We had a great time visiting Ashkay’s house and cooking with his wife and mum. The food was delicious and we will certainly be trying our new skills out at home now. It was great to join Ashkay and family to eat what we’d cooked and learn some more about Indian culture and life.
This class was a wonderful dive into traditional South Indian home cooking. The step-by-step guidance for preparing kootu, sambar, and poriyal was incredibly helpful, and the emphasis on using simple ingredients to build deep, comforting flavors was truly appreciated. It felt just like learning from an elder at home—thank you for such an authentic experience!
Mary's dishes are a wonderful fusion of authentic Kerala and Tamil Nadu cuisine with modern influences. Cooking with virgin coconut oil to give her dishes a wonderfully unique and nutty flavor and alluring aroma, she uses recipes passed down by her grandmother. You may enjoy her delicious appams with a mouth-watering fish or hearty chicken stew or her delightful, fluffy yellow lemon rice with vegetable thoran, pachadi (a yoghurt and vegetable relish), papad, and pickle.
Sandhya and Anil will welcome you into their modest home with a warm smile. You might notice Sandhya’s mini aloe vera garden right at the entrance; aloe vera is said to have many medicinal values and is part of their daily diet. Sandhya and Anil cook and eat north Indian food at home and would love to share it with you. Your meal might include dishes such as navratan korma (a Mughlai recipe whose name means ‘nine jewels’ after the nine vegetables featured), stuffed paratha (flatbread stuffed with vegetables and paneer), sarson ka saag (a mash made with mustard leaves), palak paneer (spinach and fresh cheese) and end with a sweet such as gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding) or petha (white pumpkin cooked in sugar syrup, a specialty of Agra).
We had a wonderful cooking experience with Amol in his ancestral home turned luxury resort. We started in his immaculate garden, tasting leaves and berries every step, learning about local herbs and botany. Once we arrived in the kitchen, a lot of the prep had already been done for us but we still managed to cook for hours, making prawn curry, chicken Xacuti, fish fry, bread fruit fry and more. We learnt how to shave fresh coconut which was a highlight for me. I would recommend this experience in a heartbeat. Thank you Amol, for a lovely time.
Malvika and her dog will greet you at the door of her apartment. Once you settle in she will offer you a refreshing welcome drink made with cumin seeds and served with boondi (crisp, fried gram flour balls). As you snack on appetizers suck as pakora (fritters) or dahi bhalla (lentil dumplings in yougurt sauce) Malvika will tell you about her culinary and cultural background. She might tell you about how her father gave her a cooker for her birthday when she was learning to cook, or how her marriage into a Maharashtrian household and her new life in tropical Mumbai introduced her to Konkani cuisine, which she has completely integrated into her culinary repertoire.
Malvika can cook both an authentic Punjabi and Maharashtrian cuisine for you. Your meal will be served in a silver thali and may include butter chicken, amritsari chole (chickpeas in a brown curry), bhindi masala (okra), dal makhni (lentils), missal pav (a spicy curry usually made of sprouted moth beans served with a bun), pav bhaji (vegetable curry served with a soft bread roll), prawn curry and shrikhand (a sweet made of strained yogurt). She also makes some seasonal pickles and chutney that complement the meal.
Somya and Abhishek are foodies, who love to travel and talk about their interests and passion. You can expect a good traditional vegetarian meal overlooking the beautiful city of Jaipur. The traditional barbecue set up called sigri will take you back to the olden days of royal cooking. This simple, home cooked, vegetarian meal with a local family is all you need for a memorable day in Jaipur.”
Our cooking class with Vidhya was truly one of the highlights of our trip to India. From the moment we arrived, she and her family made us feel incredibly welcome. It wasn’t just a cooking class, it was a beautiful cultural experience filled with warmth and delicious food. Vidhya went above and beyond to share her traditions (she is also a great baker)! We learnt how to make various different South Indian dishes (chutney, sambar, dosa, idlis) that were all amazing. We would highly recommend Vidhya’s cooking class!
I had a perfect evening With Sujata and here friend, chatting, cooking and eating ! I'd recommend this experience to anyone .
Monica and her family were amazing hosts!!! Super friendly and welcoming made us feel very comfortable from the beginning of our meeting. The food was plenty but most important delicious!! Exactly what we hoped for a home made meal!!
So enjoyed my cooking class with Farheen! She adjusted the speed to my abilities, was very joyful and patient and gave me some helpful tips that I can use in future cooking adventures! Everything turned out great!
Overall my experience was really great. Shilpa and her husband were really welcoming and we had some great interactions. The food was really amazing and Shilpa seemed really dedicated at showing off Indian Punjabi food.
Durga cooks authentic South Indian vegetarian food that includes lentil, vegetable, and rice dishes rich with flavors and aromas of mustard, coconut, and black pepper. Using vegetables from her own organic garden, dishes may include poriyals (tempered, sautéed local vegetables) and kootu (vegetables with lentils and coconut). A classic Tamilian meal, the dishes are served in traditional earthen pots made from a south-Indian village potter and you will eat with your hands on a banana leaf when seasonally available or stainless steel thalis. Meals end with a traditional South Indian coffee that is filtered and brewed at home.
If you have even the slightest curiosity about Ayurvedic cuisine, you will want to book a meal with Pratibha. You will taste a variety of dishes prepared consciously using Ayurvedic principles to be delicious, balanced and full of nourishment and vitality. I felt very welcome and at home. We discussed and shared many things about living fully. I also had the privilege of meeting 4 generations of Pratibha’s family. I was well fed on many levels!
Dr Vinita and I will remain in contact, indeed remain friends and I look forward to welcome her in London when she comes to run the London Marathon.
I loved everything I ate, but I was particularly fond of the tamarind rice, the vegetable curry, and her homemade mango chutney/pickle and curd. Everything was extremely fresh and flavorful, and everything had an interesting story behind it.
