Authentic Belgian cooking class in a beautiful home in Ghent

"Suzy is a fantastic host; she is warm, welcoming, accommodating, and most importantly - a great chef and teacher. She answered questions before, during, and after the event. I was able to bring my English speaking parents and my husband for a lovely day in Ghent. We learned a lot about Belgian culture through the delicious food and dynamic conversation. Be warned, make sure you arrive with an appetite! :) Suzy takes the time to shop locally in advance to give the most authentic experience she can. My father is a good cook but even he learned a trick or two from Suzy. Thank you again, Suzy! We will always remember the time we spent with you in your beautiful kitchen and home!"

"Suzy and Bob were wonderful hosts, and we had a fun and memorable time cooking with them in their beautiful home! This was a welcome break from the constant eating-out of the rest of our vacation. The food was interesting and enjoyable and the company was great. Highly recommended."

"I have a friend in Ghent! Our time with Suzy was like hanging out and cooking with a great friend we have known for years even though we only met that day. She is fun, lively, personable and a great home cook. She guided us, demonstrated for us and encouraged us as we cooked together and laughed together in her beautiful kitchen. I absolutely loved being with her and learning about Belgium beer, Waterzooi and white asparagus with mimosa sauce. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in the kitchen and dining with her and Bob was also wonderful."

"What a terrific idea! Susie was such a delightful host, we had such fun cooking together and getting to know each other. We had many laughs and wonderful food. Bob was charming and I loved experiencing their hospitality. The meal we made was delicious and I will try to replicate it at home."

"Highly instructive fun! It was a most convivial, interesting lunch. Very well organized. A special birthday party with excellent food! To be recommended.."

"Suzy and Bob were absolutely delightful. My wife and I started out having some wine and chatting with the couple while Suzy finished making the meal. The meal was excellent, starting with a pea soup, and a fish soup for a main course. The chocolate mousse was so amazing! Suzy was even kind enough to give us a ride back to the hotel because it was rainy out. It was fantastic getting to meet people from Belgium and was a welcome break from the usual tourist experience."

"Suzy and Bob were absolutely delightful. My wife and I started out having some wine and chatting with the couple while Suzy finished making the meal. The meal was excellent, starting with a pea soup, and a fish soup for a main course. The chocolate mousse was so amazing! Suzy was even kind enough to give us a ride back to the hotel because it was rainy out. It was fantastic getting to meet people from Belgium and was a welcome break from the usual tourist experience."

"My husband has Belgium ancestry and I love to cook so it was natural that we booked a cooking lesson with Suzy and Bob. From the moment we walked down their driveway they greeted us with extraordinary warmth. We walked along the property which included distinctive landscaping and a purposeful herb garden. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres (made by us) were enjoyed on one of the three patios. With a slight chill in the air we turned in to the dining room to slowly nosh away at our chicken flambe entree and fresh roasted vegetables. After beer, wine and coffee, Suzy treated us to a deep chocolate mousse.Our conversations were non-stop until we, sadly, headed back out the driveway for our drive to Bruges.This was a MUST DO experience!"

"There's a word for the feeling you get when you meet people and it seems as though you've known them for much longer...I don't know what that word is, but, I do know what that feeling feels like, because that is what we felt all throughout the evening we had with Suzy and Bob at their lovely home in Ghent.Myself and my two companions were traveling around London and Belgium for the previous 5 days, and as we are prone to do, had mostly been ignoring our health and not caring about what we ate or taking time to reflect and relax. You know how people say they need a vacation from a vacation? Yeah, that's the road we were headed down.The one good thing I'll say about how we travel is that we absolutely love meeting new people, and so we had booked this dinner in advance knowing that it would be something to look forward to. It turned out to be one of our most memorable experiences in Belgium, one that I will remember for a long time to come.Bob and Suzy were gracious right from the start, showing us around their home and making us feel comfortable and welcome, answering all of the questions that our curious minds could think of. When traveling to a different country for the first time, it's tough to learn things that only locals would know, Bob and Suzy were immensely helpful on that front.As I mentioned earlier, we hadn't been eating too well on the trip up to that point (waffles and beer seemed to have been 90% of our diet), and the food that Suzy cooked up for us to eat together was not just incredibly tasty, but it felt incredibly good for our souls. We felt like we were renewed through the food. Suzy gave us the recipes to use, and although I know I won't be able to cook it half as well, it's certainly worth a try.Most importantly, any experience like this is about the people you meet, the friends you make, and the time spent in good conversation. Our party was sad when the night had ended, we would have loved to spend several more hours with Bob and Suzy but time doesn't slow or stop for any of us, no matter how much we want it to. I know my companions and I will be back at some point, and we'll go out of our way to see our new friends in Ghent.Thanks for the excellent memories."

