TASTE Podcast Takes a Culinary Tour of Southern California

Visit California recently partnered with TASTE, a James Beard Award-winning online publication on two California Culinary Road Trip-themed episodes of their podcast This is TASTE. 

With 100,000 downloads per month, This is TASTE is a top ranking food and lifestyle podcast. This two-episode partnership took hosts Matt Rodbard and Aliza Abarbanel through Southern California in December, hitting Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. 

This Is TASTE 534: Southern California Road Trip: San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside went live on Jan. 27, featuring Chino Farm, where three generations have been growing incredible produce; Jeff Lozano, a brand ambassador at San Diego’s Ballast Point Brewing; and Eric Bost, a prolific chef behind Wildland and the newly opened tasting menu restaurant Lilo in Carlsbad. Other spots mentioned in the episode include Rare Society, City Tacos, Tribute Pizza, Wayfarer Bread, Aisu Creamery, Little Fox Cups and Cones, Wrench & Rodent, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

During their journey through San Diego County, Matt and Aliza stayed at Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa and the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.

The second episode of the partnership, This Is TASTE 535: Southern California Road Trip: Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley, debuted on Jan. 29. The episode featured Mercado González at Northgate Market in Costa Mesa and Rye Goods, an acclaimed sourdough bakery and deli with multiple locations around Orange County. In the San Gabriel Valley, journalist Kristie Hang took Matt and Aliza to some of her favorite new and under-the-radar restaurants, including Banh Mi Hoa Phat, Good Alley and Bistro Na’s. They also met with chef Chris Yang of Yang’s Kitchen. Other great eateries they recommended when visiting the region include Folks Pizzeria, A&J Seafood Shack and Burritos La Palma.

When visiting the San Gabriel Valley, Matt and Aliza recommended listeners stay at Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel.

Matt and Aliza visited Southern California in December prior to the LA wildfires, but with the episodes released at the end of January, took the opportunity to encourage listeners to support the affected communities by dining out and included links to Restaurants Care in their show notes. They also included a link to Visit California’s FAQ about traveling to Los Angeles.

In addition, Visit California’s economic impact data broken down by legislative district was shared with advocacy partners at Cal Travel, who armed industry members with it for one-on-one meetings with legislators during Advocacy Day on May 14.

Visit California plans to follow up with a custom email to each legislator detailing the economic impact of tourism in their district.