Based in U.S since 1988, Dominique Crenn, the only woman in the country with a two-star Michelin restaurant: Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, talks to Ishay Govender about her home town of Brittany, France, DNA testing and calls out the BS amongst chefs. Written for Woolworths Taste Magazine, September 2017 issue. I go for it [...]
Kalsarikännit for SAA Sawubona magazine Pantless drinking at home – Ishay Govender gets to grips with kalsarikännit in Finland. Written for SAA Sawubona inflight magazine, July 2017. You’ll remember this. Opening credits roll to Bridget Jones’s Diary. Renee Zellweger’s character sits on the couch in her Christmas PJs, glugging wine, staring down her [...]
Green Berlin is not the future, it is happening today. Berliners are propagating the message that cramped urban cities can transform to accommodate a safer, more sustainable future. Ishay Govender-Ypma examines three projects in progressive Kreuzberg for Business Day Wanted Magazine. In 2011 former French Minister of Culture Jack Lang remarked: “Paris is always Paris, but [...]
Riga, the cultural capital of the Baltics is offering up lighter, more refined versions of Latvian staples. Written by Ishay Govender-Ypma (@IshayGovender) for Fine Dining Lovers. Riga, image Shutterstock Often referred to as the pearl of Latvia in Central Eastern Europe, capital city Riga lies at the mouth of the Daugava River and along [...]
The Baltic regions are on the rise. We explore the splendour of nearby Poland, still shedding the cloak of communism and forging a new identity. Poland - More Than Pierogi & Vodka for Food and Home Entertaining Magazine, March 2016. Fall of the Iron Curtain Classic Pierogi If it’s pierogi – the eponymous Polish [...]
Réunion Island Food, where culinary and cultural exploration meet Culinary and cultural exploration are deeply fused, Ishay Govender-Ypma (@IshayGovender) discovers on a visit to the volcanic French island, Réunion. For The National UAE, 4 Feb 2016. Author (2nd left) with a family of local farmers - they titled this: "The Malabar returns home" - [...]
For ancient history and culture enthusiasts, adventurous eaters and bargain hunters, Istanbul is the ideal destination for a vibrant vacation. Immerse yourself in old traditions juxtaposed with new trends. Ishay Govender-Ypma explores. For Sure Travel Journey Magazine. For one night only On my most recent visit to Istanbul, I stayed for just one night. What [...]
Eco-Forward and Going Green - Berlin, Germany Gritty, hip, cosmopolitan – Berlin is known by many names. Eco-forward and environmentally conscious are also some of them, as Ishay Govender-Ypma discovered. Berlin is going green: Etihad In-flight Magazine, Nov 2015. Berlin is known to be cosmopolitan, energetic, gritty and hard-hitting in attitude. It’s also far greener than you may [...]
An Alentejo Road Trip Guide - Drive Yourself Traversing the breathtaking landscape of fields, rivers, mountains and pre-historic ruins, Ishay Govender-Ypma explores Portugal’s wild Alentejo in Portugal, a region as yet unmarred by tourism. For Journey magazine by Sure Travel - an Alentejo Road Trip Guide. Lessons from the Land Looking down from the buttress [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
A Guide to Kreuzberg - Hip-hip Hooray! admiral's bridge Berlin My picks for the best fun in Kreuzberg, Berlin. For The National UAE, 20 August 2015. A Guide to Kreuzberg Why Kreuzberg? South of the central hub Mitte, the borough of Kreuzberg, Berlin, or X-berg as locals know it, has maintained its razor-sharp [...]
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 [...]
Gozo - Malta's Little Sister. Sister Act Through storms, sunshine and architectural remnants of a glorious past, Ishay Govender-Ypma discovers what the Pitt-Jolies recently found in Gozo, sister island to Malta in the Maltese Archipelago– a sliver of paradise. For SAA Sawubona magazine, May 2015 Suddenly, a table flips a few centimeters into the air [...]
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 [...]
Budapest Food Guide Deep-fried pastry, goulash, smoked meats, creamy paprika sauces, poppy-seed cakes and white wine spritzers – summer or winter, elegant Budapest puts on a hearty spread. A Budapest Food Guide for Fine Dining Lovers Chain Bridge, by evening light At Retro Büfe kiosk, close to the Arany Janos Utca metro line, home [...]
Cyprus in Winter Perhaps it goes against all conventional wisdom to visit a country known for its splendid summers of sea, sand and sippable chilled wine, during winter. But a late Cypriot winter holds drawcards aplenty, as Ishay Govender-Ypma discovers. Article in Business Day Wanted, July 2014 Larnaca and Orange Blossom Honey “This is for [...]
Rotterdam Tasting Tour (Eating Guide) This Rotterdam eating guide was published by Eat Out erasmus bridge in background After a boat ride along the river Maas in Rotterdam, the largest and busiest port city in Europe, I make my way to join a queue in front of a nearby snack bar. For €2.50, [...]