Jitendra and Lata warmly welcomed us into their home and we were immediately at ease. After traveling through a number of regions in India over the last three months and sampling different regional cuisines, we found Lata’s dishes to be distinct, delicious, and a nice introduction to Rajasthani food. After the meal, Jitendra invited us up to their rooftop for fantastic views of the Mehrangarh Fort and the surrounding old city, dotted with beautiful pastel blue facades.
Lakshmi and her husband are warm and generous hosts who share their interesting Rajastani heritage and family journey with guests through the cooking and eating of a delicious vegetarian traditional thali. Lakshmi's dedication to quality ingredients means she makes everything from scratch including her own butter, flours and spices. It was great to also combine the experience with other local highlights like the Byloom textile shop, two local temples and some excellent restaurants all within easy distance of Lakshmi's house. The experience was excellent and I do recommend it. I loved the traditional dishes of Rajasthan and I saw the different ways gram flour is used so versatile but most of all it was the tea from the family tea estate that we shared and the story behind it that I will remember most.
Nagma lives with her husband, Wasi Haider, and their sons Shiron and Shibab, in a beautiful 3-story bungalow located a 10-minute drive from the Taj Mahal. Step out onto their terrace to view of one of the domes of the Taj Mahal! The family lives on the ground floor of the house and the top two floors are used as a homestay.
Please note that this is a cooking demonstration, not a hands-on cooking class. Join Nagma in her kitchen to watch her prepare 2-3 dishes such as shammi kebabs (mincemeat kebabs) and aloo gobi (North Indian potato and cauliflower) or paneer (fresh Indian cheese), that you will eat along with other prepared dishes eaten with rice and Indian breads.
This is the best cooking class I’ve ever taken! It is so special to be in somebody’s home and learn so much about local culture. It was very nice to pick out our own vegetables and learn about the different spices. I would strongly urge anybody to do this, while they are in Jaipur.
Shaheen will tell you enthralling stories about the history and culture of her home region and you will get to taste the recipes that are influenced by both Maharashtrian and Mughlai cultures,which have been passed down through the generations in her family. You will enjoy a meat-centric meal prepared with homemade spice mixtures and cooked using a method of slow cooking called dum’ ka khana that gives Shaheen’s food its rich flavor. Your meal might include solkadhi (a coconut milk and kokum drink), meat kebabs that have been shallow fried, yakhni pulao (her signature rice dish cooked in mutton stock), pandhara rassa (mutton soup), mutton curry made from a special family recipe and phirni (a creamy dessert made from rice and milk).
Our group had a wonderful time at Nidhi's beautiful family home. It felt like we were visiting friends, thanks to their warmth and sincerity. We especially enjoyed Nidhi's cooking demo and the dishes she prepared for us. We left with our hearts and tummies full!
This culinary experience was amazing! We are not vegan but wanted to learn more about plant based meals. The dishes we made were hands down some of the best meals I have ever had! They were so simple and we felt amazing after them. But the flavors were an explosion of goodness. The hosts were truly inviting and was wonderful talking and getting to know them. Would recommend this to everyone especially those who enjoy flavorful food !
Geeta lives with her husband in a bungalow in Kamla Nagar. Her home is very simple but tastefully decorated by her sons who are designers. They have also designed a menu for their mother when she completed 25 years of conducting cooking classes; to showcase all her food pictures and the different cuisines she prepares. Your meal will be Rajasthani which is cooked in ghee (clarified butter) and may include dishes such as mangochi (a family recipe of lentil dumplings in mildly spiced tomato and yogurt sauce), dahi vada (split black gram beans in a yogurt sauce) served with sweet tamarind chutney, gatte ki sabzi with missi roti (gram flour dumplings in a yogurt-based curry served with flatbread), her grandmother's pickles, chutney and salad.
Mumbai Magic Tour organised a driver to collect us from our hotel. Our dining hosts were delightful and very knowledgeable on nutrition and traditions. As we attended on a Hindu festival day, they prepared special food. It was very relaxed, good conversation and tasteful lunch. Thank you!
Abi was our guide/host. She has an Interesting background- started in banking and, after many years, has switched paths now focusing on her passion for cooking!The market was fascinating. My daughter (11) and myself enjoyed seeing so many different fruits and veggies. We also popped into a local store to see all the different dried lentils and beans they use. Abi had a driver that made it super convenient to get around between market and her home. Once in her home, which was beautiful and a perfect glimpse inside daily living, we cooked a few dishes together. Abi had also prepared food ahead of time so everything ran very smoothly/was well organized. We had a traditional meal and even got to eat it on banana leaf “plate.”I highly recommend this experience for anyone interested in learning about Indian cultural and cuisine.
Zinnia has the gift of hospitality and she and her husband make a great team. They live in a very welcoming home that is clean comfortable and well kept. It is very hard to forget the wonderful surprise of being presented with a box of sandesh from the best sweet shop in town! - it really made us feel spoilt, like friends. Even the opportunity to cook the Shorshe chingri myself from scratch was equally special. My favorite dishes were the fish kaalia, the bhaja moong dal and the fresh mango pudding. It was like being invited by friends for lunch, having their undivided attention and being taught to cook one of the dishes for lunch. A real privilege! Everything was excellent and the experience was invaluable.
An excellent event with nice food. Uma and her friend Mali (spelling?) were excellent hosts and their English was excellent - so we were able to have interesting and detailed discussions on a variety of subjects. The house can be difficult to find, so you or your driver will need a mobile phone to navigate the last 100 metres or so. Read more about Private South Indian Vegetarian Dining with a Local Near the Chennai Airport 2020 - https://www.viator.com/tours/Chennai/South-Indian-Vegetarian-home-cooked-meal-with-a-local-near-the-Chennai-airport/d4624-7626P493?mcid=56757
We had a great time at Sherly's home, she was very talkative and friendly, sharing her life story and also everything regarding her cooking, including her family recipes! She has a lovely and luxurious house, very clean and well decorated. The food was superb and abundant; great taste and not too spicy, we were stuffed by the end of the meal. Our favorite dish was fried fish and pineapple pudding – it was delicious. It was a great experience overall!
