Ishay Govender-Ypma

Ishay Govender-Ypma is an award-winning freelance food, culture and travel journalist and cookbook author, whose stories delve into the human interest, grit and quirk of a place. A former lawyer, she centres narratives on women and the marginalised and works on expanding the space offered to historically disadvantaged members of society. Her researched-based cookbook Curry - Stories & Recipes Across South Africa (Human & Rousseau) was selected the winner in two categories to represent South Africa, including Best Book Overall at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, May 2018. She is the founder of SA POC at the Table – a group working to expand the network and opportunities for chefs, cooks, sommeliers and folks of colour in the creative industry such as writers and photographers. She is actively involved in transformation in multiple spheres, from her former work with children’s literacy to food bank initiatives.

Her bylines appear in National Geographic, Food & Wine, Extra Crispy, Wine Enthusiast, Saveur, Roads & Kingdoms, Popula, Fodor’s, The National UAE, Globe & Mail and others.