"We did this as a couple for lunch on our day trip to Ghent and the host, Suzy, was wonderful. We prepared several courses of the meal, including local seasonal vegetables and of course a chocolate dessert. This is a great way to have some tasty food (and beer or wine) and meet a very lovely local couple (who can give you plenty of insight on the local area as well)."

"I had booked this cooking experience for my boyfriend as a birthday gift....neither of us are experienced chefs or very brave in the kitchen but we both are interested in fresh ingredients and local cuisines.I live in Brussels and he is Dutch and we love Ghent both as a day trip and for a weekend escape.Suzy and Bob could not have been more welcoming or friendly. They genuinely enjoy hosting people and are very open and sharing of their time.The cooking was fun. Suzy made it very accessible and not at all intimidating. The food was amazing and plentiful. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in getting to know a local and experience a very authentic home cooked meal.Would definitely book again!"

"From the minute we met Suzy & Bob we felt most welcome in their beautiful home. Suzy is an amazing cook and we enjoyed a very tasty delicous meal which was great fun helping to prepare with her. Suzy and Bob are a friendly and interesting couple and make you feel comfortable in their home. This is an experience I would highly recommend."

"Spending time with Susy cooking and visiting was a wonderful Hiexperience. We got great cooking tips, recipes and cultural info. She and her husband were gracious hosts and we couldn’t have asked for more. We highly recommend this memorable experience."

"I was in Gant for my job and I want to do some activity during the we. I read about the opportunity to have a full session of Belgium cuisine close to Gant. The experience has been much better that what expected. Suzy and Bob make a really nice, charming family. Suzy cooks as an angel, she impresses me with the waterzoo. It is much more than cooking classes, they open the door of their house, they explain history about their family and I get fascinated. I hope to repeat soon. Highly recommended."

"Suzy and Bob welcomed us into their beautiful home, and Suzy worked with us to make a delicious meal. She showed us her garden and the herbs growing in it, and we got to see a quince tree!Suzy and Bob were so considerate. They knew that I am a bit of a beer geek, so they went out and bought some local Ghent beer, and explained the history behind the "strop". Fascinating - and something you wouldn't learn in a bar or restaurant.Our visit came near the end of a fabulous trip through Prague, Amsterdam and Belgium. and it felt wonderful to sit, relax and talk with two bright, urbane, kind and interesting people. The food was great, of course, and Suzy gave us recipes and showed us how to prepare several dipping sauces, a chicken flambe', and chocolate mousse. We will make the meal at home, of course, and it felt great to get some hands-on cooking experience.We stayed in Brussels, but you can take a 20-30 minute train ride to Ghent, and then catch a 25 minute tram ride to a suburban stop, and the home is a 5-7 minute walk away. If this sounds complex, it isn't - it's easy to find and get to."

"The Traveling Spoon Cooking Experience in Ghent with Suzy is a must-do if you are visiting Belgium! Truly, I cannot express enough how enjoyable and inspirational my evening with Suzy and Bob was. From the moment they opened their door, I felt as though I was visiting dear friends. Suzy not only shared her recipes, cooking techniques and food with me, but Suzy and Bob shared their home and lives with me and, in doing so, inspired me in so many ways.Suzy’s healthy, no waste, recipes were so pure and naturally delicious that they did not need 1,000 ingredients, reminding me of how good it felt to prepare food and eat in this way. It was food made with love and, as a result, completely nourishing. We started off the evening making my favorite, authentic Belgian chocolate mousse and, while that was chilling, moved on to 3 appetizers made with ingredients from her garden, and a healthy and delicious entrée utilizing every part of each ingredient! I had never in my life made so many courses at once but, with Suzy’s direction, it was all easily doable and, even more importantly, replicable! The home Suzy and Bob have set up is truly lovely and, as I got to know the two of them throughout the evening, I saw how perfectly their home reflected both of them. The pieces from their travels, Suzy’s beautiful paintings and paper mache animals, and the eclectic way in which they presented all of these special items showed just how much a home can be an extension of who we are and the experiences we have had. Further into my trip, as I went to purchase more all white wooden tulips in Holland to put in a vase on my dining room table in my white and gray color-schemed home, I reflected on my visit with Suzy and Bob, their lovely home, and threw caution to the wind and purchased all colors for the flowers because- well, they made me happy! These flowers are now my favorite item I have brought back. Thank you Suzy and Bob for bringing color back into my life!Since returning home, I have prepared every item we made that night (including the hung cheese which is now a staple in my home and I have not gone a day without!). I now come home to home- cooked nourishing meals that remind me of Belgium as opposed to my previous standard unfulfilling and uninspiring dinners. Suzy has also inspired me to share cooking with my nieces. Having gotten into the routine of going out to dinner each time we visited, these dinners out had become less special. Suzy has now inspired me to cook with them and enjoy that precious time in the kitchen working, talking and laughing together. The things I love best about travelling are the connections with the people I meet and how, as a result, my mind and world open just a bit wider than they were prior to my adventure beginning. This could not be truer after my evening shared with Suzy and Bob. I am so grateful for such an inspirational, life changing, and enjoyable evening. It was truly the highlight of my trip!If you love travelling, food, and getting to know the country you are visiting on a deeper level, look no further. Traveling Spoon is the answer!"

