Cooking Class on Greek Island: Discover Traditional Greek Cuisine
5.0
85 Ratings
Ermoupoli
Immerse yourself in the traditional Greek cuisine on a cooking class in a Greek island. Learn secrets and techniques, sample local wines and cheese, and enjoy a Greek feast in a charming courtyard.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
-
Idras 42 - Our rendezvous is set at Villa Maria, the storied inn. The session will be conducted in the villa’s well-appointed culinary space.
You’ll be treated to a herbal infusion crafted from the island’s indigenous flora as I share insights into the Hellenic gastronomic heritage.
Next, we’ll dive into an interactive cooking workshop, crafting a comprehensive spread of various courses, delving into authentic Greek household recipes that are typically not served in eateries.
The assortment will feature an array of appetizers, a savory pie, a fresh salad, a principal course, and a sweet finale.
Participants may select a vegan or vegetarian array of dishes.
The selection of dishes is seasonal.
To conclude, we’ll partake in a communal meal within the villa’s cool, shaded patio.
Additionally, for an extra charge of 45€ per person, you can partake in a wine and cheese sampling, savoring top-notch Hellenic wines (including white, rosé, red, and a sweet variant) made from local varietals, along with handcrafted cheeses from a selection of Hellenic isles.
NOTE: Should the group be fewer than four individuals, the workshop might be relocated to our pastoral abode’s kitchen in Finikas, situated 10km from Ermoupolis. Transportation arrangements will be made accordingly.
We will savor our dishes either in the idyllic garden beneath the fig tree’s canopy or in the dining area with a view of the bay.
What's Included
- Lunch
What's Not Included
- Private transportation
Meal Options
- split peas puree with caramelised onions, capers and sun dried tomatoes
- courgette pie with mint and goat cheese
- vine leaf pies with yogurt and herbs
- smoked aubergine spread with walnuts
- stuffed tomatoes/peppers with rice, herbs, currants and pine nuts
- sardines stuffed with fennel, lemon, garlic wrapped in vine leaves
- orange and cinnamon flavoured semolina halva
- vanilla and lemon milk pie
Additional Information
Immerse yourself in authentic Greek cuisine with an enthusiastic chef who uses natural, locally-sourced, and seasonal ingredients to prepare distinct healthy, and mouthwatering meals. Taste wines and cheeses from different regions of Greece. Gain insights into secrets and techniques, and get a glimpse of how Greeks dine at home. Wrap up the class with a lavish Greek banquet in a charming shaded courtyard, and depart with the ability to prepare an entire Greek dish from scratch!
In a several day experience, classes will concentrate on different elements of the varied regional Greek cuisines. Take a stroll in a market and sample superb local delicacies, relish in a luxurious beach picnic and take a dip in unspoilt beaches, wander fishing hamlets, traditional colonies and local taverns and learn the art of gathering wild herbs and greens.
You’ill be accommodated at Villa Maria, a refurbished registered 19th-century mansion, brimming with antique allure, in the splendid town of Ermoupolis, the capital of Syros, an island with a rich historical and cultural background and intriguing culinary customs.
Location
Villa Maria-Syros
Idras
The meeting point is our guesthouse, Villa Maria, where the class takes place. The address is 42 Idras st., just two streets up the steps above the town's main square.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(85 Ratings)
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Markuslo6420wk
Feb 15, 2024
Sensational - Authentically Greek in every way!
Great location, I can only recommend it, would love to go back, also a great gift 😄
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Detrout
Nov 1, 2023
Wonderful, fun experience! - We booked a cooking class with Elisa and it was fabulous and so much fun! We had a great group and it was small enough that we could all participate. Elisa was a wonderful teacher in terms of educating us on what true Greek food is. We made several items and they were all delicious and definitely things you can make at home (she does email you the recipes). I'm anxious to try the baklava because she made it seem very easy! After making the items, we went to the roof to sit down and eat the food. She also offered a wine tasting which we didn't partake in but those who did said the wines were really good. You really felt like you were sharing a meal with friends. Villa Maria is a beautiful building and even though we didn't stay there for our lodging, I would definitely encourage you to. I would highly recommend this activity - you won't regret it.
