The Trip

Here, to ring in this new year, is an ode to what should be the next great culinary star from the country of Georgia, the perfect vessel of unadorned cholesterol, the cosmic collision of flour, butter, egg and cheese: Khachapuri. Links: R&K weeklong culinary journeys: The League of Travelers Georgian market tours: Meet Me Here Tbilisi Mexico City Market Tours: Eat Like a Local Market Tours everywhere else: Culinary Backstreets Taste of Persia: A Cook's Travels Through Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Kurdistan Black Sea: Dispatches and Recipes, Through Darkness and Light Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that it's cold and flu (and COVID) season, it's time for Georgia's Dayquil of the gods: the pomace brandy called Chacha. Host of The Trip Nathan Thornburgh explains its appeal. Seize the chacha by Ansel Mullins Nikalas Marani on IG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trip from Roads & Kingdoms and host Nathan Thornburgh is back, with a tight new format, plus lots of distilled alcohol and Soviet helicopters in Georgia's Caucasus Mountains. The Light of the Caucasus: Photographs by Yuri Kozyrev Georgia: Q&A with Photographer Natela Grigalashvili Abkhazia: Paradise Lost Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roads & Kingdoms online R&K Instagram Return to Catalunya video series with Bourdain and Goulding Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Holding a diverse community together in a time of gathering threats is no easy act. Barcelona's Chief Rabbi thinks he's up to the task. Prior Chief Rabbi of Barcelona “Europe is Lost” The Hidden Stories of Barcelona’s Jews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

21st generation winemaker Pepe Raventós talks about his family's 500 or so years of Catalan winemaking. Raventós i Blanc’s Sparkling Wines Rudolf Steiner lecture trashing wine Penedés tourism site Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drinking Scotch and talking to a man who is really, really excited about Big Tech. Zoltan Istvan homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drinking coffee with Eva Castillo, New Hampshire immigrant rights activist Mira Coalition homepage Rincón Zacatecano Puerto Vallarta restaurant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gary Hirshberg was a key early supporter of Barack Obama in New Hampshire, and as chairman of Stonyfield Farm, is an icon of the business of organic food. The Trip met up with him just before the 2020 primary to do shots of probiotics and talk politics. Stonyfield Farm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drinking baijiu with Tom Tillotson, whose family has presided over the midnight vote in Dixville Notch, NH for six decades. Show notes: Mitch Moxley's Baijiu piece for California Sunday magazine Tom Tillotson’s China Ski Tours website Balsams homepage Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lebanese wine expert and podcast host Farrah Berrou takes The Trip Into the Beqaa Valley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

L'Orient-Le Jour columnist Gilles Khoury has a keen eye for the lives and aspirations of Beirut's citizens. He took The Trip to The Egg, the heart of Beirut's popular uprising and anti-corruption campaign. Show notes: Tripoli Ka’akeh bread--a favorite dish of the revolution L’Orient Le Jour The Assassination of Malcom Kerr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drinking Aged Negronis with Jade George: Publisher, Gourmand, Revolutionary Show notes: The Carton store in Hamra Bar Ferdinand, Beirut Kalei Coffee House Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drinking with Chyno, the MC who brought battle rap to Beirut. Get Mamluk, his latest album, here. Show notes: Mamluk, Chyno’s new album from Warner Music Middle East Chyno Instagram account The Arena Battle Rap League IG account Roads & Kingdoms story on the Arena Battle Rap highlights: Supernatural versus Juice Blaze Battle 2000: Eyedeaz v Shells Scribble Jam: Eminem 1997 Lebanese-American MC Dizaster versus Canibus More revolution music: Age of the Pimp, Egyptian revolution anthem from Ramy Essam Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anissa Helou is the author of nine books, and a leading voice of culinary sophistication for the Middle East and beyond. Host Nathan Thornburgh and Anissa shared strong, cloudy Arak in Beirut and talked about Syria, Lebanon, food and feminism. Show notes: Anissa’s blog Anissa’s Instagram account Feast: Food of the Islamic World Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A conversation, over some very dank weed, with Tijuana- and San Diego-based muralist Panca. Show notes: Klover dispensary homepage Panca homepage @aypanca on Instagram Panca's upcoming installation at the New Childrens Museum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A conversation in Tijuana with Gera Gámez, deportee and coworker at the legal advocacy group Al Otro Lado, before Gera's untimely death. The work he was doing continues, however, and please donate to Al Otro Lado if you can: Show notes: Al Otro Lado homepage How to volunteer for Al Otro Lado How to donate to Al Otro Lado Police reporter Margarito 4-4’s Facebook page Tijuana Esta Alerta, Jesús Aguilar's News Site on FB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Journalist Jorge Nieto invites The Trip to his home at the Otay Mesa to talk about being a fixer and journalist in one of the world's most dangerous countries. Show notes: Gustavo Solis on Tijuana fixers Piper French’s interview with Jorge Nieto on Roads & Kingdoms R&K's Unbylined series featuring Q&As with fixers around the world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drinking mezcal old fashioneds with Ruffo Ibarra, a chef at the vanguard of Tijuana's remarkable reinvention. Show notes: Oryx Capital, Ruffo’s flagship restaurant Cengrow organic farm Gustavo Arellano on the legend of the Donkey Show San Diego Union-Tribune on refugees and chefs aid Ruffo Ibarra IG account Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drinking cactus-laced "green juice" with iconic cross-border designer Edoardo Chavarín. Our lovely sponsor this episode: Palate Club Show notes: Edoardo Chavarín site Edoardo Chavarín Instagram Article about Chavarín’s coffee shop Rodrigo Roji, tattoo artist and collaborator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices