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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Selda

Istanbul, Turkey

USD
$127-$175 per person

Seasonal Turkish Cuisine with a View of the Bosphorus

Host offerings
  • Cooking studio
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Selda

Selda’s love of cooking was inspired by her father, an exceptional home cook from Turkey’s Black Sea region who filled their family table with fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, and beautifully presented dishes. She fondly remembers chestnuts roasted on the wood stove and omelets crafted with care, learning early on that cooking is a form of personal expression and cultural storytelling. Today, Selda hosts authentic Turkish cooking classes in her Istanbul studio, where she shares traditional recipes rooted in everyday Turkish cuisine rather than tourist staples. She focuses on seasonal ingredients and lighter, healthy interpretations of regional dishes, occasionally incorporating modern elements like quinoa while staying true to Turkish flavors. Dedicated to showcasing what Turks actually eat at home, Selda offers guests a meaningful introduction to Turkish food culture through hands-on cooking, conversation, and shared meals in an inviting local setting.

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: (4-8 guests) You will be welcomed by Selda into her professional cooking studio in Sarıyer, Istanbul for an authentic Turkish dining experience inspired by seasonal home cooking traditions. Your meal begins with a traditional soup, served hot in winter or chilled during the summer months, followed by a selection of regional dishes that reflect everyday Turkish cuisine. Enjoy specialties such as karnıyarık, eggplant stuffed with minced meat and vegetables served over bulgur wheat, zeytinyağlı taze fasulye, a classic Turkish green bean dish cooked in olive oil, and homemade börek filled with chard using a family recipe passed down through generations, all accompanied by a fresh seasonal salad.

Cooking experience: (4-8 guests) Join Selda in her modern cooking studio in Sarıyer for a hands-on Istanbul cooking class focused on creative and seasonal Turkish recipes. As you cook side by side, Selda shares the cultural origins of each dish and explains how she thoughtfully incorporates contemporary ingredients into traditional Turkish cuisine to create her personal cooking style. This interactive cooking class lasts approximately 1.5 hours, after which you will sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, offering an authentic opportunity to experience Turkish food culture through cooking, conversation, and shared dining. This cooking class in Istanbul is ideal for couples, families and travelers interested in authentic food, cuisine and local culture.

Languages spoken: English

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.
  • Karnıyarık, eggplant stuffed with minced meat and vegetables served over bulgur wheat
  • Zeytinyağlı taze fasulye, a classic Turkish green bean dish cooked in olive oil
  • Homemade börek created from a family recipe
  • Fresh seasonal salad

Traveler reviews

5.0 (1)
It was delightful to meet Selda and her family, and to have such a delicious meal in her beautiful home, overlooking the Bosphorus Straight.
- Theresa Garza September 30, 2016

Selda

$127-$175 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 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $127 $127
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $175 $175
Alcohol
 $32 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $127 $127
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $175 $175
Alcohol
 $32 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 8:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm

Meet Selda

Selda’s love of cooking was inspired by her father, an exceptional home cook from Turkey’s Black Sea region who filled their family table with fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, and beautifully presented dishes. She fondly remembers chestnuts roasted on the wood stove and omelets crafted with care, learning early on that cooking is a form of personal expression and cultural storytelling. Today, Selda hosts authentic Turkish cooking classes in her Istanbul studio, where she shares traditional recipes rooted in everyday Turkish cuisine rather than tourist staples. She focuses on seasonal ingredients and lighter, healthy interpretations of regional dishes, occasionally incorporating modern elements like quinoa while staying true to Turkish flavors. Dedicated to showcasing what Turks actually eat at home, Selda offers guests a meaningful introduction to Turkish food culture through hands-on cooking, conversation, and shared meals in an inviting local setting.

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: (4-8 guests) You will be welcomed by Selda into her professional cooking studio in Sarıyer, Istanbul for an authentic Turkish dining experience inspired by seasonal home cooking traditions. Your meal begins with a traditional soup, served hot in winter or chilled during the summer months, followed by a selection of regional dishes that reflect everyday Turkish cuisine. Enjoy specialties such as karnıyarık, eggplant stuffed with minced meat and vegetables served over bulgur wheat, zeytinyağlı taze fasulye, a classic Turkish green bean dish cooked in olive oil, and homemade börek filled with chard using a family recipe passed down through generations, all accompanied by a fresh seasonal salad.

Cooking experience: (4-8 guests) Join Selda in her modern cooking studio in Sarıyer for a hands-on Istanbul cooking class focused on creative and seasonal Turkish recipes. As you cook side by side, Selda shares the cultural origins of each dish and explains how she thoughtfully incorporates contemporary ingredients into traditional Turkish cuisine to create her personal cooking style. This interactive cooking class lasts approximately 1.5 hours, after which you will sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, offering an authentic opportunity to experience Turkish food culture through cooking, conversation, and shared dining. This cooking class in Istanbul is ideal for couples, families and travelers interested in authentic food, cuisine and local culture.

Languages spoken: English

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.
  • Karnıyarık, eggplant stuffed with minced meat and vegetables served over bulgur wheat
  • Zeytinyağlı taze fasulye, a classic Turkish green bean dish cooked in olive oil
  • Homemade börek created from a family recipe
  • Fresh seasonal salad

Traveler reviews

5.0 (1)
It was delightful to meet Selda and her family, and to have such a delicious meal in her beautiful home, overlooking the Bosphorus Straight.
- Theresa Garza September 30, 2016
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $127 $127
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $175 $175
Alcohol
 $32 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $127 $127
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $175 $175
Alcohol
 $32 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 8:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-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 4% 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.