Host offerings
Gabriela first learned to cook from her aunt and grandparents. Her grandparents, who were of Spanish origin and came to Argentina as teenagers escaping the war, owned a pasta shop where they produced ravioli, agnolotti, and a variety of other fresh pastas. Gabriela grew up in Buenos Aires’s La Boca neighborhood, famous for its artist community, and her grandparents (also artists themselves!) sold pasta to all the artists of the neighborhood. A social person from a young age, Gabriela studied public translation and went on to work at Reuters for over two decades before she began teaching language (Portuguese and English) to young children. Gabriela is excited to share her passion for food and connection with travelers – she says that she loves cooking and loves to teach, and Traveling Spoon is the perfect combination of both! She is the person who stops every person she sees with a map to ask how she can help, so if you have any questions about your visit don’t hesitate to ask this Buenos Aires native. Gabriela will also host some of her experiences with her close friend and neighbor, Patricia. Patricia is a former co-worker of Gabriela's from Reuters who studied arts, and enjoys good food and meeting new people. Patricia will be assisting with drinks for the experience, including a welcome spritz, wine and a homemade tea blend she creates herself.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal (1 - 6 guests) Join Gabriela and her friend Patricia in a central Belgrano apartment for a traditional Argentinean meal. Your experience will start with a welcome spritz and small snack of local cheeses, hummus and chorizo. Then sit down to enjoy a traditional Argentinean meal with Gabriela and Patrizia, featuring a starter of locro (local stew) or humita (steamed fresh corn cakes), depending on the season, followed by empanadas. Gabriela and Patricia will prepare a selection of empanadas with a variety of classic fillings, from chicken and beef to cheese and vegetables. End your meal with a classic Argentinian dessert such as dulce de leche pancake or alfajores and a selection of teas or coffee.
Cooking experience (1 - 6 guests) Join Gabriela in her apartment in the Belgrano neighborhood for a traditional empanada cooking class in Buenos Aires. Over a welcome glass of wine or beer, enjoy a picada – a traditional Argentinian platter of cheeses, jams, and nuts – on Gabriela’s large balcony (weather permitting). After you’ve enjoyed your welcome beverage and snacks, Gabriela will teach you to prepare the empanada fillings. Learn how to best prepare the meat as Gabriela shares her secrets for how to perfect the filling. Note that the cooking portion of your experience will take place on Gabriela’s dining table, as she has a small kitchen. Gabriela can teach you the process of making dough for a small sample of the empanadas; because you’ll be making close to 50 empanadas Gabriela will also use some dough she has purchased from her local grocer to complete the rest. You will learn to prepare three different fillings, which might include a chicken, onion and leek filling, a zucchini, onion and cheese filling, and the traditional Argentinian cheese and jam filling. After you’ve finished cooking, enjoy your empanadas which will be served alongside a fresh salad. End your meal with a dessert of chocotorta, a traditional Argentinian layered cake of chocolate, biscuits and dulce de leche, served with coffee if desired. Your total experience will be around 3-4 hours.
Market visit (1 - 6 guests) Meet your host Gabriela at her home and walk a few blocks to Mercado de Belgrano for your private market tour. This is a lively, indoor market that local chefs frequent, especially for gourmet ingredients. Walk through the market and explore with your host local and regional produce, fish and meat sold by her favored vendors at the market. You will sample local produce and purchase a few ingredients that you will use during your cooking class after the market tour. The market has tables outside where you will sample sweet treats. This is a unique experience because you will get to try cheeses and jams of the different provinces of Argentina. Your market tour will last about one hour.
Notes: Please note that people typically eat quite late in Argentina! Dinner is traditionally served around 10pm. If you prefer an earlier start time please ask Gabriela while making your reservation. Also please note that Gabriela's apartment is on the 7th floor; there is an old-fashioned small elevator you will take to reach the floor. If you are interested in booking an experience with a larger group, Gabriela may be able to accommodate you at her friend's nearby apartment which is slightly larger. Please indicate this during your booking. <br> <br> Please note that the price of your empanada making class in Buenos Aires includes alcohol.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f7ecb8f9cf0>
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | $56 | $47 | $40 |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $60 | $50 |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $70 | $60 |
| Alcohol | $0 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 1:00pm - 04:00pm | 8:30pm - 11:30pm |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 11:00am - 03:00pm | 8:00pm - 12:00am |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | 11:00am - 04:00pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
