Hands-on Indian Cooking Class in Mumbai with Lavina

Meet Lavina

Lavina was born and raised in Muscat, Oman. After completing her formal education there, she moved to Mumbai to pursue a Master’s in Business Management, specializing in Human Resource Management. Lavina worked as an HR professional for several years before life took a beautiful turn with the arrival of her twins. Cooking has always been her true passion. Growing up, she had the privilege of learning from her grandmother, watching her create authentic Indian delicacies with love and skill. Lavina also inherited her grandmother's handwritten recipe book, a treasured family heirloom she holds dear. Since 2019, Lavina has embraced her love for food as a home chef, running her own catering business and offering in-home dining experiences. Now, she is thrilled to share her culinary expertise through cooking classes that showcase the rich food, culture, and history of India. Come join Lavina and her family for an unforgettable culinary journey in her home in Mumbai. Experience the diversity and depth of Indian cuisine firsthand, and discover the stories behind each dish.

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 (2 - 4 guests) Authentic local food experience in Mumbai – dine with a local family! Lavina lives in a cozy apartment in Santacruz, an upscale residential neighborhood near Juhu Beach, with her husband and twins. She invites travelers to experience the rich flavors of Mangalorean cuisine through a home dining experience in Mumbai. This unique experience is perfect for those looking to connect with Indian culture through food, enjoy traditional Indian dishes, and dine in the comfort of a local's home. Lavina hails from Mangalore, a coastal city in Southern India known for its distinct culinary traditions. During your visit, she will share some of her favorite Mangalorean dishes that she grew up eating, offering you an authentic taste of her heritage.

The experience begins with a welcome drink and an introduction to Indian spices, followed by a seat at the family dining table. Here, you’ll enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal served the traditional way—on a banana leaf or a steel thali. The meal includes an appetizer, chicken pepper fry, pickles, and salad, followed by a main course, chicken stew paired with spongy appams (rice pancakes, and dessert such as payasam, followed by traditional mukhwas (mouth refreshers). End the meal with a refreshing cup of filter coffee, a beloved South Indian classic. This local food experience in Mumbai offers a true taste of Indian culinary traditions and is an ideal way to immerse yourself in the culture and flavors of Southern India. Whether you're visiting Mumbai for the first time or exploring the city's rich heritage, Lavina’s home dining experience promises to be a memorable and authentic culinary journey.

Cooking experience (2 - 4 guests) Hands-on Indian cooking class in Mumbai, learn to cook authentic dishes with Lavina in her home kitchen. Looking for fun things to do in Mumbai or interested in learning authentic Indian cuisine? Join Lavina for a 1.5-hour hands-on Mumbai cooking class where you’ll learn to cook two traditional Indian dishes. During this interactive cooking class, Lavina will teach you how to fry crispy dosas (please note, the dosa batter needs to be fermented in advance, so it will be pre-prepared for the class), prepare a flavorful potato stuffing, and make a delicious semolina pineapple halwa. She will guide you step by step through the cooking process, while sharing stories, tips, and culinary traditions that are passed down through generations. This is not just a cooking class; it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in Indian food and culture, while learning to cook a home-cooked meal loved by locals. After cooking, sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare.