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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Casto

Vienna, VA, United States

USD
$108-$136 per person

Traditional Filipino cooking class near Washington DC

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

Meet Casto

Casto was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States with his family when he was 3 years old. He has been in the culinary space as long as he can remember – from an undergrad in Food Science in Upstate New York, to culinary school in Vancouver, Canada, to being a Pastry Chef at a hotel in Washington DC, and most recently an Executive Chef at a culinary school in Los Angeles. He moved to Manila in 2017 to discover his roots through food, language, and people and has since returned to the US. His cuisine is a reflection of his food journey: the memories of Filipino dishes shared at the family table, the Western techniques he learned and honed in the restaurant industry, and his imagination that brings both of them together. Apart from being a chef, Casto is also a yoga teacher and loves the outdoors. He looks forward to spreading his love of Filipino cuisine as well as connecting with food-forward travelers, sharing food and travel stories.

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: (1-6 guests) Meet Casto at his apartment in the Washington DC suburb of Vienna. After settling in with a welcome drink and snack, join Casto in his cozy kitchen for a hands-on cooking class that will last about an hour. You will learn to make 2-3 dishes during your traditional Filipino cooking class with Casto. Learn to cook dishes such as adobong manok (adobo braised chicken), pancit guisdao (sauteed noodles), or lumpiang shanghai (mini spring rolls). By the end of your cooking class, you will have successfully learned to use local, seasonal ingredients to recreate Casto’s interpretation of traditional Filipino dishes. After the class, you will sit at the dining table to share the meal you helped prepare as well as a few additional dishes that Casto may have prepared in advance. The meal will end with dessert such as ube (purple yam) ice cream and coffee or tea. You will also get to take home some homemade goodies such as pandan polvoron (milky shortbread).

Notes: You will also be asked to take your shoes off when you enter his apartment, as this is a part of the Filipino tradition that embodies respect for the owner of the house. If you've paid additionally for alcohol, Casto will serve you a Manila Mule (mango, ginger, and lemongrass cocktail).

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.
  • Welcome drink: cucumber calamansi cooler (Philippine lime)
  • Welcome snacks: chichacorn (crunchy corn kernels)
  • Family-style entrees: adobong manok (adobo braised chicken), ensaladang mangga (green mango salad), lumpiang shanghai (mini spring rolls), laing (greens braised in coconut milk), jasmine rice
  • Dessert: ube ice cream (purple yam)
  • Coffee or Tea (soursop leaf tea)
  • Takeaway: pandan polvoron (milky shortbread)
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Casto is a great conversationalist and there was never a dull moment with him. Denise and I think that he is an old soul because he is young but has a lot of experience up his sleeve! We admire how Casto expresses his individuality and his vibrant personality is evident in how he presents himself. We loved what he served us for lunch. We are not vegans but we really enjoyed the food. He served us 3 dishes, 2 of which were tangy, and the other had a rich taste of garlic and mushroom which really complemented the taste of the whole meal.

Cherry and Denise, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
Casto was an absolute dream of a host, shifting from helpful instruction, to history, cultural insights and friendly conversation seamlessly. He was extremely knowledgable and well-prepared and the food was so delicious I haven't been able to stop talking about it! I took my Mom as a birthday present for her, and even though we're both fairly experienced cooks, we didn't know much about Filipino cuisine before this class. Now we're looking for local Filipino restaurants and grocery stores to share our newfound affection for this cuisine with even more people. Highly recommend! (And in fact, I might book a follow up class with him and make it a regular thing!)
- alexw July 09, 2021
We enjoyed the vegan lunch we helped Chef Cas prepare for us. From the welcome drink (turmeric tea) and small bites to the 5-course meal which included a refreshing mango dessert and the local cherry red wine - everything was yummy! Gigi M
- Gigimant April 15, 2019
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Casto

$108-$136 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
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $122 $108
Alcohol
 $22 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $122 $108
Alcohol
 $22 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-8:30pm

Meet Casto

Casto was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States with his family when he was 3 years old. He has been in the culinary space as long as he can remember – from an undergrad in Food Science in Upstate New York, to culinary school in Vancouver, Canada, to being a Pastry Chef at a hotel in Washington DC, and most recently an Executive Chef at a culinary school in Los Angeles. He moved to Manila in 2017 to discover his roots through food, language, and people and has since returned to the US. His cuisine is a reflection of his food journey: the memories of Filipino dishes shared at the family table, the Western techniques he learned and honed in the restaurant industry, and his imagination that brings both of them together. Apart from being a chef, Casto is also a yoga teacher and loves the outdoors. He looks forward to spreading his love of Filipino cuisine as well as connecting with food-forward travelers, sharing food and travel stories.

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: (1-6 guests) Meet Casto at his apartment in the Washington DC suburb of Vienna. After settling in with a welcome drink and snack, join Casto in his cozy kitchen for a hands-on cooking class that will last about an hour. You will learn to make 2-3 dishes during your traditional Filipino cooking class with Casto. Learn to cook dishes such as adobong manok (adobo braised chicken), pancit guisdao (sauteed noodles), or lumpiang shanghai (mini spring rolls). By the end of your cooking class, you will have successfully learned to use local, seasonal ingredients to recreate Casto’s interpretation of traditional Filipino dishes. After the class, you will sit at the dining table to share the meal you helped prepare as well as a few additional dishes that Casto may have prepared in advance. The meal will end with dessert such as ube (purple yam) ice cream and coffee or tea. You will also get to take home some homemade goodies such as pandan polvoron (milky shortbread).

Notes: You will also be asked to take your shoes off when you enter his apartment, as this is a part of the Filipino tradition that embodies respect for the owner of the house. If you've paid additionally for alcohol, Casto will serve you a Manila Mule (mango, ginger, and lemongrass cocktail).

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.
  • Welcome drink: cucumber calamansi cooler (Philippine lime)
  • Welcome snacks: chichacorn (crunchy corn kernels)
  • Family-style entrees: adobong manok (adobo braised chicken), ensaladang mangga (green mango salad), lumpiang shanghai (mini spring rolls), laing (greens braised in coconut milk), jasmine rice
  • Dessert: ube ice cream (purple yam)
  • Coffee or Tea (soursop leaf tea)
  • Takeaway: pandan polvoron (milky shortbread)
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Casto is a great conversationalist and there was never a dull moment with him. Denise and I think that he is an old soul because he is young but has a lot of experience up his sleeve! We admire how Casto expresses his individuality and his vibrant personality is evident in how he presents himself. We loved what he served us for lunch. We are not vegans but we really enjoyed the food. He served us 3 dishes, 2 of which were tangy, and the other had a rich taste of garlic and mushroom which really complemented the taste of the whole meal.

Cherry and Denise, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
Casto was an absolute dream of a host, shifting from helpful instruction, to history, cultural insights and friendly conversation seamlessly. He was extremely knowledgable and well-prepared and the food was so delicious I haven't been able to stop talking about it! I took my Mom as a birthday present for her, and even though we're both fairly experienced cooks, we didn't know much about Filipino cuisine before this class. Now we're looking for local Filipino restaurants and grocery stores to share our newfound affection for this cuisine with even more people. Highly recommend! (And in fact, I might book a follow up class with him and make it a regular thing!)
- alexw July 09, 2021
We enjoyed the vegan lunch we helped Chef Cas prepare for us. From the welcome drink (turmeric tea) and small bites to the 5-course meal which included a refreshing mango dessert and the local cherry red wine - everything was yummy! Gigi M
- Gigimant April 15, 2019
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $122 $108
Alcohol
 $22 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $122 $108
Alcohol
 $22 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-8:30pm
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.