Vermouth before lunch. Wine with everything. Barcelona figured it out.

In this episode of This City Is Delicious, Host Kevin Durkee heads to Barcelona and gets tipsy with Sommelier and Uncorked Vines Founder Javier Rocafort to explore the city through wine, vermouth, and perfectly curated food experiences.

From why European drinking culture is more social than indulgent, to how a sommelier-led tour transforms a simple bar crawl into something unforgettable — this episode is equal parts delicious and eye-opening.

Expect bold takes (yes, pa amb tomàquet is overrated), underrated gems like morcilla, and a deep dive into vermouth culture … where “let’s grab a drink” turns into a full-blown lifestyle.

Plus Kevin shares his own Barcelona finds — from award-winning cheeses and iconic markets to a glazed donut-shaped little legend you won’t forget.

Because in Barcelona … the glass isn’t just part of the meal. It is the experience.

In this episode:

• Why Barcelona drinks differently
• Spanish wine explained (region vs grape)
• Vermouth culture + how to drink it properly
• The 'Oscar' for the World's Best Cheese

And of course, Kevin shares where to eat, his favourite markets in the city, and the bites you absolutely cannot miss, including the best Quesos + Besos he’s ever had.

In Barcelona, every table tells a story … and every glass finishes it.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Barcelona
Food, wine, and why this city hits different

01:45 – Food Tours Meet Wine Tours
Why this experience flips the script

03:55 – Meet Javier from Uncorked Vines
Sommelier, storyteller, wine guide

06:30 – Global Flavours, Local Identity
Barcelona’s culinary mix

08:50 – Do Europeans Just Drink More?
Spoiler: it’s not what you think

10:15 – Bar Crawl vs Curated Experience
Why structure matters

12:00 – Building the Perfect Wine Tour
10 years of evolution

14:45 – Wine Snob or Wine Guide?
Fixing bad restaurant wine

17:00 – What Guests Actually Want
Curious drinkers, not experts

19:30 – Overrated vs Underrated Bites
• Pa amb tomàquet 👀
• Morcilla (trust the process)

22:00 – Spanish Wine 101
Region over grape

23:30 – Vermouth Culture Deep Dive
“Let’s do a vermouth” explained

27:00 – How to Drink Vermouth Properly
Olive, orange … or nothing

29:30 – Fast Food Quiz: Barcelona Edition
Cava forever. Markets. Must-eats.

33:00 – Kevin’s Barcelona Favourites
Cheese, markets, and food finds

36:00 – Sweet Treats + Take-Home Bites
Boldu donuts, jamón, olive oil

39:00 – Final Bite + What’s Next
Next stop: Singapore

If you enjoyed traveling and eating with us, make sure to follow the show so you never miss our next stop. And if you have a second, a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review goes a long way in helping more food-obsessed travelers like you find us.

If you’re still hungry, join us on Instagram @ThisCityIsDelicious for extra bites from the road, behind-the-scenes food finds, and a few tasty surprises that didn’t make it into the episode.

And if you know someone who plans their trips around meals not museums, share this episode with them - we’re saving them a seat at the table.

Until our next bite together… travel well, be kind, and eat something you can’t pronounce.

Because remember, This City Is Delicious™.

In this premiere episode of This City Is Delicious, we’re taking a bite out of one of the most unforgettable and delicious food cities on the planet: Cape Town.

Kevin and CJ kick things off by comparing their very different travel experiences in South Africa, from feeling deeply connected to the culture to chasing down the best chai latte of all time.

Kevin chats with Rupesh Kassen, founder of Eat Like a Local, whose food tour company is on a mission to truly serve guests Cape Town tastes beyond the clichés.

They get into everything:

• Why Cape Town does everyone else’s food so well
• South African wine and its place on a global table
• The role culture, race, and history play in what ends up on your plate

And of course, Kevin shares where to eat, his favourite markets in the city, and the bites you absolutely cannot miss (including the best samoosas he’s ever had).

Cape Town is a complex city of story and spice, yet every bite is worth the trip.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro
01:41 – Welcome to Cape Town
01:51 – CJ’s first time in South Africa
02:53 – Culture, connection & that special chai latte
04:14 – Why this city sticks with you
05:00 – Meet Rupesh (Eat Like a Local)
05:51 – Food tours that actually mean something
07:48 – What you should take away from Cape Town
08:22 – The Fynbos experience (and why it matters)
10:10 – Can one dish define a city?
11:57 – Is South African food being overlooked?
12:33 – Overrated foods (this might hurt)
14:26 – Underrated local gems
16:07 – Grocery store snacks & local treats
18:20 – A tiny deli worth getting lost in
19:29 – Best meals outside Cape Town
20:03 – LGBTQ+ life in the city
21:58 – Wine culture: worth the hype?
22:45 – Festivals, food & when to visit
23:57 – A perfect food day in Cape Town
27:14 – Rapid fire food quiz
29:16 – Kevin + CJ react to Rupesh’s stories
30:23 – The markets you HAVE to visit
34:00 – What to bring home (trust us on this)
35:45 – Next stop: Barcelona

If you enjoyed traveling and eating with us, make sure to follow the show so you never miss our next stop. And if you have a second, a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review goes a long way in helping more food-obsessed travelers like you find us.

If you’re still hungry, join us on Instagram @ThisCityIsDelicious for extra bites from the road, behind-the-scenes food finds, and a few tasty surprises that didn’t make it into the episode.

And if you know someone who plans their trips around meals not museums, share this episode with them - we’re saving them a seat at the table.

Until our next bite together… travel well, be kind, and eat something you can’t pronounce.

Because remember, This City Is Delicious™.

Do you know that moment ... that first bite of something so good you stop talking?

That’s the feeling we’re chasing the world.

Welcome to This City Is Delicious - the podcast for food lovers who plan their travels around meals, not museums. Hosted by Kevin Durkee, Owner + Big Cheese of Culinary Adventure Co., this show dives fork-first into the world of food tours, incredible local bites, hidden gems, and can’t-miss culinary experiences from cities around the globe.

After 15 years running food tours in Toronto - the world’s most diverse city - and taste-testing his way through 150+ food tours and culinary experiences globally, Kevin is serving up his honest reviews, spicy takes, and unforgettable bites.

No fluff, no clichés - just real talk on the bites worth travelling for.

Alongside his Producer + Taste Bud Christen James, Kevin explores local markets, wine bars, food halls, and back alley gems — while chatting with food tour operators, culinary insiders, and fellow travellers who live to eat.

Expect 🥟
• The best food tours and culinary travel tips
• Hidden gems and local food spots
• Honest reviews + hot takes
• Foodie stories from around the world

Episodes Tuesdays 🎙️

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Get In Touch 📩

Have a question, a foodie fact, or a delicious travel story? We want to hear it, send a voice note to hello@thiscityisdelicious.com or DM your question/comment to us on Instagram @thiscityisdelicious or visit thiscityisdelicious.com

Because life’s too short for bad bites … and This City Is Delicious.

If you enjoyed traveling and eating with us, make sure to follow the show so you never miss our next stop. And if you have a second, a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review goes a long way in helping more food-obsessed travelers like you find us.

If you’re still hungry, join us on Instagram @ThisCityIsDelicious for extra bites from the road, behind-the-scenes food finds, and a few tasty surprises that didn’t make it into the episode.

And if you know someone who plans their trips around meals not museums, share this episode with them - we’re saving them a seat at the table.

Until our next bite together… travel well, be kind, and eat something you can’t pronounce.

Because remember, This City Is Delicious™.