Bites And Sights
Tatiana Mejía, Gastronomic Tourism Pioneer in South America and astuviaje gourmet´s CEO.
- 19
- Episodes
- 2025
- First episode
- 11K
- YouTube views
About Bites And Sights
Hello! I'm Tatiana Mejia, and I find joy in traveling and exploring different cuisines. As a pioneer of gastronomic tourism in South America, I welcome you to "Bites and Sights." In this podcast, I aim to take you on a journey through gastronomic tourism—a unique way to experience the world through its flavors, traditions, and local communities. Together, we will discover how food is the heart of every culture. If you share my passion for traveling and food, let's connect on social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/ https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet
- Publisher
- Tatiana Mejía, Gastronomic Tourism Pioneer in South America and astuviaje gourmet´s CEO.
- Category
- society & culture
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 31 Jan 2025
- Latest episode
- 31 Jul 2026
Latest episodes
19 episodes in the feed.
31 Jul 2026
S6/E1- Special Episode: The Arepa: Colombia's Living Heritage
The arepa has been part of Colombian tables for centuries, but only in recent decades has it started to receive the recognition it truly deserves as an important part of the country’s history, anthropology, and culinary heritage. In this episode, I invite you to discover how an everyday food became one of the strongest symbols of Colombian identity—and why its true richness goes far beyond corn. Its story is really about the incredible diversity of ingredients, landscapes, and communities that have shaped it over generations. Throughout this journey, we’ll explore arepas made not only with corn, but also with plantains, cassava, rice, yam, and many other local ingredients that reflect Colombia’s extraordinary biodiversity. Every region has created its own version, using the products of its land and the traditions of its people. That’s why talking about the arepa as if there were only one simply doesn’t tell the whole story. Every variety carries its own history, techniques, traditions, and cultural identity. We’ll also recognize the people who have dedicated their work to researching, documenting, and preserving this important heritage. From the pioneering contributions of anthropologist Julián Estrada Ochoa, who helped redefine the arepa as a cultural expression, to the ongoing work of researcher José Luis Rivera, who has now documented more than 450 varieties of arepas across Colombia. We’ll also discuss recent research, including The Flavor That Brings Colombians Together, a study presented by Bancolombia in 2024 that confirms the arepa as one of the country’s most important symbols of national identity. This episode also reflects part of my own journey documenting Colombia’s traditional cuisines over the past two decades. From my earliest travels between 2003 and 2008, to founding Astuviaje Gourmet in 2008, and later creating the Flavors of Colombia Boxes, the arepa has been much more than a food for me. It has been a gateway to understanding the incredible diversity of Colombia’s regions and sharing those stories with travelers from around the world. More than exploring a recipe, this episode is about honoring a history built by Indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and farming communities; by traditional cooks; by farmers; by researchers; and by everyone who has helped keep this remarkable culinary tradition alive. Because every arepa tells the story of a place, a community, and the generations of people whose knowledge has made its way to our tables. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
3 Jul 2026
S5/E5 - The Guardians of Ancestral Flavor
In this episode of “bites and sights”, we explore a world of knowledge that has been preserved, practiced, and passed down by women for centuries. Guardians of Ancestral Flavor takes us on a journey through the wisdom found in the kitchens, gardens, farms, and food-related traditions of Latin America, where generations of grandmothers, traditional midwives, farmers, traditional cooks, and knowledge keepers have played a vital role in preserving their communities’ food heritage. Through stories, experiences, and examples from different regions, we explore how medicinal plants have supported the daily care of families, how ancestral seeds carry centuries of agricultural knowledge, and how food rituals continue to mark important moments in community life. Beyond recipes, we discover ways of understanding health, nature, spirituality, and food through perspectives deeply rooted in observation, experience, and tradition. But this episode is also an invitation to reflect on the role of responsible tourism in preserving this knowledge. Because behind every seed, every traditional beverage, and every inherited recipe, there are people and communities who have dedicated generations to protecting a living heritage that continues to survive through daily practice. This episode is a tribute to the women who, often from quiet and unseen spaces, have kept essential knowledge alive. Women who heal, cook, cultivate, protect seeds, assist births, and pass down wisdom that rarely appears in books, yet continues to live around the hearth and in the everyday life of their communities. Join me on this journey as we discover how flavors, remedies, crops, and food rituals allow us to understand not only the history of a place, but also the women who have dedicated their lives to preserving an essential part of our cultural memory. And how, through a more conscious and respectful approach to tourism, we can help ensure that this knowledge remains alive for future generations. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) – Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with all five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
