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By far one of the best ways I’ve found to relieve the ennui of lockdown and the inability to travel is enjoying these virtual cooking classes. Not only is it a treat to be able to cook for my man once in a while (he does most of the cooking in our home), but it’s also great to have the opportunity to explore other cuisines and other cultures. You can take these virtual cooking classes anywhere from a garden in Thailand to a professional kitchen in northeastern Spain - enjoy! Let me know what you make in the comments! Intrigued by the idea of virtual travel? Check out these virtual tours throughout Europe or virtual tours of Asia if you don’t feel like cooking!
Most of these classes are held via Zoom, Skype, Whatsapp, or Facebook Messenger (and many have options from which you can choose). Please note the time zone and come to a mutually agreed upon time with your local chef.
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Table of contents
africa & middle east
israel
shakshuka
Join Karni, an Israeli woman living in Singapore who has been hosting Israeli cooking classes for years, passing on the recipes of her family. In this virtual cooking class, you will make a traditional Israeli breakfast, complete with challah bread, shakshuka, and Israeli tahini salad. Note that you will have to prepare the dough for the challah bread in advance. Karni will pass on not only family recipes, but also noteworthy tidbits of Israeli customs and culture.
Price: From $35.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Link: ISRAELI BREAKFAST VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
lebanon
customizable 3-course lebanese meal
Enjoy traditional Lebanese cuisine, with the guidance of a local! In this customizable cooking class, you will be able to choose a starter, main course, and dessert for a complete 3-course Lebanese meal - plus a hot or cold beverage of your choice. Dietary restrictions are accommodated!
Price: From $24.00
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Link: VIRTUAL LEBANESE COOKING CLASS
mali
tika dege
This is a unique option for a cooking class, as your chef hosts actually ship you the (non-perishable) ingredients all the way from Mali! Talk about an authentic experience! So, if you’re looking for a virtual cooking class to take tomorrow, this won’t be it - the ingredients can take up to a few weeks to arrive. But the resulting dish, tika dege na, is a Malian favorite, and for good reason. Peanut sauce is life, just sayin’. Bonus - you also get some traditional teas and instructions for a Malian tea ceremony with your package. The ingredients you will be sent serve 4-6 people.
Price: From $55.00 per group, up to 6 people
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Link: VIRTUAL TIKA DEGE COOKING CLASS
morocco
tagine
Learn how to cook quintessential Moroccan tagine with a private chef from Casablanca. Tagine is a thick stew of meat and vegetables, perfectly hearty and satisfying. Join your Moroccan chef to learn about Moroccan cuisine, spices, and culture. The menu is customizable and can accommodate many dietary restrictions.
Price: From $27.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Link: VIRTUAL MOROCCAN COOKING CLASS
asia
azerbaijan
shah plov or other local favorites
Join an Azerbaijani family from the capital city of Baku as they teach you how to make traditional cuisine such as Shah Plov. Shah Plov literally translates to ‘Crown Pilaf’ and is served on special occasions in the country. It is saffron-scented pilaf that’s wrapped in butter-saturated lavash for an absolutely decadent meal that feels fit for a king.
Price: From $39.00
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Link: VIRTUAL AZERBAIJANI COOKING CLASS
china
customizable 5-course menu
I’m a sucker for good Chinese food, even more so now that I teach Chinese children online and get to see all of the goodies they’re eating every day! Enjoy this cooking class of traditional Chinese cuisine from your own kitchen with Chef Sandy. One of the best virtual cooking classes I’ve experienced, you will learn about new and interesting spices that make Chinese cuisine so unique and appreciated all over the globe. You’ll create a 5-course menu to enjoy with family, friends, or by yourself, with plenty of leftovers! Sample menu items include corn soup, fried rice, steamed fish, tapioca pearls, and dark eggs. Vegetarian menus are an option as well! Not only will you learn directly from Chef Sandy, but after the class is over, you’ll also get an email PDF copy of her cookbook.
Price: From $47.00
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Link: VIRTUAL CHINESE COOKING CLASS
india
pav bhaji
Pav Bhaji is a traditional Indian fast food that is made with curried vegetables and bread rolls. You will join Chef Sondal on this virtual culinary excursion to Mumbai while learning traditional Indian spices and ingredients. In addition to Pav Bhaji, you will also make a dessert, Sheer Khurma. Sheer Khurma is a rich vermicelli pudding made with dried fruits, milk, nuts, and sugar.
