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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Parikshit

Hyderabad, India

USD
$26-$80 per person

Learn Hyderabadi cooking with a local family in SR Nagar

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

Meet Parikshit

Parikshit is a former restaurateur by profession and an amateur chef by passion. The care and attention that his mother showed in her cooking had a major influence on his love for food and cooking. He started to cook for himself during his time in the United States as a student. When he returned to India he started a small restaurant – a gourmet barbecue joint where he whipped up burgers! When asked why he wanted to become a Traveling Spoon host, Parikshit said, "From my travels across the globe, the only lasting friendships I made were in the kitchen and on the dining table. It is now my time to give back!"

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: (1-4 guests) Parikshit lives with his family in a modest and simple apartment, located a 15-minute drive outside the city center. The food Parikshit cooks is heavily influenced by the Nizami and Telugu cuisine of Hyderabad, made using recipes and cooking styles have been passed down through generations. Parikshit’s wife, Debasmita comes from East India and adds to his repertoire delightful flavors from the Bengali kitchen! Some of the dishes that you might try at Parikshit’s dining table are traditional Hyderabadi kacche gosht ki biryani (marinated meat, layered with fragrant basmati rice, a signature Hyderabadi dish), khatti dal (sour lentil soup) and curry (either vegetable, meat or seafood) accompanied by a variety of chutneys and pickles. You will conclue your meal with a traditional Hyderabadi sweet bread pudding called double ka meetha and tea or coffee.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Join Parikshit in his home kitchen for your 1.5 hour cooking class. Start by learning how to layer the most popular dish of the region, biriyani. Then proceed to make a spice mix using a 56-year-old family recipe! You will use a traditional pestle and mortar to grind the spices. Using this freshly blended spice mix, make a curry and appetizer that you will share and enjoy together.

Market visit: (1-4 guests) Parikshit will take you to a neighborhood local market to experience a local's everyday life. Walk through the market and learn about fruits, vegetables and spices used in Indian cooking. Learn how to bargain with local vendors as you purchase a few ingredients for your meal in his home.

Notes: Parikshit can offer vegetarian, gluten free, and halal meals on request.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

I thought Parikshit and Debbie were warm and welcoming and I really enjoyed the whole experience. Their English was top-notch and they were super easy to communicate with. I came away feeling incredibly full and feeling like I had gotten an insight and experience that was completely unique to Hyderabad. I liked their choice of making the signature Hyderabadi biryani dish as that is really rooted in the city and its history, and it felt awesome to be able to make a city’s best-known dish in someone's home, and then feel like I could re-create it at home. I also loved that they were cognizant not to make the meal too spicy, it was all still incredibly flavorful. I enjoyed the afternoon immensely and thank Parikshit and Debbie for welcoming us and teaching us so much! They did a really great job and I can see a lot of other people enjoying the experience. We truly loved the experience!

Jessica and Eric, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
My brother and I were at Vijayalaxmi's house and experienced an amazing food workshop. We learned a lot about the food and thoroughly enjoyed the warm hospitality. We met her son who enriched us with a pleasant conversation. The food was amazing. Like magic, a lot of spices mixed, turned into delicate and flavorful food. We got to experiment, feel and taste different and delicious food that now becomes an integral part of our home table. We left satiated and happy and looking forward to the next visit
- ShaiD830 December 04, 2022
We had a great time visiting and learning about life in Hyderabad. The family is warm and gracious, and welcomed us into their home and made sure we had everything we could possibly want. They are all excellent cooks, and we learned a lot about how Hyderabadi food is prepared. We thoroughly enjoyed the delicious meal and conversation. Parry was also so helpful in meeting our car a few blocks away to guide our driver to his house, and even wrapped up the leftover biryani for our friends back at the hotel. It was an excellent experience all around, and I would highly recommend it. I think we will never forget that part of our trip to Hyderabad, and the food was the best of our trip!
- Anne R October 31, 2019
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Parikshit

$26-$80 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
In-Home Meal
 $30 $26 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $50 $46 Not offered
Market Tour + Meal
 $60 $56 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $80 $76 Not offered
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $14 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $30 $26 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $50 $46 Not offered
Market Tour + Meal
 $60 $56 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $80 $76 Not offered
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $14 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-4:00pm 7:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 12:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Meal
 10:00am-12:00pm 5:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-9:00pm

Meet Parikshit

Parikshit is a former restaurateur by profession and an amateur chef by passion. The care and attention that his mother showed in her cooking had a major influence on his love for food and cooking. He started to cook for himself during his time in the United States as a student. When he returned to India he started a small restaurant – a gourmet barbecue joint where he whipped up burgers! When asked why he wanted to become a Traveling Spoon host, Parikshit said, "From my travels across the globe, the only lasting friendships I made were in the kitchen and on the dining table. It is now my time to give back!"

