Host offerings
Tinatin (Tina) lives with her large family close to the Tbilisi Mall. She learned to cook from her mother and still uses her grandmother’s recipes. Tina has a big family - she lives with her spouse and seven children. You can usually find Tina in the kitchen preparing a big meal for them. Join Tina in her modest, family home to experience Georgian cuisine - a melting pot of a variety of flavors and new ingredients that you may never have tasted before. You may even get to meet the whole family but if not you will still see their artistic scribbles on the walls! <br><br>"I love hosting people from different countries and showing them the best part of my city, which I love very much!"
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 - 7 guests) Tina and her family live in a traditional Georgian home, it is modestly furnished in a traditional style - filled with books, antiques, maps, and artwork created by the family (the younger daughter is an artist). Traces of the family history can be seen throughout their home, from photo collages to paintings on the walls.
You will be greeted warmly with smiles from Tina, and her children (if they are around). Tina will serve a traditional Georgian meal from the Lechkhumi and Samegrelo region where her parents grew up. A few dishes that you may taste at Tina's dining table are, a fresh tomato and cucumber salad, chakhokhbili (stewed chicken with fresh herbs), khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and khinkali (Georgian dumpling). Your meal will conclude with the sweet churchkhela, a traditional candy made by repeatedly dipping a long string of nuts in tatara – a mixture of flour, sugar and badagi (concentrated grape juice) or dry fruits.
Cooking experience (1 - 7 guests) Tina offers a hands-on cooking experience - you will get to cook along with her in her kitchen. In your Georgian cooking class in in Tbilisi learn to make 2-3 dishes such as lobio (a traditional Georgian medley of beans), chakhokhbili (stewed chicken with fresh herbs) or khachapuri (cheese-filled bread). Tina will share the recipes and preparation method throughout the cooking process so be ready to take a lot of notes! Your class will last about an hour and a half after which you will join Tina at the dining table to share the meal you helped prepare.
Market visit (1 - 7 guests) Tina will meet you at the main entrance of Dezerter Bazaar for your market tour. She will be happy to guide you through the many interesting lanes en-route to the market. This is a lively indoor marketplace for fruits and vegetables, piles of spices and colorful, handmade candles. Discover regional produce as Tina gives you a tour of this local market - you may even purchase a few fresh ingredients that you will use in your cooking class.
Notes: If you choose the optional transportation add-on, you will be picked up and dropped off from your central Tbilisi hotel.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffad9718028>
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.
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
Teo and her family are the personification of Georgian hospitality. IT WAS FANTASTIC! I had already tried almost all of the dishes she prepared, but she had her own unique take on them. She sent me home with leftovers! Teo is so warm, welcoming and a true global citizen - open-minded and inquisitive. We talked well beyond our meal and even made plans to walk around the city together. We shared our travel stories and favourite places, books, and music. Her entire family was completely charming and welcoming as well. A special culinary moment was cooking with Teo’s younger siblings (including her 8-year-old brother) who helped prepare almost everything. Stirring over the stove, poking air holes in the khachapuri, and sharing the meal together was very special. Family is the most important thing in Georgian culture, and guests are considered a gift from God. They really made me feel part of the family — and already invited me back!
Maria, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking Experience + Meal | $100 | $85 | $85 |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | $105 | $90 | $90 |
| Alcohol | $10 per person | ||
| Transportation | Not offered | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 12:00pm - 04:00pm | 4:00pm - 08:00pm |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | 10:30am - 03:30pm | 2:30pm - 07:30pm |
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.
