Welcome to a very special festive edition of The Travel Diaries. Today I’m joined by the legendary chef, restaurateur and writer, Rick Stein.

Rick is returning to the podcast for the first time in five years, and I can’t think of a better guest to bring a little culinary sparkle to our Christmas Special.

This year, Rick is celebrating the release of his beautifully personal and utterly joyful new book, Rick Stein’s Christmas - a treasure trove of festive recipes, stories, traditions, and reflections on what this time of year really means. In our conversation, we dive into his own Christmas rituals in both Cornwall and Australia, the dishes that embody comfort and nostalgia for him, the lessons he learned while cooking - and occasionally improvising - his way through last year’s festivities, and the deeply human side of the season that he weaves into the book.

We also travel far beyond the Christmas table, hearing about Rick’s recent adventures filming in the Australian outback, the food gems he uncovered there, his newest favourite destinations, and the UK restaurants he’s loving right now.

So pour yourself something warm and cosy, settle in, and enjoy this festive journey with the wonderful Rick Stein.

Destination Recap:

• Thailand
• Australia
• The Niagara Café, Gundagai, NSW, Australia
• Île de Ré, France, France
• Riva, Barnes, London, England
• Riley’s Fish Shack, Tynemouth, England
• Porto, Portugal
• Douro Valley, Portugal
• Laigueglia, Liguria, Italy, Italy
• Hotel Windsor, Laigueglia, Liguria, Italy
• Trieste, Italy
• Tbilisi, Georgia
• Argentina
• Peru
• Brazil
• Lake Como, Italy

If you’d like to explore more of Rick’s stories, tips and recipes, his new book Rick Stein’s Christmas is out now. I

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks, on the 30th, with a very special guest to close out the year - actor and national treasure Richard E. Grant.

Until then, have a cosy, joyful Christmas, and thank you so much for listening to The Travel Diaries.

With thanks to...

Citalia - If, like Rick, you’re dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.

Naturhotel Forsthofgut – if, like many of our guests, you’re dreaming of an alpine escape rooted in harmony with nature, visit forsthofgut.at to start planning today.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

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Today on The Travel Diaries we’re revisiting a very special conversation from the archives with national treasures Si King and the late, much-loved Dave Myers, better known to millions as The Hairy Bikers.

Si and Dave were my very first duo on the podcast, and what a joy they were. For more than two decades, they entertained Britain with their infectious humour, foodie expertise and shared love of motorbikes. Their travel and food shows from Asian Adventure to Mediterranean Adventure and Route 66 inspired countless viewers to see the world through flavour and friendship.

When I spoke to them, Dave was in the middle of undergoing cancer treatment. He joined me the night before a round of chemo, having travelled down to London especially, which made their generosity of time and spirit all the more moving. Listening back now, after Dave’s passing earlier this year, it feels particularly poignant to hear his warmth, wit and passion for life come through so vividly. This episode is a celebration of both Bikers’ deep love of travel, of each other, and of the extraordinary journeys they shared with us all.

In this archive chat, we travel together from Namibia to India, Argentina to Estonia, with countless adventures in between.

Destination Recap:

• Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland, England
• Isle of Man, England
• Portugal
• Namibia
• Madurai, India
• Southern Italy
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Patagonia, Argentina
• Valdes Peninsula, Argentina
• Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria
• Atlas Mountains, Morocco
• Mexico
• The Ghats, India
• Japan
• Lithuania
• Riga, Latvia
• Tallinn, Estonia
• Finnish Archipelago
• Southern Turkey
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Nigeria
• Pan-American Highway

With thanks to...

Titanic Belfast - Discover the world’s most authentic Titanic story at Titanic Belfast - where history, heritage and experience come alive.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a very special edition of The Travel Diaries, where we’re heading to a country that has enchanted so many of my guests over the years: Morocco.

This Destination Special is a love letter to a place that casts a lifelong spell. In the first half, you’ll hear unforgettable memories from past guests - Sir Michael Palin, Anya Hindmarch, Lyn Hughes, Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, Amar Latif, and Jacqui Gifford - each sharing the moments that made Morocco magical for them: the colours of Marrakech, the silence of the Sahara, the scent of a tagine in the Atlas Mountains. Together, their voices weave a vivid tapestry of this extraordinary land.

And it’s no wonder UK visitor numbers are soaring. Morocco is that rare combination - just a short flight away, yet a complete change of pace: immersive, sensory, unforgettable.

Then, in the second half, I’m joined by travel writer and Morocco expert Paula Hardy, who splits her time between the UK and Morocco. With over 15 years of experience, she takes us beyond the usual hotspots, from the Mediterranean feel of Tangier and Tetouan, to desert oases near Skoura, coastal towns like Asilah, and hidden Berber mountain villages. We dive into Morocco’s traditions - crafts, cuisine and culture - and its exciting evolution, with high-speed trains, striking new architecture, and preparations for the 2030 World Cup.

Whether you’ve visited before or it’s been on your bucket list for years, this episode will open your eyes to a Morocco you may not yet know, and remind you why so many travellers return again and again.

Destination Recap:

Northern Morocco - Sir Michael Palin on why Morocco is his all-time favourite journey

Marrakech – Designer Anya Hindmarch and Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes on the city of artisans, colour and contrasts

Atlas Mountains - Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, and blind adventurer Amar Latif on Berber villages, snow-topped peaks and mountain escapes

Ouarzazate (the “door to the desert”) - Travel & Leisure Editor Jacqui Gifford on this cinematic frontier town

Paula’s Destination Recap:

• Tangier
• Villa Mabrouka, Tangier
• Asilah
• Tetouan
• Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay
• Dar Ambrosia, Asilah
• Mimi Calpe, Tangier
• M’Hamid
• Erfoud
• Iriki
• Taroudant
• Dar Ahlam, Ouarzazate
• Skoura
• Marrakech
• Oualidia
• Riad Mina, Marrakech
• Berber Lodge, Marrakech
• Riad L’Atelier, Marrakech
• Rosemary, Marrakech
• Tribalista, Marrakech
• The Memory Road

Thanks so much for listening today. I'll be back with some fabulous Christmas specials in December. In the meantime, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. Remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

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