Hvar Island Cooking Class: A Farm-to-Table Experience

Host offerings

Rural farmhouse
Home cook
Pets
Vegetarian
Alcohol
Transportation
Cooking class
Market visit
Food tour

Meet Kornelija and Morana

Kornelija and Morana, a mother-daughter duo, hope to offer simple, authentic dishes from the Island of Hvar. So that people visiting them get a feeling that they are at their Nonna’s house, tasting the very essence of the island and its gastronomic history. Kornelija worked as a HR professional in Zagreb for many years, and now that she is retired, has decided to move to the island thanks to her family roots and heritage. She is so excited to pursue her passion for cooking and hosting, in the middle of her family field in a UNESCO-protected area. Kornelija will be joined by her daughter, Morana, who is currently working as a Project Manager in the IT sector. Together they wish to share with traveler’s the local Hvar cuisine, introducing them to ingredients and herbs that are native to the island. All ingredients used in their cooking are either homegrown or sourced from local farmers and fishers.

What to expect

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) The location for your farm-to-table meal is amidst a field in UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain, a beautiful outdoor settling overlooking the garden and fields. Start your experience with some herb brandy (homemade traditional Hvar brandy aged with aromatic herbs from Kornelija's field) or grape brandy or cherry liqueur or elderflower juice. Then you will share a Hvar special platter, so that you can get to sample some local produce - goat cheese aged for several months in extra virgin olive oil, salted blue fish, olives, capers, and/or pickled sea flowers drizzled extra virgin olive oil. You will also get to taste the family's extra virgin olive oil, served along with some homemade bread. For your mains, you might be served pasta with tomato sauce (fresh tomato sauce stewed for hours with garlic, onions, and herbs, garnished with goat cheese) and a traditional Hvar octopus stew (slow cooked and stewed octopus with aromatic Hvar apices, served with sliced corn grits) or cuttlefish black risotto (slow cooked and stewed cuttlefish with aromatic Hvar spices, served with rice and butter), the main dish depends on the availability of fresh seafood. End your meal with a dessert such as a lemon olive oil cake (moist and fruity dessert cooked with the family's extra virgin olive oil and lemons from Dol village) and a glass of red or white wine, while watching the sunset surrounded by incredible rural scenery.

Cooking experience (1 - 6 guests) Your Hvar cooking class starts with a garden tour, you will have the unique opportunity to handpick your own tomatoes and aromatic herbs, learning about traditional organic farming. You will be guided through the field, learning about different types of tomatoes and herbs, native to the island, part of the landscape is unchanged since ancient Greek colonization (4th century BC). Then proceed outdoors for your step-by-step cooking class with local drinks, storytelling, and insight into Hvar’s rich cultural and agricultural history. It is a 1-hour hands-on cooking class where you will learn to make Hvar salsa. The Hvar salsa will be made from scratch and will be used as a part of two additional dishes on the menu - octopus stew and bruschetta. Kornelija will guide you step-by-step to make the salsa using ripe tomatoes, herbs, garlic, onions, and local olive oil. You will chop and mix the ingredients to create a flavorful salsa, balancing the freshness of the tomatoes with the aromatic herbs. Then use the Hvar salsa to create bruschetta and incorporate it into a traditional Hvar octopus stew.

Market visit (1 - 6 guests)

Notes: All aperitifs and a glass of wine (red or white) are included in the cost of your experience. For non-alcoholic beverages, they offer a homemade elderflower juice and still water. They promote sustainable tourism and regenerative agriculture, and their family-made products (olive oil, rakija, teas, cheeses, spices) are available for purchase.

Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f5929ade380>

Sample menu

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.

  • Our family’s extra virgin olive oil tasting
  • 1st Cold Starter: Hvar Platter (aged goat cheese in extra virgin olive oil, artichokes, salted sardines, olives, capers, sea fennel, drizzled with our own extra virgin olive oil)
  • 2nd Cold Starter: “Murtela Bites” - Basil Dip (our family recipe for basil pesto)
  • Aperitif: Herb Brandy, Grape Brandy, Cherry Liqueur, Carob Liqueur, Walnut Brandy, Red and White Wine, Sweet Wine, Elderflower Syrup
  • Warm Starter: Eggplant Casserole with Goat Cheese
  • 1st Main: Hvar Šalša with Pasta (fresh tomato sauce, slow-cooked for hours with Hvar’s herbs, enhanced with aged goat cheese, served over pasta)
  • 2nd Main: Traditional Hvar Octopus, Cuttlefish & Squid Stew (slow-cooked seafood in a rich sauce infused with Hvar’s aromatic herbs and salted tomato paste, served with a slice of corn polenta flavored with Hvar herbs and drizzled with our extra virgin olive oil)
  • Dessert: Lemon Cake with Extra Virgin Olive Oil (a moist fruit dessert made with our extra virgin olive oil and fragrant family-grown lemons from the village of Dol on Hvar)

GOOD REVIEWS


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Pricing (per person)*

1 person 4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal Not offered $80 $80
Cooking Experience + Meal Not offered $80 $80
Alcohol $0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.

Experience Timings

Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Cooking Experience + Meal 9:00am - 12:00pm

ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

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.

FAQ

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