Ida is a private chef who runs a small café in the beach town of Arembepe, about 30 minutes north of the Salvador airport. Ida is passionate about Brazil’s incredible edible diversity and loves to share her deep knowledge of local ingredients, unknown even to many Brazilians! She loves to spend time in nature and loves to travel and is always taking inspiration from the environment and people around her. Ida is unfailingly friendly and loves to meet new people. She lives with her partner Noah, an American, in a modest seaside home with a traditional brick churrascaria (Brazilian-style grill) in the backyard. Join Ida to learn about Brazilian culture, local fruits and vegetables, and how to cook a delicious Bahian meal, richly flavored with coconut milk and dende (palm oil). Ida is a seafood lover and gets the freshest fish from the fishermen who bring the catch in right near her house. Ida offers a multi-course meal which might include dishes like a sampler platter of raw local fruits and vegetables, galinha moqueada (seasoned, wood-roasted chicken served in a spicy broth - a dish that can also be made vegetarian with tofu), arumadinho (fresh fish wrapped in a banana leaves and roasted on the grill, served with salad, cassava, black-eyed peas, fried bananas and fried green onions), ensopado de carneiro (goat stewed with a variety of spices and vegetables), moqueca (traditional Brazilian fish stew), seafood ceviche, or beiju (tapioca crepes stuffed with a variety of sweet and savory fillings). For dessert you might taste cocada, a sweep tapioca made with roasted coconut, banana and chocolate, grilled fruits served with chocolate brigadeiro (similar to ganache, Ida’s version is made with green banana and raw chocolate), or her delightful natural chocolate and cupuaçu muffin. If you book a cooking experience, join Ida in her large, open kitchen where she will teach you to make her version of seasonal Brazilian food. During your cooking experience you will learn to make 2-3 dishes. If the weather is good, you might cook on her brick churrasqueira (brick oven) in the backyard, situated next to the ocean. Ida also offers an options tour add-on; for this experience you will meet Ida at her home and then hop in her car for the 30-minute drive to a nearby coastal nature preserve where you will learn about local produce. On this special piece of land, farmers grow high-quality organic fruits and vegetables using sustainable farming methods. Ida will bring some snacks for you to enjoy as you explore this beautiful place and walk the forest trails, and perhaps buy some local fruits and vegetables for your meal.