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Host: Manya

Yerevan, Armenia

USD
$40-$98 per person

Traditional Armenian meal with a local family

Host offerings
  • House
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Manya

Manya wears many hats from an environmentalist, to a designer of kitchen furniture, a chef and a tour guide! She is constantly learning and trying new things and loves sharing her passion with others. Manya learned to cook family recipes from her mother and both her grandmothers. And she has been cooking since she was 10 years old! Manya has also worked as a chef for 2 years and is very passionate about cooking traditional Armenian dishes.

“I want to be a representative of my culture by making national dishes and hosting people from all over the world in traditional Armenian style.”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-5 guests) Manya lives with her husband, Eduard, their infant son, Vazgen, and her parents, Saharuni and Larisa – who will be part of the experience whenever they are available. Manya and her family are currently building their home in the outskirts of Yerevan, with a stunning view of Mount Ararat. The construction of the home is complete however they are still adding finishing touches to the house, so it may look a bit rustic from the outside. They also plan to have a beautiful garden in the backyard, and have grown young apricot, peach, plum, apple, and sour cherry trees. Manya will welcome you with Armenian coffee or a chilled tea made with lemon and purple basil, and brduj (home-made cheese and fresh herbs rolled into lavash). Later join her and her family at the dining table for your meal. Your menu might include dishes such as khashlama (lamb stew) or khorovats (a barbequed Armenian meat kebab) or harissa (wheat mixed with meat and seasoned) served with butter and pickles, fried eggs with tomatoes and pepper or barbecued vegetables (egg-plant, peppers, tomatoes) and you will end your meal with a dessert such as, fresh or dried fruits, home-made jam and gata (local puff pastry).

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) In your one-hour, hands-on cooking class join Manya in her kitchen to learn to make traditional Armenian dishes using family recipes. You will learn to make a salad or side dish, a main dish, and a dessert. You then join the family to share the meal you helped prepare.

Market visit: (1-6 guests) Meet Manya at the Nor Nork Farmers market for your market tour. Walk through this lovely local market with Manya and learn about fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices used in Armenian cooking. Buy a few ingredients from the market, before driving for 5-7 mins to Manya's home for the rest of your experience.

Notes: As mentioned previously, Manya’s home is a work in progress. Please do not expect a fully-finished home, as Manya is still in the process of adding finishing touches to her home. The area where the experience takes place, is furnished and ready.

Languages spoken: English, Russian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Coffee or Tea
  • Appetizer: brduj (home-made cheese and fresh herbs rolled into lavash)
  • Main: khashlama (lamb stew) OR khorovats (a barbecued Armenian meat kebab) OR Harissa (wheat mixed with meat and seasoned)
  • Side: fried eggs with tomatoes and pepper or barbecued vegetables (egg-plant, peppers, tomatoes)
  • Dessert: fresh or dried fruits, home-made jam and pahlava (local puff pastry)
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

We spent a lovely afternoon with Manya and her family, learning about Armenian culture, feasting, and laughing. One of us eats a gluten-free diet, and we only eat poultry and fish. With these dietary restrictions, it can sometimes be hard finding authentic food while traveling. From the beginning, we liked how flexible Manya was in designing a special menu for us. Everything felt like a family affair, and that made our experience even more special. Manya’s husband also loves to cook, so he sometimes jumped in and helped Manya in preparing the meal. Manya’s mother was there looking after the couple’s adorable 10-month-old son Vasgen, and when he came home from work, Manya’s father even joined us at the table. We had a fantastic afternoon in their company! This ended up being our favorite experience in Yerevan, and was the perfect way to get to know the people of Armenia.

Tricia and Shawn, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (3)
This was our first time using TravelingSpoon and based on our experience will not be the last! Manya and her lovely family welcomed us into their town, their home and dinner table. We felt comfortable and welcomed, got to learn some special dishes and get to know a lovely family. I can't recommend this 'experience' enough, although it felt more like making a new friend!
- N9593N January 09, 2023
Having lunch with Manya in Yerevan was our second cooking experience with Travelling Spoon (first time was in Lebanon, 2 years ago) and probably the highlight of our one-week holiday in Armenia. We spent a lovely afternoon learning about the exciting Armenian cuisine, tasting various ingredients in an amazing popular and lively local market and of course cooking and eating the delicious meals Manya planned for us after I mentioned two of my favourite ingredients: lamb and aubergine. I wish I could have that meal at least once a week! It is obvious that she is very gifted as a chef and we wish her and her husband all the best with their plans of opening a restaurant. We’ll definitely be one of the first guests of their restaurant even if it’s not too close to our home. Apart from trying many other delicious dishes beside the lamb and aubergine stew and drinking Ararat brandy out of a peach, it felt like, despite meeting Manya for the first time, we were very good old friends. We look forward to meeting Manya again and try her delicious food. Highly recommended!
- maya23 December 07, 2021
Overall I had a very enjoyable time with Manya. I particularly enjoyed the market our portion of the afternoon, and I was able to see a market which I'd have never found on my own. I really liked the explanations of Armenian cuisine and culture, and I would do it again!
- FlyinFo October 10, 2021
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Manya

$40-$98 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
In-Home Meal
 $64 $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $62 $46
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $98 $78 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $20 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $64 $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $62 $46
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $98 $78 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $20 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm

Meet Manya

Manya wears many hats from an environmentalist, to a designer of kitchen furniture, a chef and a tour guide! She is constantly learning and trying new things and loves sharing her passion with others. Manya learned to cook family recipes from her mother and both her grandmothers. And she has been cooking since she was 10 years old! Manya has also worked as a chef for 2 years and is very passionate about cooking traditional Armenian dishes.

