Ep 82. Daniela Sfara - Cooking by Heart Not by Recipe
What happens when you completely reinvent your life at 50—and return to the culinary traditions that shaped you? In Episode 82, host Erik Wolf speaks with Daniela Sfara, the Canadian-Italian chef, cultural ambassador, and founder of ITALUS whose mission is to preserve the disappearing regional foodways of Italy. Daniela shares her extraordinary personal transformation from a 20-year jewellery career to becoming a respected voice in culinary culture, hospitality excellence, and immersive food experiences across Italy, Dubai, Europe, and North America. Daniela’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and deep cultural stewardship. Whether you work in food, tourism, hospitality, or simply love Italian cuisine, this is an inspiring reminder that food is identity, and preserving culinary heritage is an act of service to future generations.
Taste of Place · Daniela Sfara, World Food Travel Association, Erik Wolf
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Show Notes
This episode explores:
• The power of intuitive cooking and ancestral knowledge
• Why authenticity is often misunderstood—and misused—in modern food culture
• The role of terroir, tradition, and memory in shaping true culinary experiences
• How social media trends have distorted our understanding of real food
• Why reconnecting with the sources of ingredients can transform how we taste
• The importance of slowing down, sharing stories, and cooking together
• Lessons from regional Italy that the world urgently needs today
Instagram – @danielasfara
https://www.instagram.com/danielasfara
LinkedIn – Daniela Sfara
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielasfara
The Taste of Place podcast is sponsored by the World Food Travel Association’s Taste of Place movement. Taste of Place is a global initiative that celebrates culinary culture, food heritage, and the makers behind them. Through the movement, travelers and consumers are encouraged to connect more deeply with destinations and products through their unique flavors and traditions. Learn more at JoinTasteofPlace.org.