Wilma is a warm and gracious host and went out of her way to make us feel at home. She made a simple but delicious Mangalorean meal; you can tell she cooks from the heart! The kitchen was the most beautiful part of the home and you can tell it’s the heart of the home. Wilma’s cooking is delicious and unpretentious. She is extremely efficient in the kitchen, bustling about, not skipping a beat. It was a treat to share a meal with her and speak to her about her ancestral home in Mangalore.
Tara was a great host. It was really interesting talking with her. We communicated beforehand regarding the recipes and prepped our ingredients to the same point before we went on line. The food was delicious!
There is a certain glamour about Anglo-Indian cuisine and so many stories associated with it, for example the Railway mutton curry that conjures up scenes of leisurely travel by train, of tables covered with snow white table cloths laid with gleaming china and cutlery, of turbaned waiters and bearers serving curry with rolls and crusty white bread in railway dining rooms. Join Bridget in her home in Koramangala where she is excited to share her Anglo-Indian cuisine and culinary traditions. A few dishes that you will share together are coconut or tomato pilaf, country captain chicken curry or railway lamb or mutton curry and cabbage foogath or mixed vegetable stir fry. End your meal with some dessert such as vermicelli pudding or plantain dumpling fritters or semolina or milk pudding.
You will be greeted by Nithya, Jaideep and Duke, her Labrador, at their apartment in the centrally located neighbourhood of Dadar. Nithya is a Tamilian Brahmin and her food and cooking style and are heavily major influenced by the Iyengar community in south India. As you sip on your welcome drink she will tell you how the cooking of the Iyengar community is largely rice-based and is traditionally prepared without any onion and garlic. They use a wide variety of legumes such as lentils, parrupu (pigeon pea), ulundu (black gram) and kadalai paruppu (split chickpeas) and, like all south Indian food, there is also the use of coconut.
A traditional Iyengar lunch/dinner might include two to three varieties of rice, such as coconut rice, tomato rice or yogurt rice which are be eaten with kuzhambu (lentil and vegetable stew), saturmadu (a tangy soup seasoned with spices), vegetables in coconut gravy, or china urilakizhangu (small roasted baby potatoes) and paruppu usili (french beans). No south Indian the meal complete without appam (a pancake made with fermented rice) and poppadum (thin crispy wafers). To finish you’ll enjoy a sweet rice pudding called payasam. Despite the numerous restaurants in Mumbai that serve south Indian food none can compare to the taste of traditional home-cooked meal like this one!
The moment Dolly opened the door and greeted me with a warm smile, I knew I was home. Her family is equally endearing and welcoming. The best part about this visit was how well Dolly's entire family made me feel at home. The lunch was a sumptuous spread of non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian dishes. and the kulfi (Indian ice cream) with mangoes became the perfect icing on the cake after the heavy meal.
Richard and I had a lovely experience with Raj and his family. We were warmly welcomed and in a matter of minutes we felt right at home; with all the hustle and bustle of the kitchen and the mouth watering smells. It was fun to see all the food being cooked and Richard was active part in the cooking process. It was a wonderful surprise for my boyfriend and he had a wonderful time. I am glad I chose Traveling Spoon to introduce him to the rich culinary repertoire of Udaipur. We couldn't have gotten better hosts than Raj and Geeta. They were the perfect hosts answering all questions about Indian history and the food ofcourse. I feel like a part of their traveling spoon story and I am looking forward to cooking up more food memories with Travelling Spoon!
Interested in South Indian cuisine and wanting to experience it authentically on site, Traveling Spoon took the children to experience Chettinad cuisine at Kamala's home on the outskirts of Chennai. In the cooking class, we cooked dishes using homemade recipes such as mixed vegetable soup, Chettinad chicken curry, shrimp curry (changed from the planned fried fish), rice and dosa, and the South Indian dessert "payasam." I was particularly impressed by the chicken curry, which was simple yet brought out the flavor of the ingredients and had a perfect balance with the spices. We also had the chance to try baking dosas, which was surprisingly difficult! I did it with a bang, but Kamala was very skilled. In the kitchen, we got to see cooking utensils and spice boxes unique to South India. It was fun learning about cultural differences and the ingenuity of everyday life that is rarely seen in Japan, such as how to drain rice and how to use a stone mill. At this cooking class, I didn't just learn how to cook, but I also got to experience the real background to Indian cuisine, such as the local lifestyle and way of thinking, the ingredients used, and the cooking environment, making it a truly valuable experience. I would wholeheartedly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn how to cook in India or experience the excitement of a South Indian home!
During a 2 week vacation/business trip to Delhi we had an extra day without plans. Traveling Spoon, with 2 days notice, was able to connect us with a cooking/meal experience close to our hotel in Gurgaon. The experience was wonderful! The host, Uma Raghumanon, is both a teacher and a master chef. The opportunity to help prepare and have a meal in an Indian home is well worth the time away from the wonderful sights of Delhi.
We absolutely loved our cooking experience with Sundarii! She was informative on the spices and techniques, warm and friendly, and truly made us feel welcome and at home. We love to cook and will treasure the recipes she sent with us. We chose the veg option, and were delighted by the simple techniques to make truly delicious dishes from lentils, potatoes, and other common ingredients back home! Thank you Sundarii and your family for welcoming us into your home!
Bibi gave a wonderful primer on Bengali cooking in her home. We had great conversation as she wove in her knowledge of the dishes and provided great back story and context to each dish. The ones she chose for the class highlighted different elements of Bengali flavors and were quite satisfying and varied. I can't recommend the class highly enough for people looking to experience authentic home Bengali cooking.
