Cretan Cooking Class in Crete: Learn Family Recipes

Cook a three-course Cretan meal in a home kitchen, then share it at the table

A private cooking class in Ozlem's home kitchen in Roustika, central Crete, where you learn to make traditional Cretan dishes using family recipes passed down from her grandmother. Over three hours, you'll prepare a wild green salad, a main course (artichokes with peas and meat, chicken pie, or stuffed vegetables), and a dessert, then sit down together to eat the meal you've made. Ozlem shares the stories and techniques behind each dish.

The experience

The class happens in Roustika, a village in central Rethymno with Venetian architecture, where Ozlem runs the class from her home kitchen. She learned to cook from her grandmother using all five senses (smell, sight, taste, feel, and touch), and that's how she teaches. You'll choose your menu in advance: a wild green salad or sautéed greens, then either artichokes with peas and meat, moussaka, shrimp saganaki, a Cretan chicken pie, or a Chania vegetable pie. If you prefer, you can learn to make handmade pitas instead, filled with greens, Cretan cheese, or meat. A pickled or marinated starter and kazandibi (an Ottoman sweet) round out the meal.

Ozlem has Cretan, Turkish, and Venetian roots, which shape her cooking style. She works as a personal chef, participates in food festivals, and has translated nineteen books, so she brings depth to the stories behind the food you're making. As you cook, she shares the techniques her grandmother taught her and explains the history woven into each dish. The class runs three hours, and after you finish cooking, you sit down together to eat everything you've prepared.

Dietary needs are handled in advance: let Ozlem know if you need lactose-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan options, and she'll adjust the menu. The exact location is in the voucher with a Google Maps link. Public transportation is nearby if you need it, and the class is private. Just you and Ozlem.

What’s included

• Private cooking class with Ozlem in her home kitchen.
• home-cooked three-course Greek meal you prepare and eat together.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 1 Mar 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Greek and Turkish

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book this class if you want to learn cooking techniques hands-on from someone trained in the tradition, rather than watch a demonstration. The three-hour format gives you time to make a full meal and sit down to eat it, so you're not rushed through the cooking or skipping the table.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Greek and Turkish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What dishes can I choose to cook in the class?

You pick your main course in advance: artichokes with peas and meat, moussaka, shrimp saganaki, Cretan chicken pie, or Chania vegetable pie. Alternatively, you can learn to make handmade pitas filled with greens, Cretan cheese, or meat. You'll also prepare a wild green salad or sautéed greens, a starter (pickled artichokes, marinated sardines, snails, stuffed vegetables, or fish with okra), and kazandibi for dessert.

Who is Ozlem and what is her background in cooking?

Ozlem learned to cook from her grandmother in a kitchen that blended Cretan, Turkish, and Venetian traditions. Her grandmother taught her to cook using all her senses, and that approach shapes how she teaches. She works as a personal chef, participates in food festivals, and has also translated nineteen books.

How long is the cooking class and what happens after you finish cooking?

The class runs three hours. After you finish preparing the dishes, you sit down together at the table to share and eat the meal you've made.

Can the class accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies?

Yes. Lactose-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available. Let Ozlem know your needs when you book, and she'll adjust the menu accordingly.

Where is Roustika and how do I get there?

Roustika is a charming village in central Rethymno with Venetian history and architecture. The exact location is provided in your voucher with a Google Maps link. Public transportation options are available nearby.