30 May 2026
S5/E4 - United by Flavor and Region
In this episode of bites and sights we explore the power of women’s networks that are revolutionizing culinary tourism in Latin America through collective effort, solidarity, and a deep love for their regions. Through real-life stories, we’ll discover how women—cooks, producers, rural leaders, and guardians of ancestral traditions—have transformed their communities by creating alliances that strengthen the local economy, preserve cultural identity, and open new opportunities for future generations. We’ll discuss collaborative projects emerging from traditional kitchens, farmers’ markets, community associations, and culinary routes led by women who understand that cooking not only nourishes but also connects, heals, and builds memory. This episode highlights how women’s empowerment in culinary tourism goes far beyond individual recognition: it is about weaving support networks where knowledge is shared, opportunities multiply, and the voices of rural women find spaces to be heard. We will also reflect on the challenges that still remain: the lack of access to resources, training, promotion, and public policies that truly support the work of thousands of women who uphold the culinary heritage of our regions. Because behind every traditional recipe lie stories of resilience, leadership, and community. This episode is a tribute to all those women who, united by flavor and their region, are demonstrating that culinary tourism can become a tool for social transformation, sustainable development, and cultural empowerment in Latin America. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) – Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with all five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
30 Apr 2026
S5/E3 - Those who shape the change
In this episode of “eat by traveling or traveling by eating” we delve into women’s leadership in rural kitchens across Latin America—a leadership that has existed for generations without being acknowledged, yet has sustained entire food, cultural, and economic systems in these regions. This episode is dedicated to Maura Caldas, a traditional cook from the Colombian Pacific, a teacher of ancestral knowledge, and one of those women who paved the way when recognition and visibility were not yet on the agenda. Through her story, we explore the role of women who, from their kitchens, have preserved recipes, techniques, and ways of life that are now fundamental to understanding our gastronomic identity. We discuss oral transmission, the knowledge that lives within the body, the deep connection between cuisine and the land, and how these women have been quiet leaders in their communities. We also examine real-world examples in countries like Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Colombia, where programs, initiatives, and processes have begun to highlight and strengthen the role of traditional cooks, demonstrating that this is not merely a cultural issue but a concrete opportunity for economic, social, and regional development. Throughout the episode, you’ll find stories, facts, and reflections that invite us to question the way we travel, consume, and understand gastronomy. This isn’t just an episode to inspire. It’s an invitation to recognize, value, and take action. Because behind every dish there’s a story. And many of those stories… have been carried on by women. Follow me on social media: Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) – Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with all five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
30 Mar 2026
S5/E2 - Cooking to Exist: Invisible Voices
In this episode of “eat by traveling or traveling by eating” we create a space to hear stories that have been sidelined for centuries: those of Afro-Colombian and Indigenous women who have upheld cooking as an act of resistance, memory, and dignity. To understand their legacy, we travel to the origins of many of these traditions: the forced migration from Africa during the era of slavery and how, in regions such as the Caribbean and the Colombian Pacific, these culinary traditions were transformed upon encountering new landscapes, ingredients, and communities. Through experiences in places like San Basilio de Palenque, the Colombian Pacific, the Amazon rainforest, and the Lower Guajira, this episode introduces us to women who cook from history: traditional sweets born of resilience, cuisines that blend river and sea, ancestral preparations like casabe, and unique techniques like avinagrado that define deep-rooted culinary identities. More than just recipes, this episode is an invitation to recognize how each dish holds a story of territory, community, and women who have passed down their knowledge from generation to generation. Because in many corners of Latin America, cooking has not just been about feeding people… it has been a way of life. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with all five senses: www.astuviaje.com ( https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
