The bakers, growers, chocolatiers, farmers & storytellers who bring Travel Deliciously to life.
At Travel Deliciously, we believe that every unforgettable trip begins with a maker—a person whose hands, heritage, and craft shape the flavor of a place. Before we put any destination on our itinerary, we start by asking a simple question:
“Who are the makers behind this region—and what stories do they tell?”
This is the soul of how we design food tours and culinary vacations. And this new blog series, Meet the Makers, invites you to step into their kitchens, gardens, workshops, bakeries, fields, and family traditions.
Today’s post introduces some of the artisans who inspire our 2026–2027 Travel Deliciously journeys—from Amalfi Coast bakers to Detroit chocolatiers, Provençal lavender growers to Bavarian brewers, Southern sweetgrass weavers to African conservancy chefs.
Their stories are why we travel.
Their passion is why you’ll remember these trips forever.
Amalfi Coast: Heritage Italian Bakers & Lemon Grove Guardians
Makers featured on: Travel Deliciously Amalfi Coast Culinary Journey
Few places in the world are as defined by a single ingredient as the Amalfi Coast is by its lemons. The region’s bakers, pastry chefs, and home cooks turn these golden giants into everything from delicate lemon cookies to iconic limoncello.
But behind these flavors are generations of families who have:
- tended terraced lemon groves for centuries
- baked the same breads and pastries since before Italy unified
- passed down recipes from grandmother to granddaughter
One of our favorite makers is a third-generation Amalfi baker whose lemon cake recipe is so beloved that it’s still handwritten in a weathered family notebook. When travelers visit with us, they don’t just taste the cake—they hear the story of how it became the centerpiece of every local celebration.
Why they inspire our trips:
Because they honor tradition while opening their homes and kitchens to the travelers who value authenticity.
Detroit, Michigan: The Chocolate & Fudge Makers Who Sweetened Motor City
Makers featured on: Detroit Food & City Tours + Detroit Thanksgiving Parade 100th Anniversary Trip (2026)
Detroit’s candy and chocolate makers represent the resilient, hardworking spirit of the city. Some of these shops date back more than 100 years, surviving economic shifts, fires, Prohibition, and the city’s bankruptcy.
Inside these family-run confectioneries, you’ll find:
- copper kettles still used for small-batch fudge
- recipes carried across oceans by immigrant founders
- stories of communities built around sweetness and survival
Guests on our Detroit tours often share afterward that meeting these makers was their favorite part—not just because the treats are delicious, but because the artisans themselves embody the heart of Detroit.
Why they inspire our trips:
Because they show how food can unite neighborhoods, carry history, and spark joy—no matter the decade.
Provence, France: Lavender Growers, Olive Millers & Market Makers
Makers featured on: 2026 Provence & Monaco Trip
Few regions of the world celebrate artisans quite like Provence. Markets overflow with handcrafted goods made by families who have perfected their craft for generations.
Our guests meet makers such as:
- lavender farmers harvesting by hand on ancient fields
- olive oil producers stone-milling olives the way their ancestors did
- nougat and honey artisans who keep Provençal sweetness alive
- soap makers still following centuries-old Marseille techniques
Each maker reveals the deeper truth about Provence:
It is a region where craft is heritage, and heritage is sacred.
Why they inspire our trips:
Because their work preserves the fragrance, flavor, and folklore of the French countryside.
Bavaria, Germany: Oktoberfest Brewers & Fairytale Craftsmen
Makers featured on: 2026 Oktoberfest & Fairytale Castles Trip
Bavaria’s food and drink culture is built on rules, rituals, and celebrations that go back hundreds of years.
Our guests meet:
- brewers who follow the 1516 Reinheitsgebot purity law
- pretzel bakers with recipes tied to monastic history
- woodcarvers and artisans in villages that inspired the Brothers Grimm
In Bavaria, craftsmanship isn’t just a job—it’s a legacy. And travelers feel that immediately when they sit with a brewer whose family has been making beer since before America existed.
Why they inspire our trips:
Because Bavaria shows how deeply food and craft can shape a region’s identity.
Savannah & Charleston: Sweetgrass Weavers & Lowcountry Food Artisans
Makers featured on: Springtime in Savannah & Charleston (2026)
The Lowcountry’s story is one of resilience, culture, and community. One of the region’s most treasured art forms is the Gullah-Geechee sweetgrass basket, handcrafted by artisans whose techniques trace back to West Africa.
In addition, guests meet:
- fishermen bringing in the morning catch
- bakers creating beloved Southern sweets
- spice makers blending Lowcountry tradition into every jar
These artisans embody a place where history is carried through craft—beautiful, tangible, living craft.
Why they inspire our trips:
Because their work tells the story of heritage, migration, and the strength of community.
Nashville, Tennessee: Hot Chicken Legends & Appalachian Makers
Makers featured on: Travel Deliciously Nashville Trip (2026)
From honky-tonk stages to neighborhood kitchens, Nashville is a maker city. Its most iconic food—hot chicken—was invented by a woman seeking revenge, perfected by her family, and eventually embraced as a culinary symbol of Music City.
Travelers meet:
- hot chicken cooks whose family stories shaped the dish
- Appalachian craft makers
- small-batch artisan honey and spice producers
Why they inspire our trips:
Because Nashville makers prove that passion, grit, and flavor create legends.
African Safari: Market Artisans & Conservancy Chefs
Makers featured on: Travel Deliciously African Safari Expedition (2027)
Food on safari is a celebration of land, culture, and sustainability. Our travelers taste dishes prepared by local chefs who blend ancestral methods with modern conservation practices.
Along the way, guests meet:
- artisans in village markets
- chefs specializing in open-fire bush cooking
- bakers making traditional breads
- women-led cooperatives preserving regional crafts
Why they inspire our trips:
Because their food connects travelers to the rhythms of nature and community.
Sonoma, California: Winemakers & Farmstead Cheesemakers
Makers featured on: 2026 Sonoma Wine Country Trip
Sonoma is a world-class wine region built by small producers and multi-generation families. Travelers meet artisans who live by the philosophy that great wine and cheese are made slowly, intentionally, and with reverence for the land.
Why they inspire our trips:
Because they show the beauty of terroir and the harmony between landscape and artisan.
This Is Only the Beginning…
This first Meet the Makers post is the foundation of a series we’ll continue throughout 2024, 2025, 2026, and beyond. Each entry will spotlight the extraordinary people who inspire our trips—because supporting local makers isn’t a marketing tagline for Travel Deliciously.
It’s our identity.
It’s our mission.
It’s the heart of every journey we create.
Travel Deliciously With Us
Join us on a trip where you don’t just see the world—
you meet the people who make it meaningful.
Explore our 2026–2027 trips at: TravelDeliciously.com