Cooking Class in a Village Near Chania, Chania
Learn the top traditional Cretan recipes in a local village and have them emailed to you to try them out at home!
Overview
Highlights
- Prepare and cook over six different types of Cretan dishes
- Learn about the historic significance of the oven-roasted lamb
- Master the delicate skill of rolling grape leaves
- Create traditional appetizers, including tzatziki, dakos, and Cretan salad
- Gather herbs from the garden to make stuffed vegetables and dolmades
Know before you go
4 hours
All ages
Small group, 12 people or less
Lunch Included
What you'll do
The class starts with oven-roasted lamb, which is placed in the wood-fired stone oven to cook for over two hours, giving you ample time to learn about the dish's historical significance, including its nickname as "the thieves dinner." You'll then learn the delicate art of rolling grape leaves to make stuffed vegetables and dolmades, using herbs from the garden for the stuffing.
Next, it's time to create traditional kalitsounia pies. You'll roll out the dough and fill them with cheese and wild greens. As the grand finale, you'll get to prepare and savor the mouth-watering appetizers, such as tzatziki, dakos, and Cretan salad. These delightful dishes are easy to recreate and are bound to become your all-time favorites at home.
After the class, it's time to sit down and enjoy the beautiful traditional Cretan dishes you've created with copious amounts of local wine. This cooking class offers a true family experience, so don't be surprised if your charming host's family members join, as they are eager to share their delightful humor, enchanting tales, and fascinating insights on life on the picturesque island of Crete.
Start times
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MondayNot available
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Tuesday10:00 am
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WednesdayNot available
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ThursdayNot available
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Friday10:00 am
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SaturdayNot available
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Sunday10:00 am
What's included
- Cooking class with a local
- Ingredients and equipment
- Lunch with local wine
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Private Traditional Cretan Cooking Class in the Mountains
Private Excursion to White Mountains with Wine and Olive Oil Tastings
Private Rethymnon Villages Excursion
The Arkadi Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery. The current catholicon (church) dates back to the 16th century and is marked by the influence of the Renaissance. This influence is visible in the architecture, which mixes both Roman and baroque elements. As early as the 16th century, the monastery was a place for science and, had a school and a rich library. Situated on a plateau, the monastery is well fortified, being surrounded by a thick and high wall. The monastery played an active role in the Cretan resistance of Ottoman rule during the Cretan revolt of 1866. 943 Greeks, mostly women and children, sought refuge in the monastery. After three days of battle and under orders from the hegumen (abbot) of the monastery, the Cretans blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender. The monastery became a national sanctuary in honor of the Cretan resistance. 8 November is a day of commemorative parties in Arkadi and Rethymno. The explosion did not end the Cretan insurrection, but it attracted the attention of the rest of the world.
After that you will visit Eleftherna, an ancient city-state in Crete, which lies 25 km southeast of Rethymno. Archaeologists excavated the site, located on a narrow northern spur of Mount Ida, the highest mountain in Crete. It flourished from the Dark Ages of Greece’s early history until Byzantine times.
In the systematic Eleftherna project, a team of archaeologists from the University of Crete led by Prof. N. Stampolidis has been in charge since 1984. Surveys and systematic excavations have revealed the city’s settlement patterns, sanctuaries and necropolis in Orthi Petra, even stone quarries in the surroundings of the Prines hill. The discovery of the remains of four females in Orthi Petra was declared one of top 10 discoveries of 2009 by the Archaeological Institute of America. The Museum of Ancient Eleftherna, directly linked to the archaeological site, was inaugurated in June 2016.
The next stop will be at Margarites, a scenic traditional Cretan village. You will walk on the stone paths of the village and admire the pottery traditional shops around. Then, leaving Margarites, you ‘ll have lunch in Asteri village. The unique restaurant with the folklore private collection and the traditional Cretan delicacies will take your breath away.
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