Cretan Cooking Class from Rethymno
Reviews
Details
4 - 5 hours
Easy
2 - 6 persons
Every Monday and Thursday
Small group
10:00 (Depending on your hotel)
Hotels in Rethymno district
Highlights
- Meet the locals of Rethymnon area
- Taste the extra virgin Cretan olive oil in two different ways
- Introduce yourselves to the basics of Cretan gastronomy
- Learn all the secrets of the Cretan cooking tradition from Mrs Despoina
- Use fresh ingredients such as juicy tomatoes, picked up from a garden
- Feel the Cretan hospitality
Every Stop a Unique Experience
Taste of exquisite olive oil
The tour starts by visiting a unique olive oil mill in Apokoronas where the olive oil tasting will take place in two different ways. As we arrive, the first thing we see is the imposing and very old olive tree that welcomes us in the olive oil mill. We will start our tour by enjoying a traditional greek coffee, and discussing about what we will see during the day. There is no rush to start; coffee is an integral part of the greek morning! Depending on the season, we can witness the actual production of olive oil. However, if it's not possible, the expert of the mill will explain to us everything concerning the extraction of olive oil. At last, we'll get to explore the room of production and learn about all the tools and machinery, as well as the secrets to producing pure, tasty olive oil. Now the tasting! We will taste the olive oil in two different ways; the first one is pure, no additives, and the second one is the traditional way, with the addition of lemon and salt. This pure taste of olive oil will accompany us until the next stop of our excursion, the cooking part of the day.
Taste of exquisite olive oil
Let the cooking begin..
Let the cooking begin..
After a few km drive, we will arrive at the small and picturesque village of “Nippos” around 11:00 and, just after a short walk through the village for about 15 minutes, we will end up at the main square. Right in front of us lies the traditional taverna, the place where the cooking class will be held. The taverna is located in a slight altitude, so it has amazing views that will accompany us throughout the cooking. Mrs Despoina, our lovely cook, will be waiting for us with a big smile; as always, she offers us the first glass of raki, to help us ... warm up and prepare for our cooking class! Suit up and be impressed by the quality of the organic products; we will use products, that are literally picked up from the backyard of their garden. Juicy tomatoes, fresh cucumbers and aromatic herbs collected by hand are at our disposal. Take a minute to enjoy the fresh smell of these biological products that will be at our disposal today. Starting off the cooking, we will learn how to make delicious ntako (crumbled tomatoes on traditional brusquettes), the classic tzatziki, juicy lachanontolmades, tasty gemista (stuffed vegetables with rice and herbs) and the famous Greek salad, with feta cheese. Also, we will learn how to make the traditional "phyllo" dough and create sweet Cretan cheese pies filled with myzithra cheese. Delicious!
Time to enjoy what we made!
After the cooking ends, lunch follows, where we will taste what we've made! Since we will all be overwhelmed by the smell of the food being cooked, Mrs Despoina will have already prepared the main dish, so that we can all enjoy lunch and skip the waiting! The main dish is usually chicken and potatoes in tomato sauce, a typical dish in every Cretan household. but vegetarian options are previewed. All this of course with unlimited raki, local wine (red or white) and...food stories. The dessert will be the typical one of the Cretan diet, meaning fresh fruit, yogurt with honey or a traditional spoon-sweet, accompanied with the cheese pies we have made. Enjoy!
Time to enjoy what we made!
What’s Included
- Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off (Only Rethymno District)
- English or French speaking guide
- Local driver / guide
- Transport by air-conditioned car / mini bus
- Cooking Lesson & Full lunch (vegetarian options included)
- Use of apron & cooking utensils
- All ingredients for your meal
- Printed Recipes
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Lots of raki and laughter :)
ADULTS | 85 EURO P/P |
CHILDREN (3 - 12) | 50% |
INFANTS (0 - 2) | FREE |