Private Filipino Cooking Class in the heart of Makati City

Meet Cinty

Cinty is a certified nutritionist and wellness chef, who is a plant forward lifestyle advocate, educator, speaker, culinary nutrition coach and consultant, and registered yoga teacher. Cinty also runs her own business where she sells plant-based products since 2017 - to help people nourish their minds and bodies through small, mindful steps. Before Cinty started her own business she worked in hotel and restaurant management, for over 30 years. It is her passion to share the joy of cooking, as well as, an opportunity to showcase Filipino hospitality and total wellness by using the therapeutic qualities of food.

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) Cinty and her partner live in a condominium in Makati City, in the heart of Manila. Her focus is on plant-forward cuisine using local ingredients. However, she can also offer non-vegan traditional Filipino dishes, please let her know your preference in advance. Apart from sharing a plant-forward or traditional Filipino meal, Cinty will take you through the therapeutic qualities of food, so you not only get to experience the food and hospitality, but also get to understand food as medicine. She will cook a home-cooked meal using the principles of culinary nutrition to heal and nourish, and will also incorporate the essentials of Filipino hospitality. The meal you will share is a blend of techniques and recipes from Cinty’s mother's kitchen as well as her nutrition certification classes. A few dishes that you may try are Filipino classics such as grilled eggplant omelet with mince, chicken and pork adobo, hot rice and caramelized banana eggrolls or vegan specials such as pomelo salad or pumpkin soup, curried tofu skewers with a peanut dressing, cucumber salad and vegan cake or protein balls.

Cooking experience (1 - 6 guests) For your Filipino cooking class in Manila, join Cinty in her spacious home kitchen and learn to make two dishes from scratch. You can expect a culinary experience that aims to showcase Filipino favorites, whether they are traditional dishes or vegan/vegetarian alternatives. You will either learn to make an appetizer + main dish or a main dish + dessert. In this hybrid class, you will have the opportunity to get hands-on with the cooking process, together you will prepare the ingredients, learn essential cooking techniques, explore the diverse range of Filipino ingredients, and gain insights into the cultural significance of these dishes. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a complete beginner, this class caters to all skill levels. Discover the secrets behind iconic dishes such as adobo (braised meat/vegetable) or sinigang (sour soup with tamarind), or explore innovative ways to adapt these recipes to a vegan or vegetarian diet. At the end of the cooking lesson, you will sit down to savor the fruits of your labor, indulging in a feast of Filipino delicacies that you've helped prepare, in an intimate setting of your host's home sharing stories, laughter, and the joy of discovering new flavors.

Market visit (1 - 6 guests) Meet Cinty at her apartment and then drive for 7 minutes by car to the nearby Guadalupe public market. It is one of the biggest wet markets in Makati, where you can find stalls selling fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruits. There is so much buzz and chatter around as most of the locals come here to shop - you will get a small glimpse into their everyday lives while also learning about the local produce. The market also has stores selling traditional baskets, affordable apparel, household cleaning materials etc. Walk around the market area and then Cinty will take you to her favorite sellers to buy ingredients for your cooking class.

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