Liz Caskey and Francisco Ramírez


Liz Caskey

Chef, wine expert, cookbook author, and entrepreneur, is the co-owner of Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences, a luxury travel design firm based in Santiago, Chile offering culinary and wine-focused itineraries throughout Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru. She is also the author of the recently launched cookbook, Knack South American Cooking (Globe Pequot Press, 2010) available in the US market.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, this former Wall Street investment banker has been an influential part of the food culture in Santiago, Chile for the past decade since she jumped ship from the world of finance to follow her passion for food and wine. She started her first company in catering while attending the Escuela de Sommelier in Santiago in 2004. The wine bug bit so hard, she joined forces with her husband, visual artist and professional photographer, Francisco Ramírez, to create Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences. Today, their company has grown from one product to offer more than a dozen different destinations in South America and become a recognized brand in the international luxury travel niche. Liz now leads a team of more than 8 people with direct operations in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and soon, extended service in South America’s hottest culinary destination, Peru.

Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experienceshas been featured in international press such as The Dallas Morning News (July 2011), Boston’s Globe & Mail (July 2011), The Austin Statesman (May 2011), The Food News Journal (April-May 2011), San Antonio Express (January 2011)), Wine Enthusiast (March 2010), Conde Nast Traveller (February 2010), En Route (Air Canada, November 2009), Food Arts (April 2009), Celebrated Living (American Airlines First Class In-Flight Magazine, Fall 2008), The Pennsylvania Gazette (alumni magazine of the University of Pennsylvania, November 2007), National Geographic Traveler, Sydney Herald, and Chilean publications like Revista Mujer, Placeres, La Cav, Travesías, Revista Paula, Qué Pasa, among others. Their culinary and wine journeys are highly recommended by prestigious travel guides and sites like Frommer’s Chile, Frommer’s Buenos Aires, Fodor’s, and the luxury travel websites, Indagare and Luxury Link.

Liz is the chef and culinary ambassador in the US market for the biodynamic and organic winery, Emiliana Orgánico (part of the Concha y Toro and Banfi group). In 2010, she taped a series of professional recipe and wine pairing videos for Emiliana’s wines launched on her popular blog, Eat Wine, and the Banfi website. In June 2010, Liz led grand tastings and private catered events at the 2010 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado, and in November 2010, filmed syndicated TV and toured Central Market’s prestigious cooking school as a cooking instructor and wine educator throughout Texas. This October 2011, Liz will be a guest chef for Emiliana Orgánico at Disney World’s Epcot Food & Wine Fest leading culinary demos and wine pairings in addition to touring Central Market’s cooking school in Texas again. Liz’s natural, healthy and simple approach to South America’s fresh produce, foodstuffs, meats, classic dishes, and wines is a natural fit for this partnership.

Liz has worked in many kitchens and wineries to further understand the Southern Cone’s varied terroir; investigated local food heritage and traditions; and worked as a food and menu consultant for top restaurants in Santiago. She is a food/wine/travel writer, along with husband Francisco Ramírez for photography, for esteemed international publications such as Sherman’s Travel: Smart Luxury (Chile 101, Fall 2008 Issue); a frequent contributor for IN magazine (LAN airlines) and IN Wines (First Class Wine Magazine for LAN Airlines); La Tercera newspaper (Chile’s 2nd largest newspaper), Placeres, and her popular English-language blog, Eat Wine, which explores, food, travel, wines, & culture in South America. She is also passionate about television. In March 2009, she served as the production/story fixer for Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations for The Travel Channel for its Chile episode (show aired in mid-July 2009 in US). She also appeared as a local food/wine expert on Sommelier Andrea Robinson’s program for Delta Airlines, Local Flavor on-board all flights during late 2009. Prior to that, in September 2007, she served as the production/story fixer for PBS/Gourmet Magazine’s, The Diary of a Foodie for the “Chile: Mixing Land and Sea” and "Drinks: the Golden Age of Spirits episode”, including hosting three segments. The show aired in May-June 2008 across the United States on PBS and was syndicated internationally on National Geographic channel. 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

Is the co-owner of Liz Caskey Culinary & Wine Experiences. 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 like LAN Airline’s IN magazine and Sherman’s Travel: Smart Luxury. He also visually captured the step-by-step recipes for recently launched cookbook, Knack South American Cooking (Globe Pequot Press, 2010). He also has collaborated on the behind-the-scenes editorial productions for Eat Wine, 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 all of the company’s corporate image from website photography and design, brochures, the Eat Wine blog in addition to spearheading the company’s operations and commercial areas.