Trieste is the capital of Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region, located near the Slovenian border along the Adriatic Sea. For centuries, it was part of the Habsburg Monarchy and became a crossroads of Italian, Slavic, and Germanic cultures. Its character was largely shaped during the Austro Hungarian era, when Trieste served as a major port of the empire. The Grand Canal, built at that time, allowed ships to reach the heart of the city. Today, Trieste remains an important maritime hub with a rich multicultural heritage. This diversity drew Ľuboš from Slovakia here 15 years ago. After working in Austria, he settled in Trieste, where he now works as a tour guide and helps his Italian husband run a ballet school. As he says, he has truly become part of this city.

Today we head to Ningbo, a city in the Yangtze River Delta. With nearly 10 million people, it is considered smaller by Chinese standards. It is a major trading port and one of the country’s wealthiest cities. As one of China’s oldest cities, Ningbo blends modern life with deep tradition, creating a unique urban atmosphere. This dynamic environment attracted Mirka from Slovakia, who moved here two years ago to be with her partner Bin. The two met in Europe and chose Ningbo as their home. Mirka studied Japanese and is now learning Chinese at a local university, finally living the Asian life she had always dreamed of.

Kobe is the capital of Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture and one of the country’s major port cities. The region is known for its sake production and nearby hot springs, while the city itself stretches in a narrow strip between the mountains and the sea. Kobe offers scenic waterfronts, the historic Kitano district with 19th century Western style homes, and a vibrant Chinatown. It is home to about 1.5 million people, including a diverse international community. Among them is Dárius from Slovakia, who moved here eight years ago. Together with his partner Rumiko, he opened the first Slovak restaurant in Japan, where he also works as a chef.

Hainan is China’s southernmost island province, often called the “Hawaii of China.” Known for its tropical coastline, rainforests, hot springs, and modern infrastructure, it has become a popular destination for both locals and visitors. This island paradise also attracted Jano from Slovakia, who settled here after 20 years of traveling the world. He now teaches English, stays active in sports, and continues learning Chinese. In the capital, Haikou, we explore a local market, taste traditional noodle soups, and visit a volcanic stone village where we help make a local rice dessert. In the evening, vibrant street food stalls offer endless flavours before we end the day with a relaxed beachside picnic.

Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Central Africa, named after the Zambezi River. Set on a high plateau, it is one of Africa’s most water rich countries, with vast lakes, major rivers, waterfalls, and wetlands. Angelika from Slovakia has called Zambia home for seven years. After meeting her husband in London, she settled here, where she now teaches art at a local school and raises her three children. We begin in the capital, Lusaka, tasting roasted goat, dried tilapia, and a drink made from baobab. We learn to eat the traditional way by hand, meet local woodcarvers, and visit a primary school with Angelika.

Buenos Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina, is known for its rich culture, vibrant lifestyle, and high quality of life. It gave the world iconic figures like writer Jorge Luis Borges and football legends Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. Twelve years ago, this city also became home to Elena from Slovakia, who moved here for love. Today, she lives here with her family and works as a translator, while enjoying music and travel. We begin at the historic Café Tortoni with coffee and sweets, visit a local butcher for a traditional Argentine asado, explore gaucho culture, and finish in the colourful La Boca district with a taste of dulce de leche.

Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, lies off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is famous for its unique wildlife, from colourful chameleons and rare orchids to towering baobab trees, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. This natural beauty, especially its underwater world, drew Adrián from Slovakia here several years ago. He now lives on the small island of Nosy Komba, where he runs a boutique hotel and works as a diving instructor. Nearby on Nosy Be, we visit ylang-ylang plantations, enjoy local street food, catch and taste fresh fish, try traditional rice cake, and see how Madagascar’s famous vanilla is harvested and dried.

Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, lies in the Atlantic Ocean and is known for its year round mild climate and diverse landscapes. Three years ago, Dalibor from Slovakia made this island his home, drawn by life by the sea and a new opportunity. A talented chef who spent 12 years in Latin America, he later accepted an offer to open his own restaurant here. Today, he lives on Tenerife with his family and continues to build his culinary success. We begin in the capital, Santa Cruz, where a local market reveals the island’s flavours. We visit a traditional mill producing gofio, explore a cactus farm, taste local wine, and enjoy grilled specialties prepared by Dalibor himself.

India covers a large part of South Asia and is the second most populous country in the world. It is home to an incredibly diverse population, with thousands of ethnic groups, many religions, and hundreds of languages. The country is a federal republic made up of 28 states, with Goa being the smallest. Once a Portuguese colony, Goa was part of the Portuguese Empire for centuries before becoming part of India in 1961. Today, it is one of the country’s most prosperous regions, known for its tropical climate, lush greenery, and relaxed coastal lifestyle. With around 1.5 million residents, Goa attracts both visitors and those seeking a different way of life. Among them is Tomáš from Bratislava, who settled in India after years of travelling. He spends his summers in the mountains and winters by the sea in Goa, living a creative life connected to music and jewellery making.