5 * cooking experience with Lavina and her lovely family. Attention to detail and considering guests needs was exceptional
During your Mumbai cooking class with Rupa you will learn to make 2 regional Maharashtrian dishes you will be eating later. In your 1.5 hour hands-on cooking class, learn to make a seasonal vegetable and fish or chicken dish from scratch. These are seasonal, local dishes typical of what the family eats everyday. Rupa is excited to share her culture, culinary traditions, family recipes, tips and tricks and secret spice mixes through this traditional cooking class in Mumbai. After cooking, sit down to share the meal you helped prepare.
Join Shamim in her home for an authentic in-home dining experience in Cochin. After your welcome drink of garden-fresh lime juice or refreshing coconut water, you will be served an array of dishes in the traditional Kerala Muslim cuisine that may include chattipathiri (a traditional Malayali Muslim dish of layered seasoned beef and pancakes), pathiri (round paper-thin, rice flour bread), ney chor (a fragrant rice lightly coated in ghee), sharkapuli (an addictively delicious mango and tamarind accompaniment to the rice), Malabar chicken curry made with Kerala spices and coconut milk, and to end, semiya payasam, cardamom-infused milk with vermicelli, raisins and cashews.
Yakuta will prepare a typical Bohri Muslim meal which includes a refreshing kokum sherbet drink (traditional Indian summer cooler great for curing acidity) followed by staple celebratory meal called khuddal palidoo or dal chaval palidoo (lentil rice served with a curry) served with bengan bhartha (roasted eggplant, mashed and cooked with spices) and chana bateta (chickpeas and potato in tamarind sauce) followed by a traditional Bohri dessert called thuli made of sweetened cracked wheat.
Yakuta can also offer a typical Parsi meal of mutton sham aak or masonry ma gosh (mutton curry and rice) or saace ni machi (fish cooked in a tangy white sauce). If you are looking for a Maharashtrian meal with a twist then Yakuta is the one! Try her teesrya, shellfish cooked in fresh coconut with greens and pickles.
Savita is pleasant and easy to talk to. She did a great job explaining about Maharastian food and the cultural and culinary differences within India. She also described various vessels and storage of foods before the era of modern kitchens and refrigeration. Savita would be a great addition to the Traveling Spoon team. Her personality and interesting background will only enhance the experience of future guests.
Mahrukh welcomed me into her home and taught me about a variety of Parsi dishes. She was a very gracious host, and always made sure I was enjoying myself. First we went to the local market, to see where Mahrukh buys her meat, fish and vegetables. Then we returned and made 3+ Parsi dishes. I even had a go at making a very wonky chapati! Mahrukh and her family were very attentive and it was very interesting to hear about their background and life in Mumbai. Would absolutely recommend!
Our belly’s and minds were fully satisfied after spending time cooking with Pallavi in her lovely home. We really enjoyed the market tour, it felt like a local experience and away from other tourists.The cooking was easy to follow, and we came away with new knowledge of Gujarati cooking, flavours and techniques.Pallavi knows then the city really well, we spoke about the market, fruits and vegetables, spices... and Indian culture / family life too! We felt very welcome and were given printed information to take away so that we would not forget the recipes. Four hours well spent!
Mala and her husband Rajnish will welcome you into their warm and beautiful home, which is decorated with plants, lights and Mala’s art work. If you visit during the evening hours you will also meet her children. For your in-home dining experience in Delhi you will share a traditional Punjabi meal which may include dishes such as rajma chawal (red kidney bean curry served with rice), dal makhni (slow cooked lentils), chicken masala, mutton curry, aloo methi (fenugreek leaves combined with potatoes) and will end with either rice pudding or a home made kulfi (frozen dessert made with milk).
Great experience cooking at real Indian dinner. Had a variation of vegetarian and non vegetarian options with a variation of Indian spices.
I highly recommend this excursion. Everything was very organized. The food was delicious. Rita is very talented. You won’t regret signing up for this class.
Simeen and Amish offer a dining experience that brings to the table a mix of traditional Parsi and Gujarati cuisine. The meal starts with popular Gujarati farsan (savory snacks) such as dohkla (a light cake of fermented rice and chickpea flour), patra (colocasia leaves filled with batter, rolled and steamed) and khandvi (bite-sized rolls of gram flour and yoghurt).
The main menu includes Parsi dishes such as mutton sali boti (goat curry topped with fried potatoes), dhanshaak (lentils and vegetables perked with spices), chicken farcha (Indian fried chicken), patra ni macchi (fish cooked in green chutney wrapped in banana leaves) and traditional Gujarati mains such as fansi-dhokli (tangy dish made with French beans and gram flour) and batata nu shaak (potato combined with sesame seeds, curry leaves and ginger-green chili paste, topped with coriander). You meal is accompanied by Gujarati or Parsi dal, served with chapattis and rice. Finish with a Parsi custard and Indian sweets.
Walk into Delna’s quirky, artistic and warm home whose walls are lined with art from all over the world and she can tell you the story behind how each piece came to become a part of her life. You will then enjoy a typical Parsi meal with Delna that consists of rice, lentils, vegetables and a meat or chicken dish. For dessert, taste a malai kulfi which is an ice cream typical of the Parsi community.
Please note that this is a cooking demonstration, not a hands-on cooking class. You will join Sama in the kitchen to watch her prepare 2-3 authentic Muslim dishes that you will eat along with other prepared dishes eaten with rice and Indian breads.
A typical lunch with lunch would start with a cold aubergine salad, followed by selection of dim sum, tofu in black bean sauce, Sichuan style fish, Macanese chicken curry, garlic stir fried vegetables and egg fried rice, with sago Melaka for dessert. The beautiful thing about Tejal is her attention to detail. She offers a varied selection of flavors, colors and textures to make up the entire meal.
Traditionally, the meal begins with a pinch of salt on the tongue, followed by a sweet dish, such as a peach soufflé. This would be followed with savory dishes, such as fried chicken, then another sweet dish like halwa, and then another savory dish, like leg of lamb served with a special naan. This leads to the main course, perhaps her mutton curry with rice, served with a salad, pickles and chutney.
