This is a unique opportunity to visit the home of a local and explore traditional culture and cuisine. Join Defne for a Portuguese cooking class in Lisbon and cook together three dishes from scratch. In your 1.5 hour hands-on class you will learn to make an appetizer, main dish and dessert. While you cook she will share stories behind the dishes, how they are cooked in other cultures, and will share lots of tips and tricks! End your Lisbon cooking class with some coffee and a taste of Ginjinha, a classic Portuguese liqueur from Lisbon. During your experience with her, you can expect to enjoy classic Portuguese dishes, from the Mediterranean and beyond. Enjoy a fresh meal at Defne’s beautiful dining table in her living room or outdoors in the garden, when weather permits. A few dishes that you mish try are tremoços (pickled beans) and olives, salada de grão-de-bico (chickpea salad), caldeirada de peixe (fish stew) and arroz de doce (rice pudding). Your meal will be served with two glasses of Portuguese wine. Please note Defne’s menu is seasonal and will change depending on the availability of local produce. If you have any preference, please let her know in advance.
Defoe was amazing! She made me feel comfortable and taught me a lot about Portuguese cooking and the culture. She gives you room to play with the ingredients and flavor while sharing amazing stories together. I have been to many cooking classes around the world and this was by far the best. It was intimate and a lot more meaningful.
This was such a unique, wonderful experience! Our host was gracious, friendly, and fun, and we enjoyed having genuine human connection while also learning about and experiencing traditional Portuguese cuisine. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who wants to have a meaningful and authentic travel experience.
We had such a wonderful experience with Defne for this cooking class. She was such a kind, gracious host and made us feel completely welcome in her beautiful home and garden. We had so much fun learning to cook delicious Portuguese food and sharing a meal with Defne. Not only was the food amazing, but the conversation was meaningful as well. This really was an experience we won’t forget.
This was a wonderful experience. Dafne was a exceptional host. We learned and participated in cooking a delicious meal, that consisted of an Portuguese appetizer, Main entre and a wonderful dessert. All of this included wine. We ate in a beautiful little garden with very pretty Bougainvillea. Dafne was very warm and inviting, as well as a great teacher. She was patient and kind. Definitely a highlight of our visit to Lisbon Portugal. A MUST DO!!
10/10 recommend!!! This experience is one of the most memorable! Defne is such a beautiful soul, so welcoming and an amazing instructor. You can tell she loves to immerse visitors into the culture! The menu selection was perfect. I didn’t know I was such a great cook! Everything was fresh and homemade. If I haven’t convinced you to book, then go dine at a restaurant!
Wonderful experience. Defne was the best host, a combination of Portuguese and Turkish hospitality. We cooked three tasty dishes and tasted original Portuguese delicacies and wines while cooking. Her apartment, cozy garden area that we ate together the stuff we cooked were very cute. And then one should not pass without mentioning the beautiful cat of the house Punto. Highly recommended.
This afternoon was an amazing, intimate, and food-driven cultural experience. We got the opportunity to make several traditional Portuguese dishes with the thoughtful guiding from Defne. We got to enjoy several hours learning about ingredients, preparation, and finally dining/pairing with wines. This is an absolute must for foodies who want hands on experience to learn more about culture and the people behind the culture. Was perfect for our small group. I am sure large groups would enjoy just as much.
I have taken many cooking classes and food tours on my travels. But never have I connected as much as with Defne! She supplies the background and history in conversations while you are cooking and prepping the meal. Her communication before the class, meeting instructions and vibrant personality make this a wonderful evening! And a big plus is that you leave with the recipes to make at home. The atmosphere is as warm and inviting as Defne herself!
Defne is fantastic in every way. Such a warm person and we loved coming to and seeing her home--good to see the real Lisbon rather than just a tourist place. Very knowledgeable about food and we learned more than just the recipes, e.g. how to do quick fermentation of onions, that we can apply to other cooking.
Defne is a fantastic instructor and host. Rather than just teach you specific recipes only she will also teach you about techniques and different options for different ways to cook the food and a lot about the culture. Really appreciated it.
Defne is a wonderful host and person and it's obvious she loves what she does. We wanted something a little more authentic when we booked this, and we weren't sure what to expect arriving at Defne's apartment. While it wasn't a ton of space, she did an outstanding job putting all 5 of us to work while explaining what we were cooking, and it gave us an appreciation for true local cuisine. She has a nice garden patio where we enjoyed the fruits of our labor along with some great wine and company (and we enjoyed her very chill cat at the same time). Defne also shared the recipes with us after. It was a pleasure to spend time with her and a real "local" experience that you just don't get on the standardized tours. It was a pleasure to share some of our time in Portugal with Defne and I highly recommend this activity to anybody who wants to appreciate what goes into some of these traditional Portugese dishes.
