Portuguese cooking in Portimao with a local family

Meet Pedro

Pedro is an entrepreneur, he runs an organic grocery store, known for its freshest, local produce. He was born in Porto, and for a few years he lived in London, Brazil and Kazakhstan. Pedro graduated in hotel management and later went back to college to earn a master’s in marketing – he is always hungry to learn new things. He has always worked in the food business – hospitality, food and beverage, catering, organic food retail and now hosting cooking classes at home. His mother is his first inspiration when it comes to cooking, which is so therapeutic for Pedro - it clears his mind and it helps him to relax. Pedro loves eating good food - simple cooking, made with good quality ingredients and whenever possible organic. And this passion for food, ingredients and cooking is what Pedro hopes to share with traveler’s visiting Algarve.

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) Pedro lives in a beautiful home in Portimao with his children, Pedro, who is 15, a skater and a surfer and Clara, who is 12, a swimmer and an extremely dedicated student. You can expect to try an authentic Portuguese meal at Pedro's house, where the focus is always on the ingredients - local, seasonal, simple ingredients, that are mostly organic. Pedro prepare the classics of the Portuguese cuisine that he grew up eating with a little twist of his own. Wines are also one of his passions and Portugal has so much to offer - having roots in the Douro region and working in the vineyards as a child, has certainly made Pedro both love and respect the art of producing wine. A few dishes that you can expect to share with Pedro and his children (when they are around) are Portuguese appetizers (local cheese, olives, meats), cataplana, a very traditional dish in the Algarve or feijoada de choco (cuttlefish stew with beans) and fruits in season and carob and almond mousse or arroz doce (sweet milky rice) for dessert. Enjoy your homecooked Portuguese meal with Porto tonic and a glass of white or rosé or red wine.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) Join Pedro in his home kitchen, that he designed himself for your Portuguese cooking class. In your 1 hour cooking class, learn to make two dishes from scratch. Learn to make an appetizer or dessert and a main dish. Pedro will prep a few things in advance but will take you through the entire process step by step. While you cook together, he will also share insights on ingredients, cooking techniques and stories of Porto, where is grew up and enjoyed his mother's cooking. After you cook, sit down to share the dishes you helped prepare.

In the summer months, from June to September, Pedro can host an outdoor barbeque on his terrace, on request. You will cook and eat sardinhada (charcoal grilled sardines with potatoes), pimentos assados (charcoal roast peppers) and salada algarvia (Algarve style salad) served with traditional bread, home made sangria and dessert on the roof top terrace with a view of Ria de Alvor. Please let Pedro know your preference in advance while booking your Algarve cooking class online.

Notes: Pedro can accommodate lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diets, on request. Please inform him of any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance, while booking your experience online. 1-2 glasses of local wine is included in the cost of the experience.

Languages spoken: English, Portuguese

Sample menu

• Welcome drink: Porto tonic
• Petiscos (assorted appetizers, any 3 of the following): Portuguese organic cheeses, carrots Algarve style, seasoned olives, freshly made pate, chouriço or cold meats served with freshly baked bread from our local bakery
• Main: Cataplana de Peixe (fish cataplana) or Feijoada de Choco (cuttle fish bean stew) or Bochechas de Porco Estufadas (stewed pork cheeks) or Borrego estufado (lamb stew) Vegan Cataplana (with tempeh)
• Dessert: Organic fruit in season and Carob and Almond mousse or Arroz doce (sweet milky rice) or Carob and almond chia mousse (vegan option)
• Wine: A glass of white or rosé or red wine

Traveler reviews

Pedro and his son welcomed us into their home for a lovely evening of food, wine and conversation. We had a traditional meal of Portuguese appetizers, soup and fish cataplana. Wonderful authentic food, home and friendship. We discussed many topics and particularly enjoyed 15 year old Pedros perspectives . It’s an evening that will stand out among our travels.

- zekezola February 27, 2025

Being in Pedro’s home, the smells of the food, meeting his kids, Portuguese culture. We loved our evening, but wish that we would have had more time learning how to cook the meals. We loved it but wanted more hands on cooking.

- DavidP January 07, 2025

Pedro and his friend Eduarda were great hosts for a private cooking lesson for me on my solo trip to Portimao. We made a few tasty traditional dishes together at Pedro’s home and I learned about local ingredients and cooking methods. Dinner was excellent and I really enjoyed getting to spend time with Pedro in his home over a meal I helped make. This is probably my new favorite travel activity to really get to know a place.

- Kristen November 25, 2024

Everything about the evening was delightful! Pedro and his visiting sister made us feel like family friends in his home. Prior to the class he asked for any special needs and accommodated. The weather allowed us the added treat of beginning our food prep on the rooftop before moving to the kitchen inside. The meal from starters and wine to dessert was delicious! Pedro’s instruction was playful and gental; and his knowledge and passion for the important role of sharing good (organic) food is clear to see! The visit around his table during the meal was relaxed and friendly. We felt like we made new friends! This evening was the highlight of our 2 weeks in Portugal!

- Karen_B October 01, 2024