Traditional Cooking Class with a Local Mom in Central Istanbul
3 reviews
Experience hosted at home by
Rojda
3 Hours
English, Turkish
Join a cooking class inside Rojda’s home in Istanbul and learn to make most special dishes of Turkish cuisine — Turkish-style ravioli or Turkish dolmas or other dishes — entirely from scratch. After a warm welcome with tea, you’ll dive into the making process, learn how to fold each dumpling, or roll grape leaves in the traditional way. As you prepare the seperate items or the main dish, you will be preparing the two seasonal side dishes like a crisp salad or local meze. The experience ends with everyone gathering around the table to enjoy the food and stories.
Rojda shares: “In our family, making mantı is always a group effort. Every little fold carries a memory.” This experience isn’t just about learning a cuisine — it’s about stepping into a tradition that connects people across generations.
What makes it unique?
Mantı is a dish that traditionally brings families together for hours of preparation. In this class, guests experience that communal process by learning how to shape the small dumplings and prepare the sauce. The shared effort and storytelling around the table capture the social spirit of the dish.
What do our guests say?
Really great experience. Manti is a very special dish and great to make in a group. Our host (Roza) was incredibly kind, personable, good-humored, and generous with her time. Hard to ask for a better experience. And, the food was really fantastic. Highly recommended.
02.10.25
Eric
This was hands-down the best thing I did in Istanbul. Making mantı with Rojda felt like I was part of a family gathering — we laughed, learned, and shared stories over the kitchen table. The yogurt sauce and paprika butter were so flavorful, and I’ll definitely try to recreate it at home. Highly recommended for food lovers who want a meaningful, hands-on experience.
17.07.25
LivaLiva
Rojda welcomed us into her home like old friends. Making mantı from scratch was such a rewarding experience — kneading the dough, folding each tiny dumpling, and learning the family tricks behind the paprika butter sauce. The stories she told while we cooked made everything feel so warm and connected. We left full of food and joy — and with a new appreciation for Turkish home traditions.
25.07.25
Emma