Shop, cook and savor the flavors of Pondicherry with a local expert! Embark on this flavorful journey through Pondicherry with a guided tour of Goubert Market led by a local expert, Manisha. As one of the oldest and most vibrant markets in the city, Goubert Market is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and tastes of this bustling hub. Choose your menu for the day and then explore a wide array of seasonal, local produce as Manisha shares fascinating stories from the vendors and insights into the ingredients' origins. After selecting the freshest ingredients, hop into a rickshaw and head to Manisha's home for an interactive and authentic Pondicherry cooking class. This tour is the ideal way to kickstart your culinary adventure in Pondicherry!
Join Manisha for a 1.5 hour, hands-on cooking class in her home kitchen in Pondicherry. Whether you choose an Indian or French Creole menu, Manisha will guide you through each step of the cooking process, helping you create 2-3 authentic dishes from scratch. Her goal is to introduce you to the rich culinary traditions that reflect Pondicherry's unique cultural heritage. This interactive class is perfect for anyone looking to learn to cook Indian food in Pondicherry. You'll not only master traditional recipes but also gain insights into local ingredients, culinary traditions, and the medicinal value of food. Manisha is passionate about preserving sustainable cooking practices and sharing her knowledge of the deep connection between food, culture, and well-being.
After cooking, sit down with Manisha to enjoy the meal you've prepared together, exchanging stories and laughter in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. A unique opportunity to culturally immerse yourself in Pondicherry's rich heritage, ideal for food lovers, travelers looking for an authentic, local experience and anyone interested in connecting with local culture through food!
You will be welcomed by Deepak and Tamanna into their simple but artfully decorated home. Deepak collects antiques and you’ll see artwork and crystals displayed around their home. They are perfectly matched as Tamanna loves to cook and Deepak loves to eat! Deepak handles the marketing and promotion of their catering business while Tamanna focuses on the cooking.
As you enjoy a welcome drink, perhaps angoori lassi, a grape drink often prepared in Tamanna’s home city Delhi, and a snack of samosas (just try to figure out the secret ingredient!) Deepak will tell you how they got the idea to use bitter gourd in one of India’s most beloved dishes, the biryani. Her method takes two days to prepare and requires an intensive process of boiling, drying and roasting the bitter gourd to get rid of the bitter taste.
Tamanna hails from Delhi in north India and her cooking has a strong Mughlai influence. In addition to her famous biryani, you’ll get to taste some of her other signature dishes perhaps including her meltingly tender mutton shaami kebabs, anari shaami kebabs (vegetarian kebabs made of pomegranate seeds), chicken rezala (chicken curry), gobi gosht (cauliflower and mutton), lagan ka paneer (a vegetarian take on the famous Hyderabadi chicken dish), dry fruit kheer (pudding) or sheer khorma (vermicelli pudding). You can be assured that in every meal there will be a surprise dish with a secret ingredient from Tamanna’s innovative kitchen!
Raghav and his wife welcomed us with open arms and hearts. We had a long, interesting conversation on food, history, culture while we shared snacks and a very unique welcome drink. Then we were introduced to the family chef, with whom we had a very informative cooking demo, followed by dinner. We were served some truly authentic regional dishes made with local produce, which was outstanding! Raghav is very warm, hospitable and knowledgeable; we felt right at home and were so comfortable throughout the experience. We highly recommend this unique experience to everyone visiting Udaipur!
Join Aditti in her kitchen to learn to make traditional Mughlai cuisine characterized by hearty dishes and rich, creamy gravies. During your Gurgaon cooking class, learn to make two to three authentic Mughlai dishes that comprise cream, butter, whole spices, dried fruits and nuts. You may learn to make vegetable achari, spiced vegetables, chicken korma, chicken braised in a nutty, yogurt sauce and rotis, Indian flat bread. Your meal includes other dishes Aditti may have prepared in advance and concludes with a delicious Indian dessert.
Flavors of Konkan! Spent a fantastic afternoon with Arcana learning Konkani cooking. It was a great experience and Archana went out of her way to tell us all about the ingredients she used in her recipes. She also gave us valuable tips on how to bring out the flavors and taste of the dishes she treated us to, Overall a worthwhile chance to learn traditional Konkani cooking.
Join Faiziya in her kitchen for a cooking demonstration. She will demonstrate 2-3 dishes you can make with kheema (minced mutton) such as mutton samosas or aloo kheema pattice (potato and mutton patties) and a sweet dish like phirni (rice pudding).
We had a lovely evening in the home of Shveta and her husband. The welcome was warm and we were made to feel very comfortable. The cooking class was terrific. We learned to make several dishes and came home with recipes to try to recreate them at home. Would highly recommend this event!
Embark on a 2.5 hour walking food tour in the heart of Pondicherry, guided by a local, Manisha, who will take you through the vibrant streets of the city, weaving through the historical Goubert Market, iconic food stalls, and hidden gems. This culinary adventure is a perfect blend of tasting authentic street food, learning about Pondicherry's rich food heritage, and sharing stories with friendly vendors along the way.
Your tour begins at the bustling Goubert Market, where every stop tells a story of the city's rich food heritage. Here you will sample sweet, locally-grown red bananas, a unique Pondicherry treat. Then step back in time as you visit the historic Indian Coffee House, where you’ll savor aromatic filter coffee that evokes the charm of British colonial days. As you weave through the city's bustling streets, savor quintessential street snacks loved by locals - crispy vegetable bhaji (fritters) and pillowy paniyaram (pan fried lentil dumplings) at the beloved Srim RK Juice Centre on Mission street. As you continue your exploration near the Puducherry railway station, treat yourself to Nizam Soup Stall's famous mutton samosas and soul-warming bone soup. Vegetarians can enjoy hearty potato samosas at Madhu Sweet and Snacks, known for its flavorful treats. For the grand finale, choose between indulging in flaky lachha parathas served with traditional accompaniments, or dive into local tiffin specialties at Cool Cat's, a favorite among food lovers. And no food tour is complete without dessert, so end your adventure with creamy kulfi made from Ponlait, Pondicherry’s own beloved dairy brand.
