I’m standing at a scrubbed wooden table grating cucumber for tzatziki with a view of a manicured vegetable plot and a soundtrack of bleating goats.
02.10.2023 - 13:05 / cntraveler.com
I firmly believe that the best way to connect with a culture is by breaking bread with locals. As a digital nomad, I get the unique opportunity to visit places all around the world, and to stay longer than most vacationers. Eating out at restaurants is great, but in my experience, it’s in learning how to prepare local food that I come to fully understand its meaning. I took my first cooking class in Paris in 2021, shortly after I started traveling full-time, and have since made it a point to sign up for a class in most every place I visit long-term. I mainly find cooking classes through Airbnb Experiences or word of mouth.
For me, cooking is a way to completely disconnect from work and stress and fully engage your mind and body on the task at hand. It’s a lovely break from technology, and a great way to meet new people and learn new techniques. I can’t wait to take more as I continue my travels, but for now, here are my seven favorite cooking classes I’ve taken across North America, South America, and Europe.
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This cooking class in Athens is located on the roof of The Artist Hotel near Monastiraki Square. The four-hour experience is terrific from start to finish. You learn how to prepare a five-course traditional Greek dinner—Aegean Salad, tzatziki, spanakopita (spinach and feta pie), moussaka (beef and eggplant lasagna), and galatopita (custard pie). Once you prepare the meal, you are seated in a room with breathtaking views of the Parthenon. My class had 11 people, including myself and the instructor. It was less hands-on than some other classes on this list, but still very informative. This class tends to get booked up quickly. I waited too long to book my spot, so I reached out to the host, who was happy to squeeze me in.
If you’ve ever been to Portugal, you’ve likely eaten your weight in pastel de nata, the traditional Portuguese egg custard tart. This two-hour class teaches you everything you need to know about this pastry and where to buy the equipment to make it back home. The class occurs twice daily from Monday through Saturday, so there’s no excuse not to book this on your next trip to Lisbon. I’m a much better cook than a baker, so this class was perfect for learning the basics of pastry.
This was the first cooking class I took back in 2021. There’s nothing more Parisian than pastry, and this class was so much fun. We made delicious strawberry pies, and it was fascinating learning how to bake vegan pastry. This experience is no longer available, but there are similar ones that I have yet to try but are on my list, like learning
I’m standing at a scrubbed wooden table grating cucumber for tzatziki with a view of a manicured vegetable plot and a soundtrack of bleating goats.
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