ILbra Yacoob

Charcuterie Board

With a background in the food and beverage industry, I bring a unique perspective to travel planning and relish getting to the heart of a culture through food and wine.

My connections to local food producers enable me to offer my clients unusual experiences such as preparing a traditional East African cuisine of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

France’s art of making chocolate and savoring its nuances brings out the child in us all. Imagine picking quince and preparing jams and jellies in Bulgaria. Did you know that a leg of Italy’s finest ham “Prosciutto” is typically aged for a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 3 years?! A visit to a Prosciutto plant is a must!  

One of my favorite memories is going out with a shepherd through the Cantabrian mountains of Spain. As we hiked, a melody of livestock bells filled the air. Sheep! Goats! And Cows dotted the green pastures around us. After nearly an hour’s hike, we reached the cave where the Sheppard stores his cheeses.

As we crawled into the cave, darkness and the smell of earth greeted us. The silence around us was disturbed by our footsteps onto the damp soil. When we turned our headlamps on, wooden racks piled high with blue cheese showcased themselves proudly to us. The high humidity levels in these caves create the perfect environment for cheese to reach its peak age.  

In Greece, you might walk through fields of olive groves, and perhaps, press your own olive oil. Sip Ouzo with locals and watch your Greek dancing skills come to life! Unearthing a Truffle mushroom with a dog or pig in Italy is an experience for food and nature enthusiast.

Arranging cooking classes with locals is one of my favorite activities such as the one I had in Sierra Leone and Kenya. Picture yourself and your host heading to the local market in search of fresh ingredients. Then head back to your kitchen to learn authentic recipes that will forever stay with you.

Have a thirst for wine? Why not a personal visit to a family-owned vineyard where you learn the art of winemaking and tasting. South Africa is home to some of the finest wines in the world and many offer gourmet food and wine pairings served in beautiful venues overlooking the vineyards..

If you fancy dining at a Michelin-star restaurant, I can easily arrange this with our partners worldwide in places like Paris or Barcelona or in tiny villages few people have heard of.

To me, the best entrée into a culture is to experience its food at the source. My previous career as a gourmet food ambassador shaped my appreciation for the value locally sourced ingredients bring to a table. Now, as a travel agent, I tap into that knowledge to curate travel experiences that bring you to the source of a culture’s cuisine.

Whether you are a foodie or a cultural explorer, I can help you plan a trip that will take you to the culinary heart of your destination.