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: (1-4 guests) Parikshit lives with his family in a modest and simple apartment, located a 15-minute drive outside the city center. The food Parikshit cooks is heavily influenced by the Nizami and Telugu cuisine of Hyderabad, made using recipes and cooking styles have been passed down through generations. Parikshit’s wife, Debasmita comes from East India and adds to his repertoire delightful flavors from the Bengali kitchen! Some of the dishes that you might try at Parikshit’s dining table are traditional Hyderabadi kacche gosht ki biryani (marinated meat, layered with fragrant basmati rice, a signature Hyderabadi dish), khatti dal (sour lentil soup) and curry (either vegetable, meat or seafood) accompanied by a variety of chutneys and pickles. You will conclue your meal with a traditional Hyderabadi sweet bread pudding called double ka meetha and tea or coffee.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Join Parikshit in his home kitchen for your 1.5 hour cooking class. Start by learning how to layer the most popular dish of the region, biriyani. Then proceed to make a spice mix using a 56-year-old family recipe! You will use a traditional pestle and mortar to grind the spices. Using this freshly blended spice mix, make a curry and appetizer that you will share and enjoy together.

Market visit: (1-4 guests) Parikshit will take you to a neighborhood local market to experience a local's everyday life. Walk through the market and learn about fruits, vegetables and spices used in Indian cooking. Learn how to bargain with local vendors as you purchase a few ingredients for your meal in his home.

Notes: Parikshit can offer vegetarian, gluten free, and halal meals on request.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

I thought Parikshit and Debbie were warm and welcoming and I really enjoyed the whole experience. Their English was top-notch and they were super easy to communicate with. I came away feeling incredibly full and feeling like I had gotten an insight and experience that was completely unique to Hyderabad. I liked their choice of making the signature Hyderabadi biryani dish as that is really rooted in the city and its history, and it felt awesome to be able to make a city’s best-known dish in someone's home, and then feel like I could re-create it at home. I also loved that they were cognizant not to make the meal too spicy, it was all still incredibly flavorful. I enjoyed the afternoon immensely and thank Parikshit and Debbie for welcoming us and teaching us so much! They did a really great job and I can see a lot of other people enjoying the experience. We truly loved the experience!

Jessica and Eric, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
My brother and I were at Vijayalaxmi's house and experienced an amazing food workshop. We learned a lot about the food and thoroughly enjoyed the warm hospitality. We met her son who enriched us with a pleasant conversation. The food was amazing. Like magic, a lot of spices mixed, turned into delicate and flavorful food. We got to experiment, feel and taste different and delicious food that now becomes an integral part of our home table. We left satiated and happy and looking forward to the next visit
- ShaiD830 December 04, 2022
We had a great time visiting and learning about life in Hyderabad. The family is warm and gracious, and welcomed us into their home and made sure we had everything we could possibly want. They are all excellent cooks, and we learned a lot about how Hyderabadi food is prepared. We thoroughly enjoyed the delicious meal and conversation. Parry was also so helpful in meeting our car a few blocks away to guide our driver to his house, and even wrapped up the leftover biryani for our friends back at the hotel. It was an excellent experience all around, and I would highly recommend it. I think we will never forget that part of our trip to Hyderabad, and the food was the best of our trip!
- Anne R October 31, 2019
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
In-Home Meal
 $30 $26 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $50 $46 Not offered
Market Tour + Meal
 $60 $56 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $80 $76 Not offered
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $14 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $30 $26 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $50 $46 Not offered
Market Tour + Meal
 $60 $56 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $80 $76 Not offered
Alcohol
 $4 per person
Transportation
 $14 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-4:00pm 7:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 12:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Meal
 10:00am-12:00pm 5:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-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 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.