Rouba Shahin – Lebanese Food Specialist, Content Creator & Food Blogger
- S1E8
- 36:26
- December 9th 2025
This week on The Travel Date, host Angelica-Hazel Toutounji sits down with Rouba Shahin , a Lebanese food specialist, content creator, wife, mother, and food blogger.
In this warm and heartfelt conversation, Rouba talks about growing up in Lebanon and shares powerful memories from her childhood in Tripoli. She reflects on how Lebanese hospitality — the warmth, the sweetness, the endless offering of food and care — remains one of the country’s greatest treasures.
Her recent return to Lebanon allowed her to reconnect with her roots, revisit cherished streets, and see the country’s beauty despite its struggles.
Beyond Lebanon, Rouba tells stories from the road: a chaotic but unforgettable road trip from Darwin to Broome, a hilarious night in a tiny Scottish cabin, the incomparable kindness of the Irish, and slow-paced adventures in New Zealand, cooking with her husband in apartments and discovering local produce together.
Rouba’s passion for culture, tradition, and honest food weaves through every story she tells. From her ultimate comfort dish — fatteh with the all-important “tush sound” — to her dream of visiting Japan and her heartfelt longing to one day travel to Palestine, this conversation is rich with emotion, curiosity, and beautifully human moments.
This episode is a love letter to food, family, culture, and the ways travel reconnects us with who we are & the world around us.
🌍 Destinations Mentioned in This Episode
- Lebanon: Tripoli, Baalbek, Beirut & guest houses in the mountains
- Australia: Sydney, Darwin to Broome, Adelaide
- New Zealand: Queenstown
- Scotland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Palestine
👤 Guest Bio – Rouba Shahin
Rouba Shahin is a Lebanese food specialist, recipe developer, content creator, and storyteller who celebrates culture through the joy of cooking. Born in Sydney and raised in Tripoli, Rouba’s work is deeply inspired by Lebanese tradition, hospitality, and family connection.
She is the creator behind Rouba’s Food Journey, where she shares approachable, flavourful, Middle Eastern-inspired recipes designed to bring people together around the table.
Her warmth, authenticity, and love for community make her a beloved voice in the food and culture space.
🌐 Website: roubashahin.com.au
🎧 Episode Credits
Host:
Angelica-Hazel Toutounji
📸 Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition · @the_travel_date_
🌐 Website: angelicahazel.com.au
📧 Email: [email protected]
The Travel Date
The Travel Date is an inspiring and entertaining travel podcast hosted by Adelaide-based clinical nutritionist, writer, devoted foodie and passionate traveller Angelica-Hazel Toutounji.
Every journey begins with a story, and each episode of The Travel Date invites listeners to discover the people, places, cultures and unforgettable experiences that make travelling so special. Through warm, relaxed and engaging conversations, Angelica-Hazel speaks with travellers, travel writers, content creators, tourism professionals, business owners and fascinating guests whose lives have been influenced by their adventures around Australia and across the world.
The Travel Date explores much more than simply where someone has travelled. It discovers why people travel, what they learn along the way and how a destination can change their outlook on life. Guests share their favourite locations, memorable meals, unexpected challenges, hidden gems, cultural experiences and practical travel advice, along with the personal moments and meaningful connections that stay with them long after they return home.
From spontaneous overseas adventures and immersive cultural journeys to luxury escapes, regional road trips, family holidays, wellness retreats and budget-friendly experiences, The Travel Date celebrates the many different ways people explore the world. Whether it is a major international destination or a remarkable place closer to home, every location has a story waiting to be discovered.
Food, culture and human connection are at the heart of the podcast. Angelica-Hazel’s natural curiosity and love of storytelling encourage her guests to go beyond the usual travel recommendations and share the honest, funny, emotional and sometimes life-changing experiences behind their journeys.
Listeners can expect fascinating destination ideas, authentic travel stories, helpful recommendations and plenty of inspiration for their next adventure. The podcast also provides an opportunity to discover local communities, independent tourism operators, accommodation providers, regional businesses and extraordinary destinations throughout South Australia, across Australia and around the world.
The Travel Date is not simply about collecting destinations—it is about collecting moments, creating memories and developing a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. The podcast celebrates travel’s ability to inspire curiosity, build confidence and resilience, strengthen relationships and remind us to make the most of the time we have with the people we love.
Whether you are actively planning your next holiday, dreaming about a faraway destination, searching for practical travel ideas or simply enjoy hearing wonderful stories from interesting people, The Travel Date will leave you informed, entertained and ready to explore.
Take the trip. Taste the food. Meet the people. Collect the moments.
Subscribe to The Travel Date and join Angelica-Hazel for a new guest, a new destination and a new story.Host and contact details
Angelica-Hazel Toutounji
Adelaide, South Australia
Telephone: 0438 716 606
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.angelicahazel.com.au
The Travel Date Instagram: @the_travel_date
Angelica-Hazel Instagram: @angelica_hazel_nutrition