Burundi is a small landlocked country in East Africa, located on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and bordering Rwanda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. With a population of around 12.5 million, it has two capitals, Gitega as the administrative centre and Bujumbura as the economic hub. The population is mainly made up of Hutu, followed by Tutsi and the indigenous Twa. Much of the land is used for agriculture, which supports most livelihoods. Despite a difficult past marked by conflict, the country feels surprisingly green and full of life. This first impression also captivated Zolo from Slovakia, who arrived ten years ago to work in humanitarian aid. Although he now lives back home with his family, Burundi remains close to his heart, and he continues to return to support projects across the region.

Today we head to southern Vietnam, to its largest and most populous city, Ho Chi Minh City, still widely known as Saigon. Located near the Mekong Delta, often called the “River of Nine Dragons,” it is home to more than 8 million people. Originally settled by the Khmer, the city later came under French influence, followed by a period shaped by the Vietnam War. Renamed after reunification in 1975, it has since grown into a dynamic and modern metropolis. Today, Saigon is full of life, where historic landmarks such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office stand alongside busy streets and contemporary architecture. This unique mix of history and energy has also captivated Peter from Slovakia, who now calls this vibrant city home.

Europe’s culinary paradise can be found in Tuscany, one of Italy’s most celebrated regions. With Florence as its capital, this land of rolling hills is shaped by vineyards producing Chianti, along with olive groves and cypress lined roads. Once the heart of the Renaissance, Tuscany is filled with masterpieces by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Donatello, found in museums, churches, and towns across the region. Its cuisine is built on simple, high quality ingredients, from wild boar and steaks to white truffles and the rich harvest of local produce. This lifestyle, culture, and food drew Mária from Bratislava here fourteen years ago. Today, she shows us why Tuscany is a place to savour with all the senses.

Uganda, known as the Pearl of Africa, lies in the eastern part of the continent within the Nile basin and has a largely equatorial climate. While rich in untapped oil and natural gas reserves, coffee remains its main export. Despite being landlocked, nearly a quarter of the country is covered by water. Biba, a doctor from Slovakia, has been living in Uganda since 2010, where she runs a non profit organization and leads a clinic for HIV patients. Her dedication and compassion help her stay positive despite challenging conditions. Through Biba, we experience local life and culture, taste traditional foods like posho, fresh peanuts, and sambusas, share tea with the community, and join a local nutrition workshop.

The mysterious Ketrin can calmly and proudly say that she has been living for quite a few years in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The island of Thasos is an accessible holiday paradise even for us Slovaks. Our kind and highly knowledgeable guide will not only show us the usual tourist spots such as ancient landmarks, charming villages, beautiful bays, and pebble beaches, but will also reveal things we had never even heard of. Do you know what milk thistle and St. John’s wort can be used for? Do you know how to protect your garden from slug invasions? Do you know how to process an octopus after catching it so that it can later be easily prepared for consumption? If you are interested in the correct answers to these questions, you are warmly invited to watch the documentary film from our brand-new premiere series Cestou necestou.

Lýdia left Slovakia thirty years ago and has spent the past twenty on the beautiful island of Malta. Together, we step into the salt pans and explore the stunning island of Gozo. Of course, we will not go hungry. Lýdia treats us to generous local breakfasts and a traditional dinner featuring snails, all paired with excellent Maltese wine. After a day of indulgence, we also roll up our sleeves and get to work, as Lýdia joins in the production of a unique sheep’s milk cheese. From sea salt to rich flavours, Malta offers a truly memorable culinary journey.

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest in the world, known for its vast rainforests, including the Amazon, and incredible cultural diversity shaped by its people. From music and cuisine to football and the world famous Rio Carnival, Brazil is full of energy and colour. This vibrant lifestyle brought Ivana from Slovakia to the state of São Paulo, where she now lives in the coastal town of Caraguatatuba with her Brazilian husband. After years in China, she found a new home here and works as a tour guide and translator. With Ivana, we start the day at a local café, pick fresh jackfruit for lunch, visit a Quilombo community to make cassava flour, taste Brazilian style sushi by the beach, and end the day dancing as we prepare for carnival.

