Learn to Cook in a Local Home: A Taste of the Greek Islands in Athens

Fotini lives with her husband and their beloved dog in an antique and plant-filled apartment in southern Athens. Fotini's husband, originally from the beautiful island of Corfu, is also a skilled cook and together they will welcome you into their home. While you sip a welcome drink, Fotini will tell you about Greek cuisine, considered one of the healthiest diets in the world owing to heavy use of fresh vegetables, Greek olive oil and cheeses, as well as the regional differences that flavor each island's culinary character.

Next you'll head to the kitchen to start cooking. Fotini will teach you to prepare authentic home-style dishes that are typical of the islands. You can expect your hands-on cooking lesson to last one to two hours. You will learn a variety of dishes, such as tomato keftedes (tomato balls, a traditional recipe from Santorini), fava (unlike Western "fava beans", "fava" in Greece refers to a delicious yellow split pea puree, a traditional dish from Santorini), froutalia (a traditional omelette from Tinos island), ladenia (Greek pizza, a traditional dish from Kimolos island), revithada (chickpeas cooked in the oven, a traditional dish from Sifnos island) or sofrito (veal casserole with spices, a traditional dish from Corfu island).

Once your cooking is complete you will gather at the dining table to taste the fruits of your labor and enjoy a shared meal with your hosts.

Please note, this experience is not a professional cooking class, rather it is meant to be a visit into an authentic, local home to meet a local family and share the culture and cuisine together.