Meet
Putu
Putu is a talented Balinese home cook with a wonderful sense of humor who welcomes travelers into her traditional family compound in Ubud for an authentic Balinese cooking and cultural experience. Raised in a family of rice farmers, Putu learned to cook alongside her grandmother, helping prepare traditional Balinese meals from an early age. Today, she combines generations-old family recipes with her creativity and passion for beautiful food presentation, often decorating dishes with intricately carved fruits and vegetables. Beyond cooking, Putu plays an important role in her family's spiritual traditions, preparing elaborate fruit offerings for Balinese Hindu temple ceremonies. She also makes homemade jamu, a traditional Indonesian turmeric-based herbal drink. Putu lives with her husband, Pasta, their three children, and her grandparents in a lively family compound surrounded by tropical fruit trees, including jackfruit, cacao, durian, coffee, and bananas. The family also raises pigs, ducks, chickens, and a cow. During your visit, Putu and her family will show you around their home, orchard, and family temple, sharing insights into everyday Balinese life, farming, and religious traditions. You'll enjoy a delicious home-cooked Balinese meal featuring fresh ingredients and rice grown by her grandparents. More than a cooking class in Ubud, an experience with Putu offers a meaningful opportunity to connect with a local Balinese family and discover the island's food, culture, and traditions firsthand.
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.
Cooking experience:
(2-30 guests)
Join Putu in her traditional family compound in Ubud for a private, hands-on Balinese cooking class where you'll prepare five authentic Balinese dishes using family recipes passed down through generations. Learn to chop, grind spices, and grill as Putu introduces you to traditional cooking techniques, fragrant local ingredients, and their cultural and medicinal significance. Many ingredients come straight from her family's farm, including rice grown by her grandparents. In Putu's simple home kitchen, discover how she creates the rich, complex flavors of Balinese cuisine using just a two-burner cooktop. Along the way, she'll share stories about Balinese Hindu traditions and everyday village life, bringing warmth and humor to this intimate cultural experience. After approximately 1.5 hours of cooking, sit down together to enjoy the delicious meal you've prepared. When in season, you'll also taste fresh, organic tropical fruits picked from the family's trees. More than a typical Ubud cooking class, this authentic farm-to-table experience offers a personal connection to Balinese food, family, and culture.
Market visit:
(1-30 guests)
After a 7am pickup from your Ubud hotel, join Putu for a guided visit to Pejeng's bustling traditional Balinese market. Experience everyday local life as you explore colorful stalls filled with fresh tropical fruits, seasonal vegetables, aromatic spices, and traditional Balinese ingredients. Putu will introduce you to local vendors, explain the ingredients used in Balinese cuisine, and help you select fresh produce for your cooking class. Spend approximately 30 minutes exploring the market, taking in the vibrant sights, sounds, and aromas of a traditional Balinese morning market. Be sure to bring your camera! After your market tour, continue to Putu's family home for your private, hands-on Balinese cooking class.
Notes:
Transportation: Round-trip transportation from hotels in Ubud is included in the price. Please provide your hotel name when booking so Putu can arrange your pickup.
Outside Ubud: Pickup from hotels outside Ubud is available for an additional fee. Please contact reservations@travelingspoon.com for pricing and arrangements.
Dietary restrictions: Putu can accommodate vegetarian diets with advance notice. Please mention any dietary requirements when booking.
Round-Trip Transfers:
If you choose this optional add-on, you will be picked up from your accommodation in Ubud by private car and dropped off after your experience. Round-trip transfers within Ubud are included in the experience price. Transfers outside Ubud are available for an additional charge. Please provide your hotel name when booking.
Languages spoken:
English
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
Putu's home is in a lovely, quiet setting. When I arrived the table was set, the food prepped for cooking, and the children greeted me with shy looks and an occasional smile. Putu she explained the what, how, why of the cooking process. It amazed me that she could prepare 6 dishes on two burners with great fluidity to her work. Each dish turned out perfectly and looks beautiful - not to mention, everything was delicious!
Wendy, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
I enjoyed every moment. They were very welcoming to us. They taught us so much about Balinese culture and authentic Balinese cooking. I will definitely recommend everyone to book.
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atlas
November 02, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised. The class was intimate, hands on, great atmosphere and plenty of fun. The food was AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to try to prepare when I return home.
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wayne
November 02, 2026
The cooking class with Putu was amazing! It was gift for my husband's birthday and Putu made this day one for the memories. The cooking class was a highlight of our vacation in Bali and we still talk about it a lot!
Putu is such a welcoming and nice person and we learned a lot from her, not just cooking but also about culture and life in Bali. It was perfect to have a private cooking class, we can highly recommend and would definetly book it again!
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lisa
October 31, 2026
This was a fantastic experience! Putu started the class by giving us a tour of her home and surrounding gardens. We made the meal alongside her and members of her family, who were warm and patient in teaching us traditional Balinese cooking. The meal and cooking process was done entirely outside, but in a shaded area with fans, which made for a quite cool and pleasant cooking experience. The food was delicious, authentic, and catered exactly to our spice level. Almost all the ingredients were raised either directly by Putu’s family or by her surrounding neighbors. I would recommend this tour to anyone as a ‘not to miss’. Thank you Putu for your hospitality and expertise!
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samant
October 30, 2026
It was such a beautiful and inspiring experience to be in Putu’s home, to see how her family live such a sustainable life and to learn how to cook traditional Balinese dishes. We booked as a group of six, including a vegetarian - and we all loved the experience. Putu is a brilliant host and teacher. I’m keen to bring my family to meet her and enjoy this experience too. Thanks Putu. 🙏
I highly recommend this to anyone who is open to an authentic, genuine insight into Balinese life, culture and wisdom - food is a great way to connect.
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sherry
October 25, 2026
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