Private Filipino Cooking Class in the heart of Makati City

Meet Cinty

Cinty is a certified nutritionist and wellness chef, who is a plant forward lifestyle advocate, educator, speaker, culinary nutrition coach and consultant, and registered yoga teacher. Cinty also runs her own business where she sells plant-based products since 2017 - to help people nourish their minds and bodies through small, mindful steps. Before Cinty started her own business she worked in hotel and restaurant management, for over 30 years. It is her passion to share the joy of cooking, as well as, an opportunity to showcase Filipino hospitality and total wellness by using the therapeutic qualities of food.

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: (1-6 guests) Cinty and her partner live in a condominium in Makati City, in the heart of Manila. Her focus is on plant-forward cuisine using local ingredients. However, she can also offer non-vegan traditional Filipino dishes, please let her know your preference in advance. Apart from sharing a plant-forward or traditional Filipino meal, Cinty will take you through the therapeutic qualities of food, so you not only get to experience the food and hospitality, but also get to understand food as medicine. She will cook a home-cooked meal using the principles of culinary nutrition to heal and nourish, and will also incorporate the essentials of Filipino hospitality. The meal you will share is a blend of techniques and recipes from Cinty’s mother's kitchen as well as her nutrition certification classes. A few dishes that you may try are Filipino classics such as grilled eggplant omelet with mince, chicken and pork adobo, hot rice and caramelized banana eggrolls or vegan specials such as pomelo salad or pumpkin soup, curried tofu skewers with a peanut dressing, cucumber salad and vegan cake or protein balls.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) For your Filipino cooking class in Manila, join Cinty in her spacious home kitchen and learn to make two dishes from scratch. You can expect a culinary experience that aims to showcase Filipino favorites, whether they are traditional dishes or vegan/vegetarian alternatives. You will either learn to make an appetizer + main dish or a main dish + dessert. In this hybrid class, you will have the opportunity to get hands-on with the cooking process, together you will prepare the ingredients, learn essential cooking techniques, explore the diverse range of Filipino ingredients, and gain insights into the cultural significance of these dishes. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a complete beginner, this class caters to all skill levels. Discover the secrets behind iconic dishes such as adobo (braised meat/vegetable) or sinigang (sour soup with tamarind), or explore innovative ways to adapt these recipes to a vegan or vegetarian diet. At the end of the cooking lesson, you will sit down to savor the fruits of your labor, indulging in a feast of Filipino delicacies that you've helped prepare, in an intimate setting of your host's home sharing stories, laughter, and the joy of discovering new flavors.

Market visit: (1-6 guests) Meet Cinty at her apartment and then drive for 7 minutes by car to the nearby Guadalupe public market. It is one of the biggest wet markets in Makati, where you can find stalls selling fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruits. There is so much buzz and chatter around as most of the locals come here to shop - you will get a small glimpse into their everyday lives while also learning about the local produce. The market also has stores selling traditional baskets, affordable apparel, household cleaning materials etc. Walk around the market area and then Cinty will take you to her favorite sellers to buy ingredients for your cooking class.

Notes: Cinty can accommodate lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diets, please let her know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions, while booking your Manila cooking lesson online.

Languages spoken: English and Filipino

Sample menu

• Please choose one menu from the below options (all menus can be non-vegan, vegan, or vegetarian):
• Menu A: Mixed Filipino Vegetables in Shrimp Paste + Filipino Pan-seared Beef Steak with Onions + Rice + Filipino Caramelized Banana Rolls
• Menu B: Grilled Eggplant Omelet with Mince + Braised Chicken and Pork Adobo + Rice + Creamy Leche Flan
• Menu C: Red/Green Cabbage Asian Pomelo Salad with a Signature Dressing or Vegan Pumpkin Soup + Curried Tofu Skewers with a Peanut Dressing + Cucumber Salad + Vegan Cake or Protein Balls

Traveler reviews

Cinty was the most hospitable host with the most gifted and delicious menu. She took our family under her wing with such kindness and patience. She made us feel like family and that we’ve known each other for years. It was the best experience I have had and the most delicious meal I have throughly enjoyed! I would highly recommend her to anyone who wants an experience of a lifetime!

- Christen S March 02, 2024

Cinty was AMAZING! Her home is beautiful, she was a fabulous host, and we learned so much! Our family had one of the best meals and times of our lives. Definitely a must do in Makati!!!

- Veronica C February 25, 2024

The Chef provides history and details about the ingredients, and I recommend including the trip to the market as part of the experience. I felt welcomed in her kitchen. I learned a lot about Filipino dishes and how to prepare them, and the details of the various oils, seasonings, and other ingredients that bring out the best flavor were explained to me. Eating the dishes was just as fun as helping and watching them come together. This is a great way to experience Filipino cuisine and meet a local. Chef truly represents the beautiful hospitality Filipinos are known for.

- Joseph February 15, 2024

Fantastic time had by all experiencing local cooking and food. Cinty was an amazing host, the local market tour and home cooking experience was way beyond our expectations.

- jeffwS2781FM December 06, 2023

I met Cinty at her gorgeous condo, where we introduced ourselves and she got to know me as a cook. After that she tailored the menu she made to me and took me to the wet and dry market. She went around explaining the different ingredients and showed me how the locals typically shop for food. Since I hadn't eaten breakfast she showed me some of the different snack foods while we went around buying the ingredients for the dishes we would make. After that we went back to her condo where she walked me through cooking all the different meals. I requested healthy foods, and boy did she deliver. All the dishes she walked me through cooking were both nutritious and delicious. Out of all the food I tried in the Philippines hers was easily the best. If I can go home and make the dishes half as well as she showed me, it will still be fantastic. Do yourself a favor and book this trip. It really is something special not to miss out on while you're here. 10/10 experience, would do again. I'm missing her cooking already. Thanks so much for the experience I had a great time.

- Michael November 27, 2023

...Your cooking class was amazing! I was so happy to meet you and take your class in the end. I would like to take more classes and learn from you again. I'm thinking to make Sisig this weekend or soon which was so tasty and quite easy to make. I hadn't expected such a fancy place but it was also great opportunity to visit. Cinty you are amazing, I hope to meet you again...

- Miyuki November 07, 2023