Ilana Benady is a Gibraltarian author who has resided in the Dominican Republic for over 2 decades, living in rural areas, cities and towns all over the country, learning about the country's history, culture and food.
Check our about page for more about this site and our work.
Ilana Benady (Tia Ilana)
Aplatanada Gibraltarian
Originally from Gibraltar, Ilana Benady (Aunt Ilana) studied and lived in England for the best part of two decades, mostly managing to avoid the local cuisine. After graduating in Politics and Social Anthropology from the University of Kent at Canterbury, she tried her hand at journalism and travel, finally finding a niche of sorts in international development.
Her work at Oxfam's HQ in Oxford took her to the Dominican Republic, which she first visited in 1996. She settled here in 1999, living and spending time in various parts of the country, and now lives in Punta Cana with her Dominican-Gibraltarian family.
Books
Besides our cookbooks, Ilana has also authored Expat FAQs: Moving to and Living in the Dominican Republic and Dominican Republic - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture.