Cooking with Rum in Antigua: Caribbean cuisine class

Cook a three-course meal while tasting rum from six Caribbean islands

Nicole's Table is a hands-on cooking class in Antigua where you learn to prepare Caribbean dishes using rum as a flavoring ingredient, from starter through dessert. The class runs four hours in a local home with views of the Caribbean Sea, taught by Nicole in an informal style that weaves in the history of rum in the region and stories of West Indian life. You'll taste six regional rums, starting with Antigua's award-winning English Harbor, and finish by eating the three-course lunch you've made together, with all recipes to take home. Children from age 3 are welcome. The minimum group size is four people.

The experience

What makes this different from a cooking class you'd find elsewhere is the rum itself. The class opens with the history of rum in the Caribbean (how it shaped the region starting in the 17th century), and then moves into how different styles of rum (dark, white, spiced) change the flavor of food. You'll taste six rums from Antigua, Barbados, Guatemala, Cuba, Jamaica and Martinique as you cook, learning which one works in the starter, which in the main course, which in dessert. The menu shifts with the season, but typically includes Sweet Potato Soup with Rum, Rum and Brown Sugar Marinated Chicken with Onion Jam, Nicole's Tostones, Red Beans and Rice, and Butter Rum Cake, along with Coconut Crisps or Plantain Chips to start.

Nicole teaches in an informal way, explaining not just the technique but the story behind each dish and what life in the West Indies actually looks like. The class is hands-on if you want it that way, or as laid-back as you prefer. You're cooking in her home, not in a commercial kitchen. The view of the Caribbean Sea from the hilltop location is part of the experience itself. After four hours of cooking and tasting, you sit down to eat what you've made, and you leave with the recipes written out so you can recreate the dishes at home.

The class includes all the food and drinks: the three-course lunch, the six rum tastings, coffee or tea, and snacks. You'll need to arrange your own transport to the home. There's no hotel or port pickup included. If your group is smaller than four people, you can book into an existing class rather than starting a new one. Children from age 3 can attend with an adult, though the rum tasting is only for guests 18 and over. Let Nicole know about any dietary restrictions or allergies when you book, since the menu depends on what's in season.

What’s included

• Three-course lunch you prepare in class.
• six rum tastings from the Caribbean.
• coffee and tea.
• snacks.
• all recipes to take home.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 11:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Stroller-friendly

Operated by Nicole's Table Ltd

Is this one for you?Book this class if you're cooking with others. The minimum is four people, and the experience centers on making and eating together in a local home rather than in a commercial kitchen. The four-hour format and the informal teaching style suit travelers who want to slow down and learn the story behind the food, not just the steps.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

126 verified traveler reviews

5 ★126

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What rums will I taste during the cooking class?

The class includes tastings of six regional rums: Antigua's English Harbor (a five-year-old award winner), plus rums from Barbados, Guatemala, Cuba, Jamaica and Martinique. You'll taste them as you cook, learning how each style flavors different dishes.

What will I cook and eat in the four hours?

You'll prepare a three-course meal: a starter (Coconut Crisps or Plantain Chips), a main course of Rum and Brown Sugar Marinated Chicken with Onion Jam served alongside Nicole's Tostones, Red Beans and Rice and a Rainbow Garden Salad, and Butter Rum Cake for dessert. You'll also make Sweet Potato Soup with Rum. The exact menu shifts with seasonal availability, and you'll get all the recipes to take home.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. Nicole teaches in an informal way and the class can be as hands-on or laid-back as you want. The focus is on learning the history and culture behind the food as much as the technique itself.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to arrange?

The class includes all food, the six rum tastings, coffee or tea, and snacks. You'll need to arrange your own transport to Nicole's home. There's no hotel or port pickup included. The minimum group size is four people. If your party is smaller, you can book into an existing class.