"I couldn't possibly say enough good things about cooking with Suzy and her husband Robert.The most important thing about this lesson was not the cooking of the stew, the excellent dessert with raspberry coulis, the delicious salad, the well-appointed kitchen, the beautiful home, the picturesque yard, or the garden that we picked some fresh ingredients from. Nope.The most wonderful thing about cooking was the company. Suzy is an energetic, enthusiastic, passionate-about-cooking, social and awesome person. Her husband Robert is a kind and helpful beautiful husband.We talked and cooked and talked and joked and drank wine and beer and spent one of - if not our favourite - night in Belgium.Go for the lesson, leave with a really good feeling of time well-spent getting to know these amazing people.We left with recipes, some things from her garden (nettles to make nettle soup on our own), pleasantly full bellies, and an education about cooking, birds, gardening in Belgium, and Belgian people.She even insisted on driving us to the city instead of us taking a taxi.These are two of the most genuine and nicest people you could meet. Go and enjoy!"

"This was our first experience with Traveling Spoon and it was wonderful. It was like having a dinner party with good friends. Our hosts, Suzy and Bob were delightful, engaging, warm, and thoughtful. The meal was fabulous. Upon arriving at their lovely home, we were offered refreshment and given a tour of their garden. We then assisted Suzy in meal prep, cutting vegetables and making a number of appetizers. Suzy is an accomplished and enthusiastic cook. We were blessed with good weather and had our drinks and appetizers outside. This was followed by moving to another outside space for dinner and dessert. Altogether this was an exceptional experience. I would highly recommend Suzy and Traveling Spoon. "

"Suzy and Bob are the perfect hosts, warm and welcoming. We had a delicious meal and enjoyed interesting conversation for hours! I was travelling by myself and couldn’t ask for better company for the evening. Tip: book through the Travelling Spoon website!"

"I had so much fun and learned so much! Highly recommend! This couple was amazing!!"

"My husband and I cannot thank Suzy enough for her outstanding hospitality and beyond describable delicious food! She was so kind and patient as she explained how to prepare traditional Belgium dishes with fresh from the market ingredients. First, we toured her garden which provides an inspiration to her cuisine. Then, after donning aprons, we learned how to prepare dishes from a white bean dip served with Belgian endives to the finale of what could be better than chocolate mousse made with of course Belgian chocolate! If we did not have to drive back to Bruges that night, we probably would have kept eating and talking... Although we went on to explore the rest of the country, we look back on our ten day trip and agree that this was our most favorite experience in Belgium. THANK YOU!!!!!!!"

"My mom and I (I’m 20 years old) spent the night cooking with Suzy in her home. I would call her an incredible host, but she really makes you feel welcome and part of the experience right when you walk in the door rather than a visiting stranger. We sat down for tea around the fire so we could warm up from the cold, and you could immediately tell how inviting and interesting of a person we were spending the night with. Then on to the cooking....everything was so delicious and fairly easy to make!!!! We took breaks between the cooking to converse and share appetizers (white bean and half-dried tomato pesto dips). Finally, we gathered around the fire again after the delicious main course to unwind and eat our chocolate mousse. All in all, the most wonderful evening - so nice to have a home cooked meal while traveling...especially with someone who felt like a long time friend!!! Would recommend to anyone :) "

"What an absolutely wonderful experience! Suzy and Bob were warm, inviting, and exceptional hosts. The home was beautiful, the conversation was rich, and the cooking experience was a lot of fun. If you want to really connect with the city and its people then cooking a meal and sharing it with individuals from the area is the way to go!"

"Suzy is your quintessential grandmother - warm, loving, kind, cheerful and fun! She and Bob host these big, wonderful dinners for friends and family that you wished you could attend. I could sense her deep passion for food just by the way she spoke about her produce and the care she takes into creating each dish. I loved visiting her home which is simply gorgeous - I especially loved her collection of art and the stunning gardens. It was a most memorable afternoon."