Curaçao: Caribbean Cooking Class with Chef Helmi & Lunch

Summary

Caribbean food stories hands-on with Chef Helmi in Curaçao

You’ll taste Curaçao through your own hands as you cook Caribbean classics with Chef Helmi — from learning to fillet lionfish to sharing lunch outdoors with new friends. Expect laughter over mangoes, tips from locals, and flavors you might not forget soon.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, I signed up for this Curaçao cooking class mostly because I’d never even heard of funchi fries, let alone cooked with lionfish. Walking into Chef Helmi’s kitchen, I got this whiff of something tangy — maybe tamarind? — and instantly felt like I was somewhere new. Helmi herself is just as warm as everyone says. She handed me a slice of green papaya to try (crunchier than I expected) and told us how she first started experimenting with local ingredients on the island. There were about eight of us, all kind of shy at first, but that faded once we started peeling mangoes together (my technique needs work, apparently).

Helmi showed us how to clean lionfish — which sounds intimidating, but she made it look easy, talking about why it’s actually good for the reefs if we eat more of them. Her assistant kept things moving when we got distracted chatting about where to find the best street food in Willemstad. At one point, someone tried to pronounce ‘funchi’ and Helmi just grinned and said “close enough.” The jerk chicken marinade smelled smoky-sweet; my hands were sticky from papaya but I didn’t mind at all.

After we finished cooking (and making a mess), we sat outside at a big table under some trees. The sun was hot but there was shade and a breeze — you could hear birds and someone’s playlist drifting over from the kitchen. We ate everything we’d made: lionfish ceviche that tasted way fresher than I expected, sweet potato salad, those funchi fries (crisp outside, soft inside), plus wine and coffee if you wanted it. Honestly, I still think about that lime cream on the papaya cake. It wasn’t perfect — my tortillas were lopsided — but that almost made it better.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Caribbean cooking class with Chef Helmi

• Meet Chef Helmi Smeulders
• Taste Caribbean fruits and vegetables
• Learn to clean a mango
• Discover lionfish hunting and filleting
• Prepare dishes in pairs
• Cook lionfish ceviche and jerk chicken
• Make corn tortillas and sweet potato salad
• Prepare green papaya salad and funchi fries
• Enjoy papaya cake with lime cream
• Share meal with wine at communal table

Top questions

Who teaches the Curaçao cooking class?

The class is led by Chef Helmi Smeulders, known for her appearances on Caribbean Cook-Out Show and Top Chef.

What dishes do you make during the cooking class?

You’ll prepare dishes like lionfish ceviche, jerk chicken, corn tortillas, sweet potato salad, green papaya salad, funchi fries, and papaya cake with lime cream.

Is lunch included in the Curaçao cooking class?

Yes, after cooking you’ll share a home-cooked lunch featuring all the dishes made during class.

Are drinks provided during the class?

Soda or pop, alcoholic beverages like wine, coffee and tea are included.

Is the cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

Can infants join the cooking class?

Infants can attend; they may sit on an adult’s lap or ride in a stroller or pram.

Does the Curaçao cooking class cover how to prepare lionfish?

Yes, Chef Helmi explains how to hunt, fillet and cook invasive lionfish as part of the experience.

Where does the lunch take place?

The meal is shared outdoors at a communal table after cooking is complete.

What’s included

Your day includes all ingredients for hands-on Caribbean recipes with Chef Helmi guiding you throughout; drinks such as soda or wine; snacks along the way; coffee or tea; plus a full homecooked lunch outdoors featuring everything you’ve prepared together before heading off full and happy.