“I want to be a representative of my culture by making national dishes and hosting people from all over the world in traditional Armenian style.”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-5 guests) Manya lives with her husband, Eduard, their infant son, Vazgen, and her parents, Saharuni and Larisa – who will be part of the experience whenever they are available. Manya and her family are currently building their home in the outskirts of Yerevan, with a stunning view of Mount Ararat. The construction of the home is complete however they are still adding finishing touches to the house, so it may look a bit rustic from the outside. They also plan to have a beautiful garden in the backyard, and have grown young apricot, peach, plum, apple, and sour cherry trees. Manya will welcome you with Armenian coffee or a chilled tea made with lemon and purple basil, and brduj (home-made cheese and fresh herbs rolled into lavash). Later join her and her family at the dining table for your meal. Your menu might include dishes such as khashlama (lamb stew) or khorovats (a barbequed Armenian meat kebab) or harissa (wheat mixed with meat and seasoned) served with butter and pickles, fried eggs with tomatoes and pepper or barbecued vegetables (egg-plant, peppers, tomatoes) and you will end your meal with a dessert such as, fresh or dried fruits, home-made jam and gata (local puff pastry).

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) In your one-hour, hands-on cooking class join Manya in her kitchen to learn to make traditional Armenian dishes using family recipes. You will learn to make a salad or side dish, a main dish, and a dessert. You then join the family to share the meal you helped prepare.

Market visit: (1-6 guests) Meet Manya at the Nor Nork Farmers market for your market tour. Walk through this lovely local market with Manya and learn about fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices used in Armenian cooking. Buy a few ingredients from the market, before driving for 5-7 mins to Manya's home for the rest of your experience.

Notes: As mentioned previously, Manya’s home is a work in progress. Please do not expect a fully-finished home, as Manya is still in the process of adding finishing touches to her home. The area where the experience takes place, is furnished and ready.

Languages spoken: English, Russian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Coffee or Tea
  • Appetizer: brduj (home-made cheese and fresh herbs rolled into lavash)
  • Main: khashlama (lamb stew) OR khorovats (a barbecued Armenian meat kebab) OR Harissa (wheat mixed with meat and seasoned)
  • Side: fried eggs with tomatoes and pepper or barbecued vegetables (egg-plant, peppers, tomatoes)
  • Dessert: fresh or dried fruits, home-made jam and pahlava (local puff pastry)
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

We spent a lovely afternoon with Manya and her family, learning about Armenian culture, feasting, and laughing. One of us eats a gluten-free diet, and we only eat poultry and fish. With these dietary restrictions, it can sometimes be hard finding authentic food while traveling. From the beginning, we liked how flexible Manya was in designing a special menu for us. Everything felt like a family affair, and that made our experience even more special. Manya’s husband also loves to cook, so he sometimes jumped in and helped Manya in preparing the meal. Manya’s mother was there looking after the couple’s adorable 10-month-old son Vasgen, and when he came home from work, Manya’s father even joined us at the table. We had a fantastic afternoon in their company! This ended up being our favorite experience in Yerevan, and was the perfect way to get to know the people of Armenia.

Tricia and Shawn, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (3)
This was our first time using TravelingSpoon and based on our experience will not be the last! Manya and her lovely family welcomed us into their town, their home and dinner table. We felt comfortable and welcomed, got to learn some special dishes and get to know a lovely family. I can't recommend this 'experience' enough, although it felt more like making a new friend!
- N9593N January 09, 2023
Having lunch with Manya in Yerevan was our second cooking experience with Travelling Spoon (first time was in Lebanon, 2 years ago) and probably the highlight of our one-week holiday in Armenia. We spent a lovely afternoon learning about the exciting Armenian cuisine, tasting various ingredients in an amazing popular and lively local market and of course cooking and eating the delicious meals Manya planned for us after I mentioned two of my favourite ingredients: lamb and aubergine. I wish I could have that meal at least once a week! It is obvious that she is very gifted as a chef and we wish her and her husband all the best with their plans of opening a restaurant. We’ll definitely be one of the first guests of their restaurant even if it’s not too close to our home. Apart from trying many other delicious dishes beside the lamb and aubergine stew and drinking Ararat brandy out of a peach, it felt like, despite meeting Manya for the first time, we were very good old friends. We look forward to meeting Manya again and try her delicious food. Highly recommended!
- maya23 December 07, 2021
Overall I had a very enjoyable time with Manya. I particularly enjoyed the market our portion of the afternoon, and I was able to see a market which I'd have never found on my own. I really liked the explanations of Armenian cuisine and culture, and I would do it again!
- FlyinFo October 10, 2021
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
In-Home Meal
 $64 $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $62 $46
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $98 $78 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $20 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $64 $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $74 $62 $46
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $98 $78 $60
Alcohol
 $10 per person
Transportation
 $20 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.