This Pondicherry food tour is not just about eating - it’s about connecting with the history, culture, meeting the vendors who make it so special, and experiencing the city through the eyes of a local. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this immersive culinary journey offers a delightful way to taste the true flavors of Pondicherry. Perfect for food lovers and travelers seeking an immersive culinary experience in Pondicherry, with local delicacies, insights into the city's culinary history, and connections with friendly vendors.
Bohri cuisine is served course by course rather than all at once. Unlike most Indian meals, you begin your meal with something sweet followed by something savory, all desserts are called mithaas and the savory dishes kharaas. You will share the meal with Rashida in her sprawling dining room decorated with furniture from another era. The meal might include dahi vada (deep fried potato served with thick yogurt), dahi bhindi (okra with yogurt), succulent mutton kebabs, salad, kheema khichdi (minced meat pulao), kheema na samosa (minced meat samosas), biryani and homemade ice-cream.
We had such a wonderful time with Archana and her family. She welcomed us into her home with a cup of filter coffee. Instead of starting to cook right away, we sat and talked. She shared so much about her culture and religion, which was a delight for my curiosity. Then she and her husband Rajesh took us to their rooftop garden where we picked chilies, curry leaves, coriander and limes for our meal. We loved to smell all the scents of the herbs, especially maraga (marjoram). Then it was back to the kitchen where we helped prepare our feast. She had most of the ingredients prepared, so most of what we did was assembling local dishes. Finally, we sat down for a truly delicious meal. It was more food than we could possibly eat in one sitting, so we sampled a bit of each dish and left with very full bellies and happy hearts. Archana is a wonderful teacher. We learned so much about true local food and culture. She really seems to delight in sharing her knowledge and wisdom with people. The price was very reasonable and the experience was worth far more than we paid. We felt so privileged to have this amazing experience with such a lovely family.
What a brilliant idea!! Prerna and her family were exceptional hosts. My wife and I really enjoyed Prerna sitting down with us for a good 20mins to learn about each other's customs before serving us occasional light bites as appetizers. Initially, it was only her to greet us but other family members joined us one by one. This was a lovely gesture because we didn't feel overwhelmed by loads of family members trying to talk..it was a lovely relaxed afternoon. Eventually, by the time we sat down at the dining table, we had met all family members and carried on the conversation over the extraordinarily tasty lunch.
We had a very memorable evening with Dhondys family. The food was delicious and flavourful. It was a pleasure to see the whole family dine with us. We really wish we had spent more time with them. Thank you so much for hosting us Nilufer!
I participated in Meena's cooking class. Meena was very friendly and the conversation flowed easily, making it a lot of fun. Also, since the cooking class was held in her home, I was able to get a feel for Indian life. It was my first time seeing a prayer room. She had prepared the ingredients in advance, and the cooking proceeded efficiently. She had asked me on WhatsApp what I wanted to cook, so I requested South Indian curry, biryani, and ginger chai. Thank you for accommodating my request. I also learned how to make roti, which is essential for curry. I would like to try making it when I get back to Japan. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to remember the recipe, but they said they would send it to me later, so I'm looking forward to it. The finished dish was... absolutely delicious. Both the biryani and the curry were the most delicious and perfect curry I've ever eaten. I want to take the curry in the pot home with me ^_^ At the end of the day, we learned how to make ginger chai. (In the middle of cooking, we went shopping at the supermarket and bought some recommended spices.) It was a fulfilling day. This time, the weather was bad due to the aftermath of the cyclone, and other tours were canceled, but this cooking class was indoors, so it was stress-free and comfortable. She took a photo and sent it to me on WhatsApp. thank you everything I will visit again when I come to Chennai
Please note this isn't a market tour but a visit to a local grocery store, where Bridget usually buys her produce from. Meet Bridget at her home and then walk together to the local grocery store, that sells fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruits. You will also find all the spices and condiments needed in Indian cooking at this store. Bridget will introduce you to all the local procure and ingredients used to prepare an Indian meal and teach you how select fresh produce. You might shop for lentils, spices or vegetables before returning home for your cooking and meal experience.
In your Pondicherry cooking class, you will join Pushpa in her home kitchen to learn some of her favorite dishes that she has been cooking for her friends and family. In this hands-on cooking class you will learn how to cook Pondicherry's Créole cuisine, a unique fusion of French and Tamil traditions. In your 2-hour cooking class in Pondicherry, learn to cook one side dish, one main dish and one dessert from scratch. You will help Pushpa to clean, cut and cook all the ingredients to create a delicious meal from Pondicherry, which was once the original headquarters of the French in India. After cooking you will share the meal you helped prepare.
Both, Vindra and Hemendra were adorable hosts showing plenty of interest in us and were very keen on sharing family recipes, their own family history and culture. After being surprised by a welcome cocktail and gift – a small bag, an apron, pen & notebook - the cooking class starts. Step by step, Vrinda and Hemendra explain the different steps as well as ingredients of the dishes also engaging us to actively take part in the cooking session. The Rajasthani recipes cooked during the class are old family recipes passed on from generation to generation. The hosts were warm and welcoming from the very first second. We had a wonderful time!
