We felt like family in Ozlem’s new home in a tiny village near Georgioupoli, Crete. It felt like the whole village was ready to help us find her lovely place. Ozlem is a gifted language instructor and has worked as an interpreter so communication was no problem. So much fun pitching in and helping prepare a delicious meal that she checked in advance with us as to our likes and dislikes. It was really special visiting together while we waited for the dishes to simmer and bake. The time in a traditional Greek home was exactly what we had hoped to experience. It was a nice addition that Ozlem is originally from Smyrna, Turkey so she has a wide variety of experiences to share with us. The value of this tour is phenomenal since it was private and she sends the leftovers with you. If we’re lucky enough to visit Crete again, we will definitely take another class with Ozlem.

This was a fabulous experience, such fun and such a wonderful couple. The food we made was fabulous, Tzatziki, Eggplant salad, Baked Feta, Lamb kebab, prawns with sweet chili sauce, Swiss chard, and creamy Greek yoghurt with apricots….also a cocktail with Martina, made with resin…. I am traveling by my self and they did not act like this was at all unusual…so if you are a solo traveler you’ll be made to feel so welcome. And it is so nice to actually visits someone’s home.

Antonia shared her home and her food with us in a delightful visit. We sat on her patio, walked through her garden, and learned about the plants she and her family have nurtured there for generations. She had done a lot of the prep work but guided us through putting together stuffed green peppers and tomatoes, a cucumber salad, and tzatziki sauce. She had prepared an appetizer plate of olives and cheeses which she served with wine. For dessert she’d made a delicious orange cake. The real treat though were her delightful stories about her, her parents, and grandparents. Her easy personality and welcoming attitude made us feel at home from the very beginning. What a treat!

Maria and Dimitri welcomed us in their home and made us feel like we were old friends. We prepared some Greek dishes with ingredients that were purchased fresh from the farmers market. Olives they helped pick and olive oil from a friends local farm. From Ouzo to after dinner Mastic liquor it was a wonderful experience. A great way to end our last night in Athens.

On the island of Corfu is a place about 20 minutes from the port that'll knock your socks off with delicious Corfiot food served under a grape arbor. Vasiliki, educated in the US and employed there for 25 years, returned home to Corfu to re-discover the best of its culinary history and make it available to us travelers. Absolutely scrumptious! She offers cooking classes or just a meal. Hard for eight of us to make our minds up, she offered tastings of most of her menu which we shared. Beautiful day, awesome hospitality. Did I mention the great wine yet? Our ship docked on Corfu on a Saturday, a day she normally takes off, but she graciously agreed to open for us when asked through Traveling Spoon. Probably wouldn't have happened without them.

Our afternoon with Mary was far beyond anything we expected — truly one of the highlights of our entire trip. Mary is a very special person: kind, genuine, and a wonderful host. From the moment she contacted us before the class, she made sure we had all the details we needed to find her home and feel comfortable. Her house itself is beautiful — perched on a scenic cliffside with amazing views — and immediately felt warm and welcoming. She greeted us outside with a big smile, and as my mother said later, “it couldn’t have been a better day.” We started with tea and conversation on her patio, followed by preparing local appetizers (with a little raki, of course!) before moving on to the main meal. The dishes were simple, traditional, and deeply flavorful — but what made it so special was Mary’s passion for Cretan cooking and her deep knowledge of its history and traditions. This isn’t a “restaurant-style” experience. It’s much more personal and real — an afternoon in the home of someone who opens her life to complete strangers and treats them like family. It’s rare to find something this honest and heartfelt anywhere, and we left feeling incredibly grateful. If you’re looking for a genuine local experience — not commercial, not polished for tourists, but warm, intimate, and full of meaning — you won’t find anything better than spending an afternoon with Mary.

We truly enjoyed ourselves and the experience was great, however it wasn’t a cooking class. Our hostess cooked and we enjoyed the meal. Even tho it was very good it wasn’t anything I couldn’t have done at home. I feel she should actually give a class with instruction for a more difficult meal. We really enjoyed her tho. TRAVELING SPOON REVIEW RESPONSE: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re so glad you enjoyed your time with Ioana, the meal, and the overall experience, and we’re sorry the cooking class did not fully meet your expectations. We understand you were hoping for a more hands-on and instructional experience. While our hosts do tailor the level of guest participation based on individual preferences, we have shared your feedback with Ioana and have reinforced that the hands-on elements of the experience should be offered to guests by default. We truly appreciate you bringing this to our attention, as feedback like yours helps us continue improving our experiences for future travelers.

This was the highlight of our trip to Greece! Katerina welcomed us into her home like we were family. She showed us how to prepare several traditional Grecian dishes that were just amazing. As a travel advisor, I have had many incredible experiences throughout our beautiful world and this private cooking class is among the most memorable.

Our afternoon with Mary was far beyond anything we expected — truly one of the highlights of our entire trip. Mary is a very special person: kind, genuine, and a wonderful host. From the moment she contacted us before the class, she made sure we had all the details we needed to find her home and feel comfortable. Her house itself is beautiful — perched on a scenic cliffside with amazing views — and immediately felt warm and welcoming. She greeted us outside with a big smile, and as my mother said later, “it couldn’t have been a better day.” We started with tea and conversation on her patio, followed by preparing local appetizers (with a little raki, of course!) before moving on to the main meal. The dishes were simple, traditional, and deeply flavorful — but what made it so special was Mary’s passion for Cretan cooking and her deep knowledge of its history and traditions. This isn’t a “restaurant-style” experience. It’s much more personal and real — an afternoon in the home of someone who opens her life to complete strangers and treats them like family. It’s rare to find something this honest and heartfelt anywhere, and we left feeling incredibly grateful. If you’re looking for a genuine local experience — not commercial, not polished for tourists, but warm, intimate, and full of meaning — you won’t find anything better than spending an afternoon with Mary.