Liz Caskey

Latin America has been Liz’s first love since she set foot on Costa Rican soil at age 18 to visit local friends. The language, the people, the culture, and the sensations got totally into her blood. During college, after numerous trips all over the continent and a year abroad in Chile, moving back to South America became an obsession. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Liz moved to New York to work in investment banking at UBS Warburg. In 2001, she relocated to Santiago for a finance position with a small advisory firm.

As she rediscovered Chile, she became enthralled with its street markets and dedicated much of her spare time to her lifelong passion: cooking. In late 2001 at the age 24, she left behind the corporate world and dared to go solo, starting her first business in catering. While catering, Liz quickly saw the potential for Culinary Tourism in South America and crafted her first signature product, the Culinary Tour of Santiago. In 2004, she studied in the Sommelier School in Santiago. The wine bug bit so hard, shortly after she joined forces with her husband, Francisco, to create Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences, and they were on their way.

In addition to her business, Liz has worked and studied in many kitchens, vineyards, and cellars to further understand the Southern Cone’s varied terroir; investigated local food heritage and traditions with artisans; and traveled profusely. As a lover of media, she is a food/wine/travel writer for esteemed international publications and is currently working on her first cookbook for publication in the US. She also is passionate about television and has worked as a local producer and occasional host on shows like Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations (Travel Channel); Diary of a Foodie (PBS); Local Flavor (Delta Airlines); and as resident chef on the popular Chilean morning show, Buenos Días a Todos.

When Liz is not on the road for work or pleasure, she loves staying active; shopping in the markets and entertaining at home; and hanging out with her husband and two cats, Barry White and Vika.



Francisco Ramírez

Chilean by birth, Francisco is a native of Santiago, Chile, although he spent his childhood in the wine country near the city of Talca (300 kilometers south of the capital). He returned to Santiago later to study Fine Arts at the University of Chile, graduating in 1998 with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and concentration in painting.

As a visual artist, Francisco has more than a decade with a successful independent art career in both the Chilean and International Contemporary Art Circuit. He has participated in various individual and group exhibitions including his signature series, Cabecitas. His third individual show, launch a new series, The SUV, at the Die Ecke Gallery in Santiago during May-June 2008.

Francisco freelances as a professional photographer on food, wine, and travel articles for esteemed international publications. He will visually capture Chile for their upcoming cookbook. He also has collaborated on the behind-the-scenes editorial productions for the Multimedia section of the business.

Francisco teamed up with Liz to create Liz Caskey Culinary and Wine Experiences bringing his knowledge of the Chilean culture and design the itineraries to be a true local journey. He is responsible for the design of the company’s corporate image in addition to heading the operations and commercial area of the business.