Tastes Good Magazine

Santiago Vargas

Travel & Drinks Correspondent

Santiago Vargas lives out of a suitcase, and he wouldn't have it any other way. After a decade behind the bar at some of the world's top cocktail lounges, he set out to document the drinks and dishes that define a place. His reporting is immersive and adventurous, focusing on the people who make local food culture thrive. Santiago's work has been featured in 'Condé Nast Traveler' and 'Saveur,' and his 'City in 12 Bites' video series has a dedicated following. He believes the best meals are often found on a plastic stool on a busy sidewalk.

Expertise

Global Street FoodCocktails & SpiritsCulinary Travel GuidesLatin American CuisineSoutheast Asian CuisineBartending & Mixology

Coverage Areas

Global City Food Guides
The History and Craft of Spirits
Street Food Vendor Profiles
On-the-ground Food Festival Coverage
Cocktail Recipes

Latest Articles

Industry professionals networking in an intimate lounge at a bar trade show, enjoying artisanal coffee and premium gifts.
Travel

Bar trade show hot takes reveal intimate event trends for 2026

Amidst the bustling Bar Convent Brooklyn in 2026, Eater and Square unveiled a 'Pre Shift Lounge.

Jun 25, 2026 · 2 min read

L'Oréal's advanced AI interfaces and data visualizations in a futuristic lab setting at VivaTech 2026, showcasing beauty tech innovation.
Recipes

L'Oréal Unveils AI Innovations at VivaTech 2026

Anthropic's AI model, Mythos, just hit a home run: successfully generating strong drug candidates for 9 out of 14 targets.

Jun 23, 2026 · 3 min read

Chef serving a gourmet dish across a counter in an upscale restaurant, symbolizing the shift to counter service in fine dining.
Restaurants

Fine Dining Shifts to Counter Service for Sustainability

Washington D.C.'s Michelin-starred Tail Up Goat just launched Rye Bunny, a counter-service spot, specifically to give staff competitive wages, PTO, and healthcare, Eater reports. This isn't just a new

Jun 23, 2026 · 2 min read

A mouth-watering bowl of chili crisp corn, showcasing its spicy texture and vibrant red chili flakes, ready to be enjoyed.
Recipes

Chili Crisp Corn Recipes: A 2026 Food Phenomenon

A single TikTok video, showcasing a simple chili crisp corn recipe, exploded with 50 million views in one week.

Jun 21, 2026 · 3 min read

A beautifully set outdoor table featuring various colorful and refreshing cold soups, ideal for a summer meal.
Recipes

Easy Cold Soup Recipes for Summer Bring Effortless Meals

This summer, forget the sweltering kitchen!

Jun 20, 2026 · 2 min read

Golden-brown, crispy tuna patties sizzling in a cast-iron skillet, showcasing a delicious and quick weeknight dinner.
Recipes

Crispy Tuna Patties: A Simple Recipe Guide

In just 3 to 5 minutes per side, a simple tuna patty transforms into a golden, crispy weeknight dinner, defying expectations for speed and quality.

Jun 20, 2026 · 2 min read

Aerial view of a luxurious Anguilla resort with an infinity pool and white-sand beach at sunset.
Recipes

Win a Dream Trip to Anguilla in This Exclusive Vacation Giveaway

Ready for a $25,000 Anguilla dream trip?

Jun 19, 2026 · 3 min read

A half-empty bottle of red wine on a kitchen counter, ready to be used in a delicious braised short ribs recipe.
Drinks

Transform Leftover Party Wine into Delicious Dishes

That half-empty bottle of Cabernet from last night's party isn't destined for the drain; it's the secret ingredient for your next batch of Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs.

Jun 15, 2026 · 3 min read

A refreshing michelada cocktail made with batch-juiced fresh tomatoes, garnished with lime and a chili salt rim, ready to be served.
Recipes

Make a Fresh Tomato Michelada Recipe Using Batch-Juiced Tomatoes

Forget muddling individual tomatoes for every drink!