Kenya, located in East Africa, is one of the continent’s most populous countries, known for its diverse people and landscapes. Its climate ranges from tropical coastlines to cooler highlands and arid northern regions, while vast savannas and the Great Rift Valley offer breathtaking scenery. The central highlands, including Mount Kenya, provide ideal conditions for farming, but the true heart of the country lies in its people. This is what brought Dária from Slovakia to Kenya, where she works in humanitarian aid. She met her husband here and is now raising a family. We begin in the capital, Nairobi, visiting a local community to experience daily life. Along the way, we taste traditional dishes, tour a tea factory, and gain insight into the culture of the Maasai people.

The likeable Rastislav has a mother from Madrid, but years ago his heart remained in the green region of the Basque Country. In a land with what is considered the best Spanish cuisine, we will personally experience how apple cider, sidra, is poured from two meters directly into a glass—traditionally enjoyed with an amazing four-centimeter-thick steak. We will show that Spanish tapas are merely a playful kindergarten version compared to Basque pintxos, and we will unexpectedly drop in on the crew of a fishing boat right in the middle of their lunch. Be assured that seasoned Basque fishermen truly know what the world tastes like on a plate—something our Rasťo experienced firsthand.

We will visit the province of Kedah and its surroundings. The guide of this episode will be 50-year-old Peter, who works as a manager at a tire factory in the city of Alor Setar. We will visit restaurants that tourists have never been to before. We will attend a Malaysian wedding, and Peter will even be taught how to cook in his own home by a young Muslim chef whose coconut trees grow right in her garden. Featuring: Peter Suri.

The versatile Nataly has been living for years in beautiful Italy, specifically in Sicily. She will introduce us to the fairytale town of Trapani and its stunning surroundings. Today, we will take a boat to the romantic island of Marettimo, where we will meet chef Giovanni, who has taught even Jamie Oliver and will lovingly prepare a local specialty for us. We will visit a hidden bakery specializing in meter-long pizza and taste authentic Italian gelato made by a true local “mafia” character. Of course, we must not miss the daytime and nighttime culinary specialties of Palermo. This is truly a real, Italian, and temperamental world on a plate.

At the conclusion of our spectacular documentary series Cestou necestou, we will be joined by the wise guide Zuzana, who loves a hardworking young man from Rome and firmly believes that one day she will become a true Roman woman. We could not have wished for a more beautiful way to end our journey through world cities than in the city of cities—eternal Rome. It is said that all roads lead to Rome, and legend has it that the city was founded in 753 BC by the brothers Romulus and Remus. With its founding, the history of the great Roman Empire begins. And today, our “great” Zuzana will reveal Rome to us as we have never known it before. So tell us—did you know that cornetto is not ice cream, that bread in Rome is baked with charcoal, and that instead of a cappuccino, locals order caffè? No? Then sit back and relax, and you will discover that even in Rome, they truly know what the world tastes like on a plate.

In the third episode, we will visit the magnificent city of Shanghai in China. We will personally meet the Suchánek couple (Michal and Zuzana), who have been living there for four years and are successfully working in their field—architecture. Together, they will show us the modern metropolis of China and introduce us to local gastronomic highlights. Thanks to their conversational Chinese, we will experience authentic situations in shops and restaurants. As respected architects, they will talk not only about food but also about their impressions of the city and will show us two interesting interiors of unique restaurants. In addition to Shanghai cuisine, we will also taste a Chinese recipe from a dormitory kitchen prepared by their good neighbor, as well as southern Chinese cuisine, which is similar to Arabic food. There is much to look forward to, as we will truly discover something unknown to us—we will discover what the world tastes like on a plate.

In the global metropolis of Hong Kong, we will be guided by Marek, a Slovak bartender who has been awarded prestigious international prizes. He works at a renowned local restaurant honored with Michelin stars. Together with his local friend, who has an excellent knowledge of the city, he will take us through the bustling metropolis. We will visit secret bars accessible only to selected guests. The next day, we will escape the incredible hustle and bustle of the super-city and head to a fishing village on a magical island, where we will taste excellent Chinese dumplings, dim sum, in both traditional and modern forms. See for yourself just how exceptionally the world tastes on a Hong Kong plate.

Fiery Lucia, who speaks six world languages and overflows with energy and vast knowledge, will take us on a grand tour of the miraculous city of Lisbon and its surroundings. It will be a gastronomic—insanely delicious—experiential ride, as our guide is the embodiment of a true global foodie and seems to be eating nonstop, even in her sleep. Her life revolves around good food and good people. You will see places that are an absolute must when visiting Portugal. Gastronomically fanatical Lisbon—as we like to call it—will take your breath away. No, don’t travel just yet! Feel free to watch this episode of the documentary series Cestou necestou all the way to the end, and only then start looking for an affordable flight. We ask just one small thing of you: please send our regards to Lucia, who truly knows what the world tastes like on a plate.