Traditional Cooking Class

If you are interested in Cretan cuisine, Greek food, or you are just crazy about cooking, we invite you to join our traditional cooking lesson at the house of your host Vangelio (called Vangelis's house), of the Cretan Spiti. Although this activity highlights the traditional factor of the Cretan lifestyle, on the other hand, a “traditional” description of its “programme” hardly does it justice. This may sound vague, but during these 6 hours (approximately) you will experience the traditional Greek way of life, the culture, the Greek art of cooking. It is not what you will do, it is mostly how you will do it. During this time you will learn traditional tips and cooking methods that have made Cretan Spiti, Crete and Greece, loved by its friends and visitors, but most importantly you will instill the hospitality and the everyday lifestyle of a traditional Cretan family. To become a bit more specific, after you are collected from your hotel (or the port or the location you prefer) and transferred to Vangelis's house at Vatos Village, Vangelio, who was born and raised in a Cretan Village, bears all the knowledge of her family, and will share it with us, with love and integrity and will wholeheartedly invite you into her traditional Cretan home and create a unique atmosphere that will turn this visit into a highlight of your trip. You will first taste a freshly baked bread from a traditional oven. Vangelis will teach you about Cretan culture and history, share stories about her family’s life and make you feel just as if you are visiting close relatives or friends. She will share stories about Cretan true lifestyle and chat with you while you will taste and enjoy some Cretan meze snacks, wine, and Cretan raki. All the dishes are made of genuine pure Cretan products such as olive oil, vegetables, cheese, meat, wine…and of course, all the ingredients are fresh and local. In addition, useful information about the herbs, olive oil and other in gradients is given, together with explanations of their nutritional value and usage. You will wander through “ short” her vegetable garden and olives, and learn about local organic farming and enjoy a wonderful time. And then onto the kitchen where you will make cheese pies, herb pie, vine leaves with yogurt, lamb with Stamnagathi (a local herb), and everything else in our Cretan Spiti’s traditional menu. All guests will be supplied with protective equipment (aprons) from the Cretan Spiti estate. Most cooking ingredients will be readily available in special bowls in the kitchen area ready for the menu preparation. Vangelis will guide you through the whole procedure, giving the opportunity to everyone to master their cooking skills. There is a small intermission between the preparation and the tasting stage, which can be used for a short period of relaxation and to enjoy the company of those around you, but after that lunch starts, where you can consume as much as your belly holds. There are many other details to the “class” that we could share with you but the essence is that as you can see, this is much more than learning to cook a fabulous Greek meal. It is also about family, conversation, food and culture and becoming a member of a family that perhaps you didn’t even know you had. It is quality time in the home of someone close to you, finding yourself in their kitchen helping to cook, enjoying the experience of meeting new people and honoring us by becoming a part of our family.