27 Feb 2026
S4/E2 - Food and Travel: Rules and Tips for Visiting Chile
Traveling to Chile with your palate as your compass is an unforgettable experience, but to enjoy it to the fullest, it is important to know the rules and regulations that every foodie tourist should be aware of. In this episode, we explore the necessary documentation, practical tips for your trip, and local regulations that protect Chile's rich culinary culture. In addition, I share recommendations for unmissable gastronomic events and festivals so you can experience Chile through its flavors in a conscious and respectful way. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
2 Feb 2026
Special episode - Part 2 - A Life Simmered Over Low Heat: How My Book Came To Be
This episode is the second part of the story behind the book “El Viaje: Sabores que nos guían hacia el alma” (The Journey: Flavors that guide us to the soul). In the first episode, I told you how the book came about: the breaks, the grief, the difficult decisions, and how writing became an act of healing. But this second part... is another journey. It's the true story of what happened after writing the book: the journey to the Gourmand Awards ceremony. A 52-hour trip, crossing seven countries, with ticket errors, unexpected route changes, falls from a horse, a marriage proposal, and many acts of faith. I'll tell you how I didn't make it to the ceremony... but I did make it to the award. How I let go of control, trusted, and arrived exactly where I was meant to be. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/)– LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://astuviaje.com/home/)
30 Dec 2025
Special Episode - A life Simmered Over Low Heat: How My Book Came To Be
This is not an episode about how to write a book. It's about everything that happened before writing it. For years, I put it off. There was always something more urgent than sitting down to write: routes to design, communities to serve, passengers to accompany, decisions to make. But life, which has its own way of putting us on pause, forced me to do it. And there, between forced pauses, unhurried cooking, a swollen body, and thoughts that could no longer wait, the book began to write itself. Not with an editorial calendar or advisors, but with what I had: lived stories, processed pain, and much to be thankful for. It's not a cookbook, but there is cooking. It's not a travel book, but it has roads. It's not self-help, but it helped me keep going. And although it didn't fit into any traditional category, it ended up representing South America at the Gourmand Awards. In this episode, I share with you the story behind that book: the before, the during, and everything you don't see when an achievement is celebrated. Calmly, truthfully, and with an open heart. Follow me on social media: Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/)– LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
28 Nov 2025
Special Episode: The Wayuu Woman and Her Cuisine
In this episode of “Traveling While Eating or Eating While Traveling,” we travel to La Guajira to talk with Mimi Barros, a Wayuu woman from the community of Yutao. We talk about friche, chichiware arepas made with cariaco corn, goat prepared in different ways, and yotshi, an ancestral drink similar to other traditional Colombian spirits such as biche and ñeque. We also delve into Wayuu crafts, the colors that define their culture, and the places that, according to Mimi, you can't miss if you visit this beautiful region. 🎙️ Recorded from the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, this episode is an invitation to discover La Guajira through its flavors, its worldview, and its people. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/)– LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
31 Oct 2025
S3/E2 - Travel with Flavor: Everything You Need to Know for Argentina
Are you traveling to Argentina with your taste buds ready? Before trying empanadas, asado, and mate, there is something essential you need to know: how to get there safely. In this episode, I'll tell you everything about visas, entry requirements, food festivals, and local customs. Because savoring Argentina begins with respecting its culture, its people... and its rituals. Get your passport and spoon ready: the journey begins here. Follow me on social media: Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
30 Sept 2025
S3/E1 - Your Gastronomic Passport: Travel Regulations in Colombia
Traveling isn’t just about where you’re going—it’s also about knowing how to get there. In this episode, we’re diving into how to prep for an authentic food journey through Colombia—from what you need to know before even landing, to how to truly connect with the vibrant cuisines that live in its markets, festivals, and local communities. So get ready to start tasting Colombia from the very first step. Follow me on social media: Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) – Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And keep exploring the world with all five senses at: www.astuviaje.com ( https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
29 Aug 2025
S2/E4 - Fusion and Tradition: Uncovering the Legacy of Peru’s Seperfoods
