Our local partners
Cretan Home Cooking
Nestled in Adele, near Rethymno (Crete), Cretan Home Cooking offers warm, hands-on workshops to learn, cook and share the secrets of Cretan gastronomy, from a home, around a wood-fired oven, with a sense of local hospitality.
Origin and setting: a Cretan home for taste
Cretan Home Cooking is the personal initiative of a passionate cook, Chrysoula, who opens the doors of her home to pass on the island’s traditional recipes.
The address, Adele, Rethymno, Crete, anchors this experience in a real territory, at the heart of Cretan culture.
The setting – a welcoming house with a traditional wood-fired oven – helps create an intimate, authentic atmosphere, far removed from tourist stereotypes.
Cretan Home Cooking: recipes, sharing and immersion
Workshops last around 3h30, cost €75, and include the preparation of several typical dishes using local ingredients, often from nearby farms or producers. The meal is then shared with all participants.
Among the recipes that can be learned or tasted in these courses:
Starters like Dakos, tzatzíki, Greek salad, refreshing, simple, Mediterranean.
Main dishes: Gemista (stuffed vegetables), Moussaka, gratins, wood-fired oven dishes, traditional and generous preparations.
Desserts and sweets: loukoumades, traditional pastries, homemade sweets, depending on the season.
All in the tradition of Cretan cuisine: simple products, olive oil, vegetables, herbs, respect for the land and conviviality.
For participants who are vegetarian or have dietary restrictions, it is possible to adapt the menu.
More than a course: cultural and social immersion
Cretan Home Cooking is more than just a culinary workshop. The experience begins with a warm welcome, Greek coffee or herbal infusion, home-made starters (breads in oil, sweets) and a convivial atmosphere reminiscent of Cretan hospitality.
Collective preparation, cooking in a wood-fired oven, sharing the meal and chatting with the host all contribute to a total immersion in the local culture. Many Internet users have commented on this warm and memorable experience.
It’s a gastronomic, social and cultural experience, a way of understanding Crete through the plate, the gesture, the conviviality.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about cooking workshops with Cretan Home Cooking
How to book a cooking class in Crete or Rethymno?
Visitors often try to book online, as the culinary workshops operate with limited space and sell out quickly in high season.
What do you usually cook in a Cretan cooking class?
Workshops often include dakos, tzatzíki, gemistá (stuffed vegetables), moussaka, homemade breads, wood-oven baked dishes, and sometimes a traditional dessert.
Is a cooking workshop in Crete suitable for families and children?
Yes, many courses accept children, as Cretan recipes are simple, participative and suitable for beginners.
Do Cretan cooking classes use local ingredients?
Yes. The workshops almost always feature Cretan products: local olive oil, seasonal vegetables, wild herbs, regional cheese, honey or Greek pastries.
How long does a cooking course in Crete last?
Most workshops last between 3 and 4 hours, including preparation, cooking and the shared meal.
