Our Story
From Cookbook to Authentic Cultural Journeys
Welcome! I’m Feride Buyuran — originally from Azerbaijan and now based in California — and I believe travel can connect people, preserve traditions, and nourish the soul.
What began as a food blog and a cookbook grew into something even richer: immersive journeys that share the heart of the Caucasus.
After years of sharing Azerbaijani cuisine through my blog AZCookbook and my book Pomegranates and Saffron: A Culinary Journey to Azerbaijan, readers began asking, “Can you show us these places?”
In October 2017, curiosity became action. I designed my first food and culture tour — with neighboring Georgia included (thank you, Georgian partners!) — driven by a simple question: how could I share the depth, beauty, and flavor of this region in a way that felt authentic, personal, and unforgettable?
In 2018, that idea became reality. A warm group of culture and food enthusiasts joined me on the very first journey, including food writer Charles Perry, President of the Culinary Historians of Southern California and former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times.
Travelers marveled at every unique experience: Mr. Perry delighted in the variety of baklavas he sampled, while another traveler, Kathy S. Rice, called the trip “a once in a lifetime opportunity.” The tour attracted considerable interest in Azerbaijan, being the first food and culture tour of this nature and scale — so much so that we were featured in local Azerbaijani news, even on TV!
I remain deeply grateful to everyone who joined and helped make this journey so special.
Over the years, I’ve learned that travel is not just about seeing places — it’s about the stories that unfold within them. From kitchens where generations of families prepare meals, to gardens where produce is picked that very morning, to artisans who shape age-old crafts — every encounter becomes a doorway into a richer understanding of the land and its people.
I believe in travel that transforms — for the people you meet, for the communities you visit, and for yourself. With every journey I design, my goal is simple: to make each traveler feel welcomed, inspired, and fully immersed in the extraordinary culture, cuisine, and stories of this region.
I want the Caucasus to feel like your home away from home — that is my ultimate goal.
Ready to Discover the Caucasus with Us?
