Top Kalamata Cooking Classes

Paradiso – The Paradise Within the Heart of Bermuda - Teddy and Muriel - HostsWe recently visited Bermuda and chose an Airbnb accommodation in a prime location. The location was a short walk to Bermuda’s Icon Hamilton Princess Hotel. From there, we could enjoy a leisurely walk into the heart of Hamilton. Our flight arrived late, but the hosts had planned for us to have access to the unit. The unit is an extension of their beautiful home, furnished with Bermuda style decorations and a sense of being “home.” Everything about the unit screamed, “Welcome, Great to have you.” There was a welcome note accompanied with snacks, much appreciated for sure. The next couple of days we were busy going down memory lane as Bermuda was my original home. On Father’s day, Muriel called the room and offered us tea and a greet and meet. Their home was incredible and they told us stories of how they came to rent their unit. They are some of the most gracious people we have ever met. I told them that this would be my destination every time I visited the island, if it was available. I have visited many Airbnb units around the world and this one stands out as being the BEST. The hospitality, the unit’s sense of “home” and the graciousness of the hosts, make this destination – PERFECT. We are looking forward to our next visit, if available, and hopefully it will be.

Maria organised for us a fantastic cooking class and lunch with executive chef Kris Koumantos. From the very first contact Maria was exceedingly helpful and accommodating, taking particular care to make this a special birthday celebration. Chef Koumantos was also very welcoming and it felt like a privilege to be so warmly invited into his kitchen to learn a number of dishes we prepared together (enjoying a fine rosé as we did so!). The ingredients were all local, fresh and seasonal chosen from the local market just a short walk away. Maria provided lots of information about local food traditions during our meal and our cooking. So gracious were they both that it seemed more like we were sharing a meal with new friends than that were we were taking a class or having a touristic experience. Genuinely a very special memory. Thank you Maria and Kris!

I had a wonderful experience with Mama's Flavours. I was travelling solo, and didn't have much planned so I emailed Maria and she was able to organize a private cooking class within a few days that fit my schedule. It was a lot of fun cooking some new recipes with the head chef and Maria, who also gave me a lot of information about Greek food and culture over the 3 hours I was there. They also gave me some additional tips on sites to visit. I would highly recommend booking something with Maria through Mama's Flavours!

We enjoyed our food tour with Maria of Mama’s Kitchen so much that we didn’t hesitate to book this second experience. This time, Maria took us to a charming village near Pylos, where we were welcomed into the garden of Stephanie and her husband, nestled in their beautiful olive grove. Together, we baked traditional bread and prepared a classic village meal, all cooked in an outdoor wood-fired oven. It was more than just a cooking class, it felt like an evening with friends with local wine and treats. If you're looking to step off the beaten path and experience a taste of Greek village life with hospitality, delicious food and good company this experience is not to be missed.

We had a wonderful time with our friends who enjoy cooking classes. Everything was fine; the welcome, the hosts, Maria and we even had a French interpreter. We were in a small group and the sharing was even more pleasant. I highly recommend this type of experience.

This was a venture that my wife and I took with 4 other adults (our daughters and their husbands) and grandkids of 5, 2 and 1-1/2 years). The farm/vineyards are incredibly cool on their own account, with olive trees that are hundreds of years old. Loved the food and libations, but the olive oil tasting was particularly great. Had no idea of what "great" olive oil tasted like, but it was obvious shortly after we started. The owners of the farm were awesome people, with young kids and a interesting backgrounds. The organic focus of the farm was very cool. Our tour "hosts," Maria and Giannis, are very special people. This tour was our first engagement with them. We had such a great time and liked them so much that we did two other events that they arranged during our stay in Kalamata. They are delightful, smart and interesting. We've done other tours (including some in Kalamata), and no one compares to Maria and Giannis in terms of personal touch and creativity. We consider them to be our friends.

You should try it out! The wines were of high quality and very tasty! Of course the lunch was something that you cannot find easily to taste, except if you have a Greek mama to cook it for you! Maria our tour guide was also fantastic!!

Laconia is one of my favourite regions to travel! During our tour, Maria told us about the exciting and very interesting history of the Greek Gastronomy. Visiting the eco-touristic farm was something more than I expected! Maria, Fragkiskos and Marilena were absolutely professionals! Very friendly, they explained us about the ingredients of the recipe and revealed us some secrets about how to cook the best gemista (stuffed peppers and tomatoes)!! It had so much fun! Definitely do it again, thank you guys!

