat Gaynor Reid, who's lived there for the past 9 years, shows us a completely different Singapore - one that boasts a plethora of green spaces and wildlife, history, street art and artisan boutiques. Gaynor shares with us her favourite walks,  rooftop bars to catch the legendary sunsets and places to eat, from the famous hawker stalls to Michelin-starred fine diners. 

So, whether you're planning a trip, or just armchair travelling, let this ExtraVirgin postcard take you away. 

This episode of ExtraVirgin Postcard wings its way to you from the beautiful tourist hotspot of the Gold Coast, on Australia's east coast.
Our guest, Karen Inglis runs food tours from her home suburb of Burleigh, so she's perfectly placed to give us all the intel on the best places to eat and drink.

Karen also tells us about the Gold Coast's cool green hinterland and its famous beaches, where to go for panoramic views, seafood fresh from the trawler and much more.  

Anas Atassi, author of: "Sumac - Recipes and Stories from Syria,"  was born in Homs in Syria and split his time growing up between Saudi Arabia, where his father was based for work, and long summer holidays with extended family in Syria. 

Now based in Amsterdam, Anas stays connected to his former home and the memories of his family by cooking.

In this episode of ExtraVirgin Food & Travel, we talk with Anas about the historical and geographical influences on Syrian cuisine, his personal stories of those long leisurely meals, the meaning of 'nafas' in Syrian cooking and more. 

And, if after listening to this episode you're keen to try cooking Syrian cuisine for yourself, go to the ExtraVirgin webpage for one of Anas' recipes from 'Sumac'.