There is no way I am going to be able to describe a day like today and give it the justice it deserves. The start began with a long overdue jog on the gym treadmill. It was refreshing to know that after a couple of days hiatus, it did not take long to get the kinks out. Downstairs for a lite fruit breakfast and then around the corner to stock up on bottled water. That left little time to prepare for the day, shower and pick up of a cake to supplement the day’s lunch. Uber at the ready and I was off to class. Was pleasantly surprised to find my hostess waiting for my arrival. It was magical the way we instantaneously hit it off. An exchange of smiles, a nod and whatever cultural barriers might have existed, evaporated. Sundari Krisha is a well-known awarded chef who specializes in vegetarian cuisine. Her classes are very well received for their flavor preparation and her willingness to accommodate the gamut of foreign palates. Her time spent in Dubai, Thailand, the U.S., Europe and India provide her with an open mindedness that serves her students and is shown in her attitude towards cooking. The day’s menu was specially formulated by my replies to her previous days’ texts. This class might have been postponed, but because of the day, I was to be her only student. There was even an invitational colored flour mandala on the marble tile, which, no pun intended ‘floored me.’ The menu began with a starter of Masala (spice mixture) Dosa (thin crisp rice flour tortilla) filled with a rich intense flavored filling (Burrito-like, if the outside was crunchy). Option to cook or watch, I opted for a lazy combination of the two. Between sets, Sundari confided about her love of cooking, her classes and how that all fit into her family life. The tidbits learned will be eagerly duplicated back at home. Who knew that premium rice is aged three years? The second course was a Shai cauliflower korma (stew) complemented by homemade roti (bread). And to finish it off, Aubergine (small eggplant) lentil mixture joined by vegetable rice. The meal was delicious and conversation flowed effortlessly. To top it off, the selected cake, a chocolate ganache, ended up being the perfect choice. Hours passed before my body told me I had spent most of it happily sitting, eating and conversing.
A Must-Do in Kolkata - Authentic Bengali Home Dining Experience! The highlight of my trip to Kolkata! I had the most incredible home-cooked Bengali meal at Debjani’s beautiful, centrally located home. She welcomed us like family, and the setting, filled with antiques and artwork, was absolutely charming. The meal was delectable: masoor dal, begun bhaja, shorshe bhapa chingri, maach, and the perfect finish - mishti doi. Every dish was flavorful and prepared with love. It was also lovely to meet Debjani’s friends and share stories, it felt like having lunch with a group of my girlfriends. If you're looking to try authentic Bengali food in Kolkata, this experience is a must. Highly recommended!
Had the most amazing experience with Traveling Spoon! Our host cooked a delicious Indian meal with an incredible spread of dishes that kept us coming back for seconds, thirds and fourths (I mean you gotta try everything right?). Even better than the meal though, was the opportunity to spend time with Freeda's family and hear their incredible life journey of how they grew up in India and what made the country so special to them. They answered all our questions from big picture concepts such as India's balance of religion to practical questions such as the secret to easily crossing the road in heavy traffic. The whole evening was fresh and exciting, and Traveling Spoon will always be one of my first stops to make any international travel destination a memorable experience.
We took Rhesma cooking class in the SantaCruz area. She was very welcoming, and definatly passionate with food and showing us how to do it. The food was very good. I recommand!
Join Shila in their kitchen for your Kochi cooking demonstration as she prepares a Kerala Christian meal cooked in coconut milk and flavored with spices such as cardamom, cinnamon and black pepper. You will then share the meal at the dining table with Joseph and Shila.
Leela, her family, the market tour, and the meal were all lovely. I enjoyed visiting a local home and learning more about the life that the family has lived there. And it was great to get a feel of what in-house meals in Kerala are actually like.
Join your host Rachna in her kitchen and learn how to make 2-3 of the dishes you will be eating. You may learn how to cook either her famous kebabs or a curry and vegetable dish. You can expect to be cooking for 1 hour before you share the meal you helped prepare over conversation with your host.
From the start, fishing for crabs in the river, to the warm hospitality while enjoying the food this was a remarkable way of experiencing the local culture! Kim and her family, thoroughly enjoyed being able to share their experience of the local area and Kim's passion for food, which indeed comes across in her cooking! It was really easy to chat with Kim and she was very knowledgeable as well. The entire meal was full of flavor and delicious; my favorite was the freshly steamed crabs that we caught earlier in the day at the river.
Devika lives in a beautiful home. She and her husband are very welcoming and friendly. They made me feel very comfortable. Overall it was a great experience. My favorite dish was the eggplant curry and rice rotis – it was awesome!
I was served heirloom traditional Mudaliar recipes that are from the region of Vellore in Tamil Nadu with a modern twist. Most of the people from there were agriculturists and hence they a lot of vegetables in their cooking. The host served us a welcome drink elaneer - coconut water with mint leaves, which was very refreshing. Before she served the meal she explained to us about the cuisine and culture. The menu even had a theme, it was a feast served to the bride and groom after their marriage. Basically the first meal from the bride’s side to the newlyweds, making us feel so special! She then taught me how to make banana flower pakodas. She spent long hours cleaning the banana flower before we came which is commendable and shows her passion for food and hosting. The grand feast like meal was served on banana leaves, after which we proceeded to her private garden for dessert. My favourite dish was the prawns with the fenugreek leaves. The whole experience was very authentic and the food was flavorful!
Sujata welcomed us to her beautiful apartment with open arms, and we felt at home immediately! After travelling on the go for six weeks it felt amazing to be in a home again and she made sure we were at ease. Sujata is a food stylist and so not only is she talented in her cooking but also the presentation of her food was fantastic. Her apartment is a fresh mix of traditional Indian and modern style with a unique use of a traditional cooking bowl as a side table and block printers used as door handles. Sujata’s family are the sweetest people ever, giving us tips for things to do in Varanasi (the next place we were going to) and other things to do in Delhi, with her daughter even offering to take us on a night out! We loved our meal here so much, the Sadr’s are a wonderful family to connect with when in Delhi!
Their apartment overlooking the water was lovely. The cooking experience so interesting. The food delicious, and Roshni made so many more things for us to eat than what we learned to cook!Roshni and her husband are wonderful hosts and gave us so many insights about India, the culture, the politics and life in general.
We were greeted by Jyashree’s husband and were taken upstairs to their living area. The house was very well maintained and was full of Hindu tradition. Jyashree started with explaining the making of every dish she had prepared. We were served almost 15 different varieties of freshly prepared South Indian vegetarian food. Every single item tasted unbelievably delicious. My most favorite was the manga pachidi (a sweet and sour dish made of mangoes). Everything that she prepared was at the right consistency, spice level and quantity. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Jyashree and her husband and we think she’d be a wonderful host to all travelers!