In this episode, we travel to Peru — a land of ancient flavors and bold culinary fusion. We talk about powerful superfoods like maca, its benefits for women’s health, and how ancestral ingredients are blending with modern techniques to make Peru one of the world’s top foodie destinations. It’s a delicious journey through tradition, creativity, and conscious travel. Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) – Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And keep exploring the world with all five senses at: www.astuviaje.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
31 Jul 2025
S2/E3 - From the Ocean to the Andes: The Flavors of Chile
In this episode we dive into the flavors of Chile, a country where the sea and the mountains also meet in the kitchen. We explore how the unique geography of this elongated territory has given life to a diverse gastronomy, rich in seafood, Andean products and ancestral knowledge. From coastal coves to inland valleys, we discover emblematic dishes, native ingredients and culinary traditions that connect communities and landscapes. Join us on this journey from the ocean to the Andes, where every bite tells a Chilean story! Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) – Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) www.astuviaje.com (https://www.astuviaje.com/) and www.Tatomejia.com (https://linktr.ee/astuviajegourmet)
27 Jun 2025
S2/E2 - Barbecues and Feasts: Exploring Argentina's Culinary Soul
This episode explores Argentina's culinary soul, delving into traditional dishes, native ingredients, and ancient techniques that define the country's gastronomic identity.
30 May 2025
Beyond Coffee: The Untold Stories of Colombian Cuisine
Host TATO MEJIA explores Colombia's diverse culinary landscape, highlighting ancestral recipes and regional dishes that reveal the country's rich traditions and native ingredients.
30 Apr 2025
S1/E4 - From Farm to Table: Gastronomic Tourism in South America
In this episode, “From Farm to Table: Gastronomic Tourism in South America”, we explore how South America has become a must-visit destination for food lovers. Learn about the culinary richness of the region, highlighting the diversity of flavors and traditions of four key countries. A talk that celebrates the connection between culture, food and sustainable tourism. Taste the world with me on this delicious adventure! Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) - LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://www.astuviaje.com/) and tatomejia.com (https://www.tatomejia.com)
31 Mar 2025
S1/E3 - Flavors of the Past: Rediscovering Ancestral Cuisine
In this episode, Flavors of the Past: Rediscovering Ancestral Cuisine, we explore the power of ancestral flavors and their impact on cultural preservation. We'll learn how traditional culinary practices and the stories behind indigenous recipes are essential to keeping communities' roots alive. Join us on this journey to rediscover the richness of ancestral cuisine and its relevance in conscious gastronomic tourism. Savor the world with me on this delicious adventure! Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) – LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) – YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) – Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with your five senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://www.astuviaje.com/)
28 Feb 2025
S1/E2 - Beyond Tourism: Traveling with Taste
In this second episode of Bites and Sigths. I invite you to explore tourism from a different perspective—through the power of flavors. In "Beyond Tourism: Traveling with Taste," we will discover how to connect with destinations in a deeper and more meaningful way. It’s not just about seeing; it's about feeling and savoring each place in all its splendor. Join me on this adventure as we learn how a single bite can tell stories and connect us to the soul of each culture. Savor the world with me on this delicious journey! Follow me on social media: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) - LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with the 5 senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://astuviaje.com/home/)
31 Jan 2025
S1/E1 - Taste the world: Introduction to Gastronomic Tourism.
In this first episode of "Bites and Sights", we explore what gastronomic tourism is and how it connects us to the culture and traditions of destinations through their cuisine. From the arepa in Colombia to the asado in Argentina, we travel through flavors that tell stories. Join me to discover how gastronomy is a unique way to know the world more consciously and intimately. Taste the world with me on this delicious adventure! Follow me on social networks: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/astuviaje_tm/) - LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-mejia-astuviaje/) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/astuviaje) - Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063456702793) And visit our website to continue discovering the world with the 5 senses: www.astuviaje.com (https://www.astuviaje.com/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- YouTube views
- 11,341
- Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 24 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 19
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 72
- Engagement
- 0
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- Does not typically book guests
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