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I8517oycherylg
Oct 23, 2023
Learning the Greek Way in Villa Maria's Kitchen - Taking Elisa's class at Villa Maria was the highlight of our Aegean cruise. It was a perfect and memorable way to end the cruise. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. It was such a pleasure to participate in the preparation of the meal in the marvelous kitchen and learn so much about Greek cuisine from Elisa, an excellent teacher. Each dish was a delight for the palate, and I am eager to prepare the dishes for my family and friends here in California.
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Bpantazelos124
Oct 23, 2023
Do not miss this experience if you like to cook! - We cannot express how great the class was with Elisa. The kitchen itself was incredible, but she also helped to educate us on true Greek cooking. We learned methods for making the dishes and she really tailored the menu to our group's tastes and dietary needs. She was a welcoming host, a great teacher, and we cannot recommend doing this more highly! Also--we didn't, but we would also STAY at Villa Maria the next time. The building, the furnishings, and the views were just staggering. Thank you again!
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I5503ginickys
Oct 19, 2023
The real Greek island experience for foodies - Elisa's cooking week at Villa Maria was the best possible start to my 3 week island hopping in the Cyclades. Syros has so much to offer, but without the crowd and cruise ship overload. As a caring host and passionate cook, Elisa made sure we gelled as group, happily customised the classes to our interests and diets and ultimately had a lot of fun! Her knowledge of local produce and lesser known vegetarian dishes were second to none. We cooked, shopped, picnicked, lunched at the ouzeria and dined out high up in the ancient village of Ano Syros. These and the stunning Villa Maria led to enjoyable and colourful week, delivering a far deeper authentic Greek island experience than any picture postcard scratch-the-surface visit could hold a candle to.
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Hilaryannewhite
Oct 14, 2023
Cooking Class - A very enjoyable informative class with
Elisa covering regional dishes I would highly recommend it! We did dishes from Northern Greece, Corfu, ending with a delicious Orange Pie all delicious 😋
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Liliasvietlana
Oct 10, 2023
Elisa is the meaning of good food - I have to say that we enjoyed every minute we were in the class. We learn a lot about what is really Greek food. Elisa does not only teaches you new recipes, but we also share one of the best meals we have in Syros. I totally recommended!
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Donnahw4
Oct 6, 2023
A Great Way to Spend Time in Syros - Elisa’s cooking class is a wonderful way to spend a day in Syros. She gives a great introduction to the food of the different regions of Greece, and explains in great detail the backgrounds of the 7 dishes you cook.
The recipes were delicious and we have cooked a few already. They came out exactly as Elisa taught us to make them. She is clear and concise with her techniques and explains why she does things the way she does.
The day concludes with a lovely lunch of the dishes we cooked and local wine on the terrace at Villa Maria. A great end to a fabulous experience.
We cannot recommend this cooking school highly enough. Well done Elisa and thank you for everything you taught us.
Donna, John & Hilary xx
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Omar
Oct 5, 2023
Cooking with new friends guided by a Greek traditional cook - A highlight of our 3 weeks traveling in Europe. It was an experience not only learning but participating in making a traditional island Greek dinner.
Our group of 11 people came from across Europe but also America which led to interesting conversations to add zest to the cooking lessons.
Recommended for solo travellers looking for an interesting diversion as well as couples and groups with a passion for food.
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Eschaltz
Oct 26, 2023
Overall fun experience, however you don't do any actual cooking. - Overall, it was a very fun experience that ended with great food. However, you don't do much cooking at all. When you get there you do a little prep work, such as cutting onions etc, but besides that all the food is pre-prepped by her. After that initial prep work, most of the time is spent standing there watching her cook all the food. She explains what she is doing while she is doing it but never offered to see if we wanted to join in and help. We were just slightly disappointed because we expected a hands on cooking class, when in reality it was more like watching a cooking show in person.
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