Defne treated my granddaughter and me like old friends from the rime we arrived, and visiting her was one of our best experiences in Lisbon. In addition to learning several cooking tips, we shared a delicious meal and conversed about our worldviews and travel adventures. Enthusiastically recommend!
Defne was a joy to meet! The food was excellent, and we hope to try and replicate a dish at home. It was a pleasure to meet a like-minded world traveler and exchange views. My granddaughter also loved the cat!
Defne was amazing, got to get an inside look about the culture and life in Lisbon, and recommendations of places to visit while we were traveling. Told us a background of everything we cooked and it was all DELICIOUS!
Experience a local’s home from their company + neighborhood to the cuisine that is the heartbeat of the area! The cooking itself is pretty simple and straightforward, but the joy is the conversation and cultural immersion. Defne was a lovely host, and you do not feel like a stranger in her home. She was very hospitable, kind and welcoming. The food was just an added bonus!
We have taken other cooking classes in our travels but our evening with Defne was an all around wonderful experience. From the moment we arrived, it was as if we had arrived at a friend's house. Nothing pretentious or uncomfortable, we immediately started helping in prepping dinner, while exchanging stories. Dining in Defne's lovely backyard was a treat on this Fall evening. Our meal was yummy, but also included dishes we will be able to replicate. As said earlier, just a great experience!
Was a relaxing and amazing experience! I highly recommend this cooking class! I learned alot about portuguese cooking and took home some Recipes to make for my family and friends 🧡.
Very much enjoyed the cooking class. Her energy is contagious and wonderful. All the dishes were delicious and we learned some new tricks too. One thing that should be disclosed since in her apartment is that she has a cat. My gf is very allergic but we ate outside that saved a terrible reaction. Otherwise recommended the class highly
We just finished our cooking class and lunch with Defne- an absolutely wonderful experience. Defne could not have been more welcoming and hospitable. The communication beforehand was great, asking about allergies and food preferences. We got a lesson in Portuguese cuisine and had a delicious lunch with the most amazing host If you’re looking for a great experience, look no farther, this is it!!!
What a gem! It was so nice having Dafne cook for us we got to all join in and help out in making the dinner. She gave us an unforgettable memory for me and my friends i would definitely recommend. She has an adorable backyard where we ate and it was very cozy and cute. Thanks Dafne for your warmth and inviting us in to your home! 😊
We had a lovely evening and experience with Defne in her home! She was very gracious and the food was absolutely delicious. She paired the courses with local wine and taught us many things about local cuisine and culture. Her private patio garden was lovely to share a meal and make new friends!
We joined this class during our trip with a friend and her 3-year-old child, and it was such a wonderful experience. Instead of focusing on strict techniques, Defne showed us how cooking can be simple, fun, and something to truly enjoy every day. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and even with a small child, the class was engaging and enjoyable for everyone. Sharing a meal afterward, while talking about Portuguese history, spices, and everyday life, made it even more special. It felt like spending time with old friends, and I would love to join again when I return to Lisbon. Highly recommended!
Defne was a wonderful host. Very knowledgeable about the food and background of the food prepared. After she taught us how to cook the meal, we had a fabulous dinner and conversation in her garden. Plenty to eat and easy new recipes to try when we return home.
What an amazing evening, Defne was a terrific hostess. This is a casual informal cooking class in a cozy kitchen. The recipes she shared are simple, delicious, and things that we can make when we get back home Best of all it was a beautiful night and we could sit outside in her garden, enjoying a relaxed dinner with plenty of wine great conversation and amazing food
This was a wonderful way to begin my adventures in Lisbon. Defne is a fantastic host and a great cook. She walked me through two recipes and then we shared a delicious meal in the garden. Defne has a wealth of local and culinary knowledge to share which made this experience really special.
Participated in a cooking class by Mr. Kaushik's family, whom I was connected to. The unique Brahmin dishes of no-onion and no-garlic, and the way they were made, were all different from what I knew and very fresh. For dishes you would like us to teach you in advance, you can consult with us from a certain menu, so you can learn about recipes that interest you. Of course the food is delicious, but spending time with a family full of hospitality was heartwarming for me as I came travelling alone. It is also a must-stop family next time you visit Bangalore.
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