Price: From $21.00
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Link: PAV BHAJI INDIAN VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
japan
chicken ramen
Make this soul-warming Japanese traditional soup from the comfort of your own kitchen. Your experienced chef guide will instruct you how to prepare ramen noodles from scratch without worries! She will also provide you with a lot of information pertaining to Japanese culture and gastronomy. The dish is tailored to your dietary needs, and vegetarian/vegan options are also available.
Price: From $40.00
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Link: VIRTUAL CHICKEN RAMEN COOKING CLASS
myanmar
pao cuisine
The PaO ethnic group indigenous to Myanmar is esteemed for their delicious food. In this virtual cooking class, you will prepare a soup, a salad, and a curry dish with the guidance of your local host. In addition to preparing a delicious 3-course meal, you’ll also learn about the culture and traditions of the PaO ethnic tribe straight from the countryside of Myanmar.
Price: From $15.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Link: VIRTUAL PAO COOKING CLASS
nepal
dal bhat
In this virtual cooking class, you will learn to make Dal Bhat, the most common Nepalese dish. It is made with rice, lentils, and vegetable or meat curry. Your professional Nepalese chef, Ragobur, will provide for you in advance a list of ingredients you’ll need for the actual class. You’ll also learn traditional Nepalese customs and traditions.
Price: From $22.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Link: VIRTUAL DAL BHAT COOKING CLASS
thailand
khao soi (chiang mai curry noodles)
Khao Soi is essentially a creamy Thai coconut curry served with egg noodles and garnished with deep fried crispy egg noodles, shallots, lime, roasted chili oil and sour pickled mustard green. It’s a famous dish in northern Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai. After the class has finished, you’ll receive the recipe in order to recreate the menu for friends and family. Vegetarian and vegan dietary options are available as well.
Price: From $19.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Link: KHAO SOI VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
pad thai
If the weather permits, you will enjoy this live cooking class from an organic Thai garden! Even if it rains, you’ll still get the opportunity to create a mouthwatering dish of pad thai, one of Thailand’s most beloved traditional noodle dishes. You’ll also make a traditional Thai dessert, bananas in coconut milk. The menu rotates weekly, but if your heart is set on pad thai and bananas, you can talk to your host ahead of time for requests.
Price: From $19.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Link: PAD THAI VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
europe
greece
santorini tomato fritters
Ummm, these tomato fritters are shockingly delicious (coming from someone who isn’t such a fan of tomatoes) and easy to make. You will learn Greek traditions and culture as your professional local chef guides walk you through the steps of making Santorini tomato fritters. You’ll also get a copy of the recipe via email after your class so that you can share the love with those you love.
Price: From $25.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Link: SANTORINI TOMATO FRITTERS VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
italy
customized menu
Straight from Sorrento, in this virtual cooking class you will learn to make one of two traditional Italian dishes - eggplant parmigiana or gnocchi alla Sorrentina. Join Chef Carmen on this endeavor of epic proportions - have you ever tried making gnocchi!? It’s fun for the whole family, so feel free to bring the kids along.
Price: From $38.00
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Link: EGGPLANT PARM & GNOCCHI COOKING CLASS
bruschetta & tiramisu
Two of my personal favorite Italian foods, join your Italian guide in this virtual cooking class to prepare both bruschetta and tiramisu. Relax with a bottle of wine as you concoct the perfect starter and dessert - who needs a main course!?
Price: From $41.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Link: BRUSCHETTA & TIRAMISU COOKING CLASS
hungary
hungarian goulash & apple strudel
Learn how to cook Hungary’s most iconic dish from a local chef! You will prepare goulash under the guidance of Marti, using her family recipe that has been passed down for generations. Marti will also give you a crash-course on Hungarian culture and cuisine while you are cooking together. Despite having my own Hungarian chef in my home, it was nice to learn about different family variations when it comes to making goulash. I’m trying to convince Szilard to offer these classes as well, but so far, no dice. I’ll keep you posted if I ever convince him!
