Opera and Italian cuisine expert Fred Plotkin shares his encyclopedic knowledge on Italy in a captivating interview. The episode also touches on immersive Willy Wonka experiences, the myth of airplane mode, and global issues discussed on 'Pod Save the World' podcast.
Fred Plotkin shares insights on Italian cuisine perceptions and regional culinary traditions.
Podcast discusses evolving views on airplane mode necessity and potential air rage concerns.
Deep dives
Airplane Mode in Question
Airplane mode and the issue with cell phones on planes was discussed in the podcast with differing perspectives on its necessity. A recent article highlighted that turning off phones might not be needed anymore due to changes in plane technology, with concerns now directed at potential air rage incidents.
Insight into Myanmar Conflict
An episode featuring Ben Rhodes interviewing Weiwei New, a human rights activist, delved into the civil unrest in Myanmar. The podcast provided a deep analysis of the emerging civil war in Myanmar, shedding light on the turmoil and human rights violations in the region.
Exploring Italian Cuisine
The upcoming part two of the episode will focus on Fred Plotkin's insights on Italian cuisine, particularly on the contrast between the romanticized perception and the practical realities of Italian cooking, varying by region. The episode will delve into regional differences, offering a nuanced understanding of Italian culinary traditions.
Opera Experience in Bogota
Ryan shared his recent experience attending the Mozart opera, 'Casa di Fantuti,' at the Atro Mayor in Bogota. Despite the language barrier, he found the performance enthralling and highlighted the universal appeal of opera through its musicality and performance quality.
On this episode of "Out Of Office: A Travel Podcast," Kiernan interviews one of the show’s most interesting guests ever: opera and Italian cuisine expert Fred Plotkin. Decades ago, Fred published a breakout hit for intrepid eaters: his book “Italy for the Gourmet Traveler.” During COVID, he collaborated with frequent “Out of Office” guest Rick Steves on a new update, which the duo published in 2023 as “Italy for Food Lovers.” Fred’s knowledge proved so encyclopedic, this will be Part 1 of 2!
Note: Some SFX are missing from the top of the show, which explains the weird pauses. We’ll talk about it on the next episode.