Turkey Thab Travel
Savor Istanbul's Delights: Exclusive Private Cooking Class

Embark on a culinary journey through the heart of Istanbul, where the flavors of kebabs, mezes, and sweet baklava await adventurous food enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in a 5-hour cooking class, guided by an authentic Turkish housewife, and master the art of crafting traditional dishes in the heart of Istanbul.

• 08:30 AM: Pick up from your hotel
• 09:00 AM: Meet your guide at a pre-arranged location and head to a local market to purchase fresh ingredients for the cooking class.
• 10:00 AM: Arrive at a cooking school or a local family's home and start the cooking class. Learn how to prepare traditional Turkish dishes such as Turkish meze, stuffed grape leaves, and Turkish delight.
• 12:30 PM: Enjoy the delicious dishes you have prepared for lunch.
• 2:00 PM: Take a break from cooking and visit a local tea house to sample some traditional Turkish tea.
• 3:00 PM: Continue the cooking class and learn how to make Turkish baklava, a sweet pastry made with layers of phyllo dough, honey, and nuts.
• 5:00 PM: End the cooking class by enjoying the freshly made baklava and some Turkish coffee.

Indulge in a culinary adventure with us as we embark on a journey through Istanbul's renowned Spice Market. Experience a private Turkish Spices Tasting session at a family-owned shop, steeped in five generations of tradition – a genuine Spice Odyssey! Following this, enjoy a picturesque ferry ride across the Bosphorus to the Asian side of Istanbul, where you'll join Selin at her home for a hands-on cooking experience.

Participate in crafting a traditional Turkish meal in a setting that mirrors a genuine Turkish Culinary School. The dishes, designed for ease of replication, offer a taste of authentic Turkish flavors. The highlight comes as you savor your creations for lunch – a six-course menu accompanied by carefully selected boutique Turkish wines.

The recipes, evolving with the seasons and featuring fresh farm-to-table ingredients, provide a personalized Turkish culinary experience. As a member of Slow Food, Selin prioritizes healthy, locally sourced, fresh, artisanal, and sustainable food. We make vegetarian and gluten-free Turkish options effortlessly delightful, incorporating exciting recipes into our culinary repertoire.

Upon request, Selin's family recipes, showcasing Turkish-Sephardic cuisine, can also grace the menu. Cooking classes unfold in Selin's Home Kitchen, with instruction available in English or French. Geared towards the home cook, detailed recipe booklets containing 55 recipes are provided for you to take home and try.

Sample Menu:

Crispy cheese and herb-filled pastry rolls or Flaky Turkish Borek with feta and herb filling or Zucchini flan with feta cheese and herbs

Bulgur wheat salad - Kısır or Carrots with garlic-infused yogurt and tahini dressing or Cacik

Leeks, green beans, celery root, or artichokes in olive oil

Purslane Salad with mint and yogurt or Green Olive Salad with sumac and pomegranate molasses

Spicy bulgur or Tomato rice pilaf or pilaf with Orzo

Split Belly Eggplant stuffed with meat – Karniyarik or Aromatic Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers with Olive Oil or Zucchini stuffed with meat, rice, and herbs in a tomato sauce or Baked Sea Bass with vegetables or Eggplant in Earthenware casserole with lamb or Swiss Chard rolls

Apricots stuffed with Kaymak (clotted cream) or Roasted Figs infused in honey with bay leaves or Revani – Turkish Semolina sponge cake