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!

This was such a unique and memorable experience and easily one of the highlights of our time in Athens. Maria and Dimitri were incredibly warm, funny and welcoming from the moment we arrived. The hours genuinely flew by. We spent the night cooking, eating, drinking great wine and learning not just about Greek food, but about Maria and Dimitri, Athens, Greece and their lives and travels. The food was exceptional, authentic, delicious, but what really made the experience was Maria. She has such a big, fun personality and was absolutely made for this. She is hilarious, incredibly well travelled and full of stories. We laughed throughout the entire evening and by the end it felt far more like spending a night with friends than attending a cooking class. I would recommend this to anyone wanting something more personal and authentic than the usual tourist experiences. It’s a brilliant way to experience Greek food and culture while actually getting to know local people. An amazing evening, exceptional food and wonderful hosts. We would do it again in a heartbeat.

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.

Mary was very warm and welcoming. She has an extensive knowledge of Cretan cooking, and nutritional science. She gave a very comprehensive and interesting history of Cretan cuisine. She modified the cooking class to meet my pescatarian needs. The food was delicious, with many of the ingredients sourced from her property, and therefore very fresh. I was the only attendant for this class, so it was wonderful having a one-on-one experience. Her home is wonderful, with a very organic design, in a perfect location. I was able to observe the beautiful sunset from her patio.

Such a great time. Ana and her daughter were delightful and client loved learning about Greek cooking

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.