Learn Bengali Cooking in Kolkata: Cook with Local Chef Bibi

Watch a local chef demonstrate Bengali cooking in her kitchen, then eat what you've learned together.

Learn to cook authentic Bengali food in a private class at a local Kolkata home with Bibi, a restaurateur and food expert. She teaches the foundations of regional Bengali cuisine: the role of mustard, panch poran (Bengali five-spice) and vegetables, then walks you through preparing five dishes in her kitchen. You cook alongside her, share the meal at her table, and leave with both recipes and an understanding of everyday food culture in the city. A minimum of two people per booking is required.

The experience

Bibi's kitchen is small and built around the dishes that define Bengali cooking. The demonstration covers shaag bhaja (fried greens), dal, vegetable bhaja (fried eggplant and crisp potato sticks), a Bengali-style fish curry or chicken or prawns depending on what you choose, and mishti doi (sweetened yoghurt). She shows you how each component works and what makes the flavors distinctly Bengali, not the spice heat of other Indian regions, but the layered taste of mustard oil and the five-spice blend that appears across the cuisine.

The cooking itself takes about 1 to 2 hours. You watch her work in the kitchen, ask questions, and see how the dishes come together. Afterward, you sit at her table and eat the meal you've just seen prepared. Local beer is included. The experience is private (it's just you, anyone else in your group, and Bibi), so the pace and the conversation stay yours.

Getting there is straightforward: public transportation options are available nearby, though the operator does not arrange hotel pickup. If you have dietary requirements beyond the vegetarian option already available, let them know when you book so Bibi can adjust the menu.

What’s included

• Private cooking demonstration with Bibi in her Kolkata home.
• instruction on Bengali cooking techniques and regional flavors.
• preparation and tasting of five dishes (shaag bhaja, dal, vegetable bhaja, Bengali-style fish curry or chicken or prawns, and mishti doi).
• shared meal at Bibi's table.
• local beer.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 11:00 and 17:30

Book up to1d before

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

GroupPrivate

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Stroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?The 1 to 2 hour cooking demonstration leaves room for other activities in your day, so you can fit this class into a morning or afternoon without blocking the rest of your schedule. You'll need at least two people to book, and anyone with dietary needs should mention them when reserving so Bibi can adjust the menu.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What dishes does Bibi teach you to make?

The cooking demonstration covers shaag bhaja (fried greens), dal, vegetable bhaja (fried eggplant and crisp fried potato sticks), Bengali-style fish curry or chicken or prawns, and mishti doi (sweetened yoghurt). You choose the protein option when you book.

How long does the cooking class last?

The demonstration runs about 1 to 2 hours in Bibi's kitchen. You then sit down to eat the meal together, so plan for a full morning or afternoon.

Can I request vegetarian dishes?

Yes, a vegetarian option is available. Let the operator know at the time of booking, and Bibi will adjust the menu. Any other specific dietary requirements should also be mentioned in advance.

What makes Bengali cooking different from other Indian regional cuisines?

Bengali food centers on vegetables and relies on mustard oil and panch poran (a five-spice blend) for flavor rather than the heat-forward spices of other regions. Bibi teaches you how these ingredients shape the taste and technique of the dishes she prepares.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Public transportation options are available near the location, so you'll arrange your own way there and back.

What's the minimum group size?

A minimum of two people per booking is required. Child rates apply only when a child shares the booking with two paying adults.