We enjoyed it very much! Well organized, Maria, our leader, ‘’travelled’’ us into the past with her interesting narrations during the tour! Our visit in the Olive Oil Museum in Sparta in combination with the olive oil tasting gave us an all embracing icon of the great history of the olive in Greece!

A wonderful experience! The wine tasting was great and the wines were flavorful and accompanied with delicious local delicacies: the handmade pie was fantastic! Also, we liked very much that Maria introduced us to the local customs and Greek gastronomy during our tour! Smiling and very polite she made our tour a great experience, thank you, Maria!!

My husband and adult son did the cooking class with head chef Cristo at Restaurant Piccolo in Kalamata. Our whole experience was delightful- preparing a 5 course luncheon while sipping local Rose wine and discussing cultural history of Greece with Maria, our host. We helped make au d’oeuvres of smoked trout on cucumber with fresh lemon, sautéed vegetables, potatoes with fresh herbs and sautéed local cheese, served with warm pita and pepper chutney. We continued with scrambled eggs with fresh tomatoes and herbs and cheese, then chicken with tomatoes and pasta and Parmesan. Finally, we had fresh Greek yogurt with a cooked cherry syrup (I recommend seconds even if you are ready to burst!). My son preferred to talk with Maria and enjoy the finished meal, while I wanted to learn new cooking skills- we both were happy and very satisfied.

A highlight of our trip through the Peloponnese was the cooking workshop with Maria and Christos in Kalamata. We were so kindly received by Maria in their lovely restaurant. Under the clear guidance of experienced and super sweet chef Christos we made our own 4 course lunch together with the children smiling but "working hard". An amuse, Fish from the oven, Moussaka and a delicious dessert. Delicious food and nice chat like friends do! Highly recommended, and worth driving for when you are in the Peloponnese!

We had the most wonderful day! An interactive, hands-on experience in the most beautiful setting. Our food was fun to prepare and delicious to enjoy with wine. We love learning about the olive harvest as well. A MUST-DO experience!

What an amazing, perfect day. It's hard for me to express how wonderful the experience of cooking together with our friends in this beautiful outdoor, garden kitchen in Messinia. Maria along with, Stephanie and her family gathered us around a large wooden table under a beautiful shady pergola built by Stephanie's husband Panayotis from local cedar trees that were repurposed.. Stephanie's mother in law, our Yiayia for the day, reminded me so much of my own grandmother as she encouraged us to get involved in every part of the meal prep. We learned how to prepare and bake rustic bread, lamb, tsasiki, tiropita, a villiager's salad and oven baked potatoes. The clay oven used to cook the meal is one you will see in many Greek's home gardens or behind local restaurants. While we learned how to cook these things, Maria & Stephanie taught us about the lifestyle in Messinia, the traditions behind many local foods, the importance of the olive trees and so much more. All of our hosts were so warm, funny and interesting. They are well prepared. While your lunch is baking in the oven, you are served local wine and learn about the processing of olive oil and the purpose of raising awareness though agrotourism. The property is idyllc and set on a hill not far from Vodokilia and Petrohori beaches where you can visit after for a swim. You can purchase Olive Oil produced at the farm to carry home and enjoy when you are missing the flavors of Greece. There is a genuine feeling that your hosts deeply care about the traditions, food and culture of Greece and Messinia in particular. My grandparents and father lived and grew up in this area and I'm so happy to be able to share this experience with my friends from the US who came with us to visit last summer. We have already planned the same cooking class with our next guests when we are there this summer. You arrive as guests of Maria, Stephanie, Yiayia and Paniyotis and leave feeling like friends.

I love cooking and travelling in different countries for new tastes. This experience was one of my best! The cooking lesson with the local ladies had been for me a new great experience and sure I will come again to taste the Kalamata olives and trahana (a fermented milk pasta that greek local women make in the summer!). Maria, our tour guide was amazing and so friendly with us! I recommended it for anyone who travels to Arcadia and wants to taste authentic Greek food!!

All was awesome! The local people, our enthusiastic local guide Maria, who answered all our questions and kept our interest alive in the whole tour!! The women in the workshop were very friendly and with them we prepared delicious food!! Thank you all for everything!