Price: From $27.00
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
Link: GOULASH VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
poland
pierogi
Pierogi are beloved Polish dumplings that are esteemed all over the globe. I know that we Americans can’t get enough of them! In this virtual cooking class, you will learn to make your very own. Dumpling making is a wonderful family tradition that will engage everyone and leave them feeling happy and connected. They’re super affordable to make, and you can prepare them with a variety of fillings as well, so you’ll never suffer monotony!
Price: From $20.00
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Link: VIRTUAL PIEROGI COOKING CLASS
russia
olivie salad
Make a traditional Russian Olivie salad with a Russian family. Olga incorporates Soviet history, Russian culture and traditions, and even music into her professionally executed cooking classes. The class is also child-friendly, as Olga’s 4 year-old daughter will likely join in the fun as well!
Price: From $23.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Link: VIRTUAL RUSSIAN COOKING CLASS
spain
pintxos
Pintxos are kind of (but not quite) a style of Basque tapas, commonly found in the city of San Sebastian, Spain. Join Chef Claudia, a native of San Sebastian and student at the renowned Basque Culinary Center. You will learn the difference between pintxos and tapas, and learn to make three different varieties of pintxos. Claudia will also share with you her passion of the region and why San Sebastian is known as the culinary hot spot of Spain.
Price: From $24.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes
Link: VIRTUAL PINTXOS COOKING CLASS
tapas dinner
Go from Pintxos to Tapas, as you travel virtually to Madrid for this extensive live cooking class. One thing I really appreciated about this class was the fact that there were 2 cameras, allowing you to switch between views and not miss a single thing. Very professional! You will create a multitude of different styles of tapas, as well as sangria! Who doesn’t love sangria?! This is definitely one of the more professional and well-executed virtual cooking classes I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.
Price: From $62.00
Duration: Approximately 3 hours
Link: SPANISH TAPAS VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
north america
mexico
customizable mexican menu
Using traditional Mexican ingredients and techniques, this virtual cooking class will teach you how to make recipes such as Mexican ceviche, Tinga de Pollo, stuffed peppers, and tacos with assorted salsas. Your guide will be a professionally trained Mexican chef, keen to share his passion and skills with you.
Price: From $35.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes
Link: MEXICAN COOKING CLASS
united states
southern soul food
Join Masterchef Season 8 finalist, Chef Yachecia, as you learn how to make Southern Soul Food ‘Benny,’ a take on a benedict dish. The meal consists of fried chicken with buttermilk biscuits, sweet potato hash, an over-medium egg and country gravy. A decadent breakfast to be sure!
Price: From $46.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Link: VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS - SOUTHERN SOUL FOOD
the perfect rib eye
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to cook a steak with MasterChef contestant Mike Rao! Join Chef Mike virtually from his L.A. kitchen where he will teach you how to perfectly execute a delicious rib eye. I can’t help but wonder what his reaction would be to someone who enjoys their steak cooked well-done - no judgement, up until I was 20 that was how I liked my steak cooked! I’ve since learned the error of my ways, and thoroughly enjoy a good medium-rare chunk of meat. If the thought of cooking a steak intimidates you, this is one of the best virtual cooking classes you could ever take!
Price: From $42.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Link: COOKING THE PERFECT STEAK VIRTUAL CLASS
south america
argentina
empanadas
During this approximately hour-long cooking class, your native chefs, Amie & Cami, will teach you about Argentinean cuisine and guide you through creating some mouthwatering empanadas! In addition to the actual cooking, you will also learn about the culture, history, and gastronomy of Argentina.
Price: From $12.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Link: VIRTUAL ARGENTINEAN EMPANADA COOKING CLASS
peru
pisco sour & lomo saltado
Lomo Saltado is one of the most iconic Peruvian dishes. It’s made with beef, vegetables, and rice, though you can alternatively use chicken if you prefer. You’ll also make a classic Peruvian cocktail, the Pisco Sour (absolutely delicious! You can find Pisco in a specialty liquor shop, or have it shipped online if you are limited to your options nearby). Your professional chef guide will tell you about the history of both the drink and the meal, all while giving insight into Peruvian culture and traditions. This is by far one of my favorite virtual cooking classes I’ve yet to experience!
Price: From $25.00
Duration: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
Link: LOMO SALTADO VIRTUAL COOKING CLASS
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