Athens central market visit and Greek cooking class with a local artist

Meet Penelope

Penelope is a talented papercut artist, who does exhibitions every year! Her love for art and colors is reflected in her beautiful centrally located apartment in Athens. She learned to cook from her mother and the mothers of her friends. She has been cooking from a young age and loves hosting friends and family and even catering for small parties. She uses family recipes to cook classic Greek dishes with fresh, seasonal produce available in the market. Penelope is excited to connect with people from around the world and share with them her passion and love for Greek food, art and culture. You can expect to get insight into Greek history, culinary traditions, ingredients over a home cooked meal, made using recipes developed by Penelope.

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.

Market visit (2 - 4 guests) Meet Penelope at her apartment located in the heart of Athens city center, in a safe and vivid neighborhood, close to 3 metro stations (Panepistimio, Syntagma & Monastiraki). She lives close to Syntagma square in an art deco building of '30s.

After a refreshing welcome drink, you will discuss with Penelope and decide on the menu for the day. Then walk for 7-10 minutes to the nearby Athens central market to buy ingredients for your cooking class. Fish, meat, vegetables and fruits are sold at this market – a great place to get a glimpse into the everyday life of a local. Penelope loves cooking with fresh, seasonal produce and decides the menu based on what is available in the market. Walk through the lively market and visit Penelope’s favorite vendors where she will introduce you to produce that is locally grown and teach you how to pick the freshest ingredients. After you shop, walk back to Penelope’s apartment to cook and share a traditional Greek meal. Your Athens cooking class will last for 2 hours, where you will cook with the ingredients that you bought at the market. The menu is seasonal and will vary but a few dishes that you can expect to cook and eat together are a fresh Greek salad and fasolada (Greek bean soup) or kakavia (soup of fish and vegetables) or grilled fish and vegetables. End your meal with a dessert such as yogurt cream with strawberries.