Host offerings
Fabio (Américo) and his mother, Carmenza, are passionate about cooking traditional Colombian food. They live in a small apartment in the center of Bucaramanga, close to the central market. They visit the market every day to buy the freshest ingredients. Fabio and Carmen cook and sell box lunches from their kitchen, serving typical Colombian dishes to hungry office workers. <br><br> Fabio studied cooking and gastronomy and has participated in several cooking competitions, most recently winning second place! He moved to New York to learn English and worked in a restaurant and then returned to Colombia to finish his studies in gastronomy. Join Fabio and Carmen for a traditional meal of comida Santanderana, cooking from their home region of Santander.
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) Fabio serves traditional Santandereana cuisine that showcase the wide variety of ingredients available in the region of Santander. You’ll sample both savory and sweet dishes at his table. Your meal will start with a taste of a fresh fruit. Soups are a staple of the Colombian diet and your meal will continue with a typical soup or stew filled with seasonal vegetables and meat. You might taste his arroz con espinaca (spinach rice) or fish in criolla sauce (the Colombian sofrito, made with tomato, onion, celery, garlic, peppers, and spices), a sweet and sour salad filled with fruits, vegetables, cheese and a creamy vinaigrette. For dessert you’ll have a traditional Colombian sweet and a limonada (a refreshing drink made from panela (raw sugar), sour fruit juice, spices and lots of ice).
Cooking experience (1 - 6 guests) Learn to prepare authentic empanadas and arepas Colombianas with Fabio and Carmen. You will learn to mix the dough from scratch and prepare a variety of fillings and sauces to accompany them. Prepare fillings like beef and rice, chicken and mushroom, hawainas (pineapple, ham and cheese), santandereanas (carne oreada with hogao). You will also make several sauces like aji colombiano (Colombian pepper sauce), tartara (mayonnaise with herbs) or piña calada (pineapple with raw sugar).
Market visit (1 - 6 guests) Explore with Fabio Bucaramanga’s central market, a five-floor building, filled with everything you need to make a traditional Colombian meal as well as handicrafts and prepared food and beverages. Fabio will introduce you to a variety of vegetables and fruits, and other agricultural products all harvested in Santander. When it’s time for a break, Fabio will take you to one of the oldest coffee shops in the city for a typical coffee and pandebono, a sweet-salty cheese bread that is a popular accompaniment to coffee.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f4bb6509570>
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | $80,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 |
| Alcohol | $20,000 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | 2:00pm - 06:00pm |
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.
