Food Journey Through Cyprus - The Endless Feast In search of the defining dish across Cyprus, Ishay Govender-Ypma discovers sun-kissed produce, generous locals and more variety than one can imagine. *For Food & Home Entertaining SA October 2015* An old woman is sitting hunched outside a small shop in the morning sunshine, knitting. “Kalimera,” I [...]
Queens – Feasting Along the 7 Line. A Mini Guide Known as the International Express, Ishay Govender-Ypma leaves the familiarity of Manhattan and the hip eateries in Brooklyn for dollar-dining and diversity along the 7-subway line in Queens. *This article was written for Business Day Wanted Magazine, October 2015* Finally, it’s our turn at [...]
What to Eat in Barcelona - 5 Classic Catalan Dishes to Try Want to know what to eat in Barcelona? Don't miss this guide to five iconic Catalan dishes to try while in the city and where to taste them. For Fine Dining Lovers, 11 September 2015. Barcelona Cathedral Catalonians, and those who have come [...]
Buffets Around the World - Top Resort Restaurants Resort dining is on trend with the rise in culinary tourism. These are our picks of 10 of the best buffets around the world at resort restaurants. For Luxury Travel Magazine, Australia. Buffets rebuffed feature for Luxury Travel Magazine, Australia The restaurant offering wasn’t always a [...]
Portugal’s most famous dessert, the pastéis de nata or egg custard tarts are famous all around the world. But, there’s a secret recipe everyone wants... Written for Fine Dining Lovers. Pastéis de Nata I remember the first time I visited the district of Belém, a mere 10 kilometres outside Lisbon. We joined [...]
Featured in the SAA Sawubona inflight magazine Across an enchanting landscape of mountains, plains, rivers and ancient ruins, Ishay Govender-Ypma feasted on the flavours of the Alentejo, the breadbasket and wine barrel of Portugal. Written for SAA Sawubona inflight magazine, 21 July 2015 Acorns and Pastries “At one time we only fed acorns [...]
Lemon Toffee Upside Down Cake This Lemon Toffee Upside Down Cake is a spin on my Apricot and Thyme cake, that Good Housekeeping featured in their July 2015 #GHBakestars issue, and was prepared for the Afternoon Express show on Tuesday 14 July 2015. On Afternoon Express - courtesy image Ingredients 2 medium lemons, [...]
The Durban Curry - Kwa-Zulu Natal Spice Pot The cuisine of the Indian descendants, whose forbears arrived in Durban to work on the sugar cane fields under British rule in the late 1800s, has remained and grown to represent a significant culinary contribution to both the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal and the food of South [...]
Food Trends Report 2015 - #WFTS2015 famous Crabbie Shack burger The World Food Tourism Summit (8-11 April 2015) was held in Estoril, just outside Lisbon, Portugal and saw a variety of prominent voices on food trends, culture, marketing and tourism convene. The aim was to enable conversations and idea-exchange between experts in the [...]
The Story of the Knysna Oyster - a complicated journey to the plate oysters in Kynsna The Knysna oyster farms have been shut for years, yet the town still retains its title of oyster capital of South Africa. Where do the oysters we consume come from? From rocky surface to the chilled restaurant [...]
A taste of the Bo-Kaap - Colouring the streets Beyond the colourful homes and winding streets, the rich history of the descendants of the Bo-Kaap, South Africa unfolds. Ishay Govender-Ypma spends time with a resident guide. A taste of the Bo-Kaap For The Times, 4 March 2015. Houses in the Bo-Kaap, Cape Town [...]
Honest Café – Crowdfunding in Cape Town, a Success Story Honest Café - image supplied A Cape Town raw chocolate café is the first of its kind in the city. It’s a crowdfunding success story. Ishay Govender-Ypma explores the concept for Business Day. The People’s Choice “Have you tried our banana bread bunny [...]
Peruvian Gastronomy: Potatoes, Pisco and Promise The staggeringly vast microclimates across the country, coupled with the tenacity of Chef Gastón Acurio has pinned Peru as the world’s culinary darling. For Mail & Guardian 28 Jan 2015 The Potato Quest There are roughly 4000 edible varieties of potatoes, or papa, most of them originating in the [...]
Urban Fish Farming in South Africa - a fish farm in Philipi, South Africa is creating jobs for the unemployed and protein for the hungry.
Chennai Food Guide Formerly Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is known for its conservatism, fiery Chettinad curries, vegetarian thalis and milky Madras coffee. For Fine Dining Lovers It’s in Chennai that I start to appreciate the Asian preference for not just the savoury breakfast, but also the spicy one of idlis (fermented rice [...]
Mumbai Street Food Guide – Snacks & the City A diverse ethnic and cultural spread gives Mumbai its unique flavour. While the culinary trend is a growing high-end offering, Ishay Govender-Ypma got to grips with the city’s popular street food fare. For Etihad inflight mag Jan 2015 On the Road Gingerly, I step forward and [...]
Food Travel Trends 2015 - the tastiest destinations this year We’ve got our eye on the following 8 regions for delicious plates of local fare. Some of it can be found at fine dining and award winning restaurants, innovative and crafty markets, and at bustling curb-sides with queues that stretch for blocks. From spiced pigeon [...]
Festival Food The beats are rocking; your best mates are dancing close to you dressed in equally outrageous outfits. The mutual consensus is that you are all ravenous. Festival food - what can you expect? Long gone are the days of lurid pink viennas...This article appeared in SAA Mango Juice magazine, October 2014. It’s three [...]
Mumbai City Food Guide - a Selection of my Favourites snacks in Nariman Point Mumbai is, as author Suketu Mehta points out, a “maximum city”. The same applies to the taste profile from street food to international fine dining: bold, varied, endless, exacting, with an emphasis on maximum flavor. This Mumbai City Food Guide [...]
Lima, City With Heart. Reflections on Gastronomy Today After years of political and economic strife, Lima, Peru’s capital is in the limelight and basking in the glow of the culinary renaissance. For Woolworth's Taste Magazine Dec 2014 Raw Fish for Brunch It’s 11 am and I am tucking into a large bowl of [...]
