Host offerings
Tania is an agronomist and food safety specialist who loves singing, playing the piano, and traveling. Her parents will also be part of your Traveling Spoon experience and will help with the cooking and hosting. Her father is a former butcher and is very serious about his meats! Now he is retired and grows fruits and vegetables in their family garden on the outskirts of Beirut. He also enjoys making his own arak (the Lebanese national alcoholic drink made from grapes and anise seeds). Most of the produce for the home comes from the garden and is local, fresh and organic. Tania’s mother is a home cook who has been cooking traditional meals for the family all her life using family recipes. They are a family who enjoys gardening, talking about food, cooking and eating together.
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 - 8 guests) Enter Tania's home, a traditional, modest home with old world charm. Tania has immense knowledge about Lebanese food and ingredients and is happy to share that knowledge and passion with you. After chatting with the family, your meal will be served in their dining room. Enjoy traditional Lebanese dishes during your meal such as stuffed vine leaves, fasolia w riz (beans with rice), mujaddara (lentils) or Lebanese meatballs in tahini sauce or yogurt. End your meal with Lebanese coffee and a selection of fruits and homemade jams from the family garden.
Cooking experience (1 - 8 guests) Join Tania and her mother in their small but accommodating kitchen for a hands-on cooking class, which will last about 1.5 hours. Learn to make 3-4 authentic Lebanese dishes from scratch - everything from mezzes to soups to vegetable sides. Enjoy learning about traditional Lebanese cooking techniques as you cook together with your host. Tania and her mother will have prepared additional dishes that you will also enjoy together during your meal.
Market visit (1 - 8 guests) After meeting at Tania’s home, drive together 15 minutes to her family garden where they grow their own fruit trees and vegetables. Tania will give you a tour of their family garden, explaining the different plants they grow and how those ingredients are traditionally used in Lebanese cooking. Please note, this is not a traditional market tour but instead a tour of Tania's family garden. In addition to the garden tour, Tania also takes you to a local supermarket to introduce you to the ingredients used in Lebanese cuisine.
Notes: Please note that on days Tania is not available, her mother or brothers will host you. They are equally passionate about food! Please note that Tania's house is wheelchair accessible but her car is not.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffa994c00b8>
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.
Tania was the loveliest host and knows everything about every dish and product. We had a lovely lunch with the whole family and some friends. The abu el hessen family are nice, sweet and very welcoming, also they are just good entertainers. We had a spread of mezze with tabouleh and 2 kinds of raw meat, everything was delicious and lovely. Assaad, Tania’s brother even did his own home made garlic dip to have with the raw meat, all accompanied by their home made arak. The main course was moulokhiyeh stew with rice, toasted bread and onion and vinegar sauce. It was all very tasty and fresh and well balanced.
May , Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | $40 | $30 | $25 |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | $65 | $55 | $50 |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | $75 | $65 | $60 |
| Alcohol | $6 per person | ||
| Transportation | $30 per car | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 12:30pm - 02:30pm | 7:00pm - 09:00pm |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 11:00am - 03:00pm | 5:00pm - 09:00pm |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | 10:00am - 03:00pm | 4:00pm - 09:00pm |
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.