This was an AMAZING experience. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Payal is a fantastic instructor and is such a warm, friendly, and funny individual. The market tour was informative, her cooking directions were helpful, and the meal we created was delicious! One of our members had a severe gluten and dairy allergy and Payal adjusted the menu effortless. The strength to Payal's cooking experience was her holistic approach to food and wellness; she emphasized the use of simple, fresh, and regional ingredients to nourish and care for the body. It was such a pleasure spending the day with Payal.
Great experience!!!! An amazing way to interact with the people and culture of india. The Singh’s are a delightful and well known family in Jaipur and make you feel right at home. Highly recommend this enriching experience!!!
Your private, in-home dining experience in Jaipur begins with Shveta and Kul warmly welcoming you into their contemporary home, set to the soothing sounds of Indian music. Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink of nimbu pani or jal jeera before sitting down to a feast featuring aloo tikki, pakoras, chicken curry, rajma, seasonal vegetables, dal, roti, jeera rice, and dessert. Some dishes may even include organic vegetables grown on Shveta’s rooftop, adding a personal touch to this delightful culinary journey.
Margarida, who serves authentic Portuguese Goan cuisine, starts your visit to her home with a welcome drink then plys you with dishes that may include prawn guisado (a hearty Portuguese goan seafood stew), sorpotel (an incredibly rich dish of liver fried with pig blood) served with sannas (a pillowy steamed rice bread), the addictive chicken xacuti, traditional pork vindaloo, fish raceido mole, pickled fish with a red chili, jaggery, and vinegar marinade. The finale to every meal is her famous bolo san rival, the classic layered cashew meringue cake.
We had such an amazing time learning royal in-house recipes with Himanshu and Dipti. The whole family was very kind, humble and extremely hospitable and they took care of all little details to make our experience memorable. The class was hands-on and we had great time learning quick and colourful dishes like chicken kachri and safed aloo. The open cooking experience was wonderful with this lovely pet friendly family. Ingredients were different and absolutely fresh. My other favorite was eggplant masala, which was cooked in tangy tomato sauce and other Indian spices. If you want to experience the colors, flavors and food of Jaipur, this is the perfect place for you. We would highly recommend it.
I really loved the cooking workshop I did with Ritika. In fact, I loved it so much that I did two! Ritika has great recipes to share and a passion for teaching cooking. For each workshop I learnt to cook at least three dishes that I had chosen, in the family kitchen and then enjoy them for lunch. It was a combination of demonstration and hands-on. I appreciated how Ritika was concerned to teach me dishes I could cook at home and to make them easy to adapt and vary to make other dishes. She showed me lots of shortcuts and told me many good tips. Everything was excellent, but my favourite dishes were the butter chicken and chole. I also loved sitting and eating the lunch that we had prepared, in the garden area. Also, each time, Ritika surprised us with a dessert that we hadn’t prepared, to finish the meal. That was a lovely touch! It’s an overall lovely experience and well worth it.
Join Jyoti in her kitchen to learn how to make 2-3 of the dishes such meats and vegetables. You can expect to be cooking for 1 hour before you share the meal you helped prepare over conversation with your host. Jyoti is happy to tailor the menu to your preferences. Please inform her at the time of booking if you are interested in learning to cook a particular dish or regional cuisine.
Ananya will take you to a nearby market to explore the local and regional produce of Maharashtra before you return to her kitchen for a cooking class of Bengali food.
What a wonderful evening we had with Shivani. She was an excellent hostess and just so fun to visit with. We enjoyed our trip to the local market with her and learning all about how it works. Then we came back to her lovely home and prepared several dishes together and enjoyed eating dinner with her and her husband. It was just a great evening and I would recommend it to anyone.
This was the highlight of our weekend in Jaipur! Mohan was an excellent host and we felt like we were part of his family. From the visit to the village of Samode and his flexibility when we saw the gem store and had to stop for 45 minutes he was nothing but gracious and nice to be with. His wife made us a delicious lunch and we spent time on the farm better understanding how his whole family works together to bring in the crops. Seeing the difference outside a large city like Jaipur was one that won't be forgotten and I very much hope we can go back to visit him and his family. I strongly recommend this tour if you are interested in a very different life from the bigger cities like Jaipur. You won't regret it!
Upon arriving at the Haveli you will be greeted by either Yadu or his cousin, in the general courtyard that is surrounded by pomegranate trees. Make your way to a private courtyard where you will get to you know your host over drinks and snacks. Nothing pleases Yadu more than discovering and testing new recipes and he is sure to tell you about the old hand-written manuscript he found amongst forgotten family keepsakes, which contained 400 lost recipes.
You will then enjoy a cooking experience with Yadu (or perhaps his cousin) and a chef in their courtyard that has an open fire grill. In your Jaipur cooking class learn to cook two traditional Rajasthani dishes which will take about 1.5 hours. After cooking, enjoy a menu of traditional Indian dishes such as kebabs, a variety of Indian breads, ker sangri (a traditional Rajasthani desert bean dish), lahsuni palak (spinach cooked in garlic), junglee maas (a meat dish traditionally made from the game that kings hunted that is spiced with chili and coriander) or safed maas (a decadent royal korma made with ground cashew and almonds, coconut, and fragrant spices and goat), and mutton dahi bhalla (meat-filled lentil dumplings in a yogurt sauce). Learn about the history of Rajasthani cuisine and how they cook traditional dishes during this unique culinary experience with a member of the royal family. Enjoy your authentic Rajasthani meal over a glass of wine.
Join Nina in her kitchen and learn how to make 2-3 of the dishes such as sookhe matar with badam (almonds with peas in a cashew gravy) and jeera pulao (cumin-flavored rice). You can expect to be cooking for 1 hour before you share the meal you helped prepare over conversation with your host
