Meet Kacie Our Next Taste of Place Guardian

Taste of Place is built on a simple but often overlooked truth: culinary heritage does not protect itself. It survives because individuals choose to care for it, defend it, and pass it forward, often quietly, often without recognition. Around the world, traditional foodways are under pressure from standardization, economic shortcuts, and the gradual erosion of local knowledge. The Guardian initiative exists to acknowledge those who actively stand in that space of responsibility, not as figureheads, but as stewards of place-based culinary culture. Guardians help ensure that Taste of Place remains grounded in real people, real practices, and real commitments, anchoring the movement in lived experience rather than abstraction. It is in this spirit of stewardship and long-term commitment to place that we welcome our second Taste of Place Guardian. Kacie Morgan has spent more than a decade telling the story of Wales through food. What began in 2010 as a Welsh food and travel blog, created to build her writing portfolio after graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in journalism, has grown into The Rare Welsh Bit, a multi-award-winning platform dedicated to food-led travel and place-based storytelling. Based in Cardiff, Kacie's work consistently places Wales at the centre of the narrative while engaging thoughtfully with global cuisines and destinations. A member of the Guild of Food Writers, she contributes to national and international publications including olive, Sainsbury's Magazine, Co-op Food Mag, Food52, Visit Wales, and Cardiff Life, with features appearing on the BBC, Metro, and National Geographic Traveller. Her role as a champion of local culture was recently recognised at a Pride in Place reception at 10 Downing Street, and through Cardiff University's alumni awards. As a Big Ideas Wales Role Model, she also works with Business Wales and the Welsh Government to deliver entrepreneurial talks in schools and universities across Wales, and has served as a judge for the Welsh Street Food Awards for four consecutive years. Beyond Wales, Kacie has spoken at international conferences on food and tourism and has been recognised globally for her work, including being named Blogger of the Year by the Grenada Tourism Authority for her coverage of the Grenada Chocolate Festival. Whether exploring traditional Tunisian cuisine in North Africa or travelling by flavour from her own kitchen, her work reflects a deep respect for culinary heritage, lived experience, and the power of food to express identity and place.