Jun 15, 2026 · 2 min read

A vibrant spread of patriotic Fourth of July desserts, including beignets, mousse, and cake, with a hint of fireworks in the background.
Travel

These Fourth of July desserts truly rival fireworks

This Fourth of July, Walt Disney World alone is rolling out 16 patriotic desserts, alongside a collectible Sam Eagle popcorn bucket, signaling an intense culinary arms race for holiday celebrations.

Jun 14, 2026 · 2 min read

Winemaker in a cellar inspecting a bottle of Bouchaine's Alsatian Blend, highlighting innovative aging techniques.
Recipes

Bouchaine's Alsatian Blend: Exploring Innovative Aging Techniques

Hold up! The Bouchaine Alsatian Blend 2025 is already slated for $42.99, a price set two full years before it even hits shelves, according to Imbibe Magazine . That's a bold move, announcing a premium

Jun 13, 2026 · 3 min read

A close-up of a rich, moist rye chocolate brownie with a fudgy center, showcasing its decadent texture and deep chocolate color.
Recipes

Rye Chocolate Brownie Recipe Uses Two Sugars for 12 Rich Servings

Forget the ingredient list; the secret to a perfectly moist 100% rye chocolate brownie isn't what you put in, but when you pull it out.

Jun 12, 2026 · 2 min read

A close-up of crispy tofu coated in a bright green aji verde sauce, garnished with cilantro, ready to be served.
Recipes

Green Sauce Tofu Recipes Debut in New Cookbook

Last Tuesday, a TikTok video featuring 'Green Sauce Tofu' exploded online, racking up 10 million views in just 48 hours, igniting a global culinary phenomenon.

Jun 12, 2026 · 3 min read

Elegant glass bedside carafe filled with water on a wooden table in a luxurious bedroom, evoking a 5-star hotel feel.
Travel

Bedside carafes bring 5-star hotel feel to homes

Sales of elegant bedside water carafes for home use skyrocketed by 150% in the past year!

Jun 11, 2026 · 3 min read

Artfully arranged, glistening sardines on a rustic plate, bathed in soft natural light, symbolizing healthy eating and glowing skin.
Recipes

Sardines Offer Omega-3s for Glowing Skin in 2026

A recent clinical study revealed that participants consuming omega-3-rich diets saw a 20% reduction in acne lesions within just three months, according to Clinical Nutrition Research.

Jun 11, 2026 · 3 min read

A family happily eating a quick and easy grilled dinner on their patio at sunset, showcasing the speed and convenience of weeknight grilling.
Recipes

Weeknight Grilling: Faster Dinners Made Easy

Forget the endless stovetop scramble!

Jun 11, 2026 · 3 min read

A fresh and colorful chopped salad with sardines, showcasing healthy ingredients and the nutritional benefits of oily fish.
Recipes

Sardines: The Culinary Star in Chopped Salads

A recent study from the Mediterranean Diet Institute found that individuals regularly consuming small oily fish like sardines showed a 20% reduction in inflammatory markers.

Jun 11, 2026 · 3 min read

A confused dad holding a Father's Day gift guide that incorrectly features non-food items alongside culinary gifts.
Travel

Why Father's Day Gift Guides Fail Food-Loving Dads

Fathers are hungry for food gifts, restaurant cards, and grilling gear this Father's Day 2026, Cleveland reports.

Jun 11, 2026 · 2 min read

Three chefs in a professional kitchen, illuminated by oven light, meticulously plating a dish in anticipation of the James Beard Awards.
Restaurants

Diners Buzz as 2026 James Beard Nominees Reach Final Stage

This Monday, three Chicago chefs compete for prestigious James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.

Jun 10, 2026 · 4 min read

Split image showing a celebrity chef signing books versus a community sharing food from a niche cookbook, representing Summer 2026 cookbook trends.
Recipes

Summer 2026 Cookbooks: Celebrity Chef Conundrum vs. Niche Rise

For Summer 2026, one major publisher greenlit 15 celebrity chef cookbooks.

Jun 10, 2026 · 3 min read