Traveling Spoon

16/06/2026

🇲🇽 Mexico City: Beyond the Stadium

If you're heading to Mexico City for the World Cup, make time to experience one of the world's food capital.

Go beyond the stadium and discover the city through its food and the people who call it home. Learn the secrets of pre-Hispanic cuisine with Martha, prepare beloved Mexican dishes alongside award-winning chefs Mariana and Geraldine, join culinary historian Lucia for an intimate meal in her home, or explore a vibrant local market with Margarita.

15/05/2025

🎉 We’re in the New York Times! 🎉
We’re thrilled to share that Traveling Spoon was featured in yesterday's NYT Travel section and our incredible Mexico City host Alex was highlighted for his unforgettable cooking class experience! 🇲🇽👨‍🍳

“What Airbnb is to lodging, Traveling Spoon is to cooking.”

Thank you to all our amazing hosts who make meaningful, local food experiences possible for our travelers around the world. 💛

Check out the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/travel/mexico-city-cooking-classes-budget-travel.html

Instead of an expensive weeklong culinary program, our columnist sampled three day classes, and learned a few things about mole sauce, tacos al pastor and local culture.

17/04/2025

Exciting news! 🌟 Our incredible hosts Jose in Valencia, Margarita in Mexico City, and Yoshiko in Osaka were featured in the Toronto Star as some of the best ways to enjoy authentic meals while traveling. 🧑‍🍳✨

Check out the article here:

Companies such as Traveling Spoon connect travellers with home cooks who welcome guests into their own kitchens

16/03/2025

Eat Like a Local in Florence!

Looking for a fun and delicious way to explore Florence? Join Martina, a passionate local guide, for a food tour through the city’s markets, hidden gems, and local eateries! Taste the finest Tuscan food, wine, and olive oil, all while learning about the region's rich culinary history.

Review from a guest who enjoyed their Florence food tour:

"Martina was fabulous! She had a vibrant personality and a real love for Florentine culture. She was extremely knowledgeable and kept the tour light and fun while treating us to her favorite spots in Florence. 10/10 would recommend taking a tour with Martina!"

Book your food adventure in Florence today!

15/03/2025

Gather the Family for a Delicious Adventure in Florence!

Looking for a fun and delicious way to immerse your family in Tuscan culture? Join Cinzia for a hands-on pasta-making experience that the whole family will love! Learn to make three types of pasta—pappardelle or tagliatelle, ravioli or tortellini, and gnocchi—along with three delicious sauces!

Let's hear what a recent guest had to say about their experience with Cinzia:

"Cinzia was a wonderful hostess as she welcomed us into her home and began to teach us to make homemade pasta (gnocchi, ravioli and tagliatelle) along with sauces using pumpkin, artichokes, pears, sausage and leaks. She was patient and wise and we had fun and enjoyed her amazing kitchen with all the best equipment-it was such a great experience for us and the food turned out to be delicious and very “Florentine”! By the end of the evening we were like family…highly recommend this experience while you are visiting Florence."

A must-do for anyone who wants to experience the art of pasta making and cooking in Italy.

14/03/2025

Dine in a Beautiful 12th-Century Tuscan Home!    
 
Experience authentic Tuscan cooking in Maria's beautifully restored 12th-century countryside home! As an architect specializing in bio-architecture, Maria’s home blends history and sustainability, creating the perfect setting for learning her grandmother’s cherished recipes.

But don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what one recent guest had to say: 

"This was absolutely the best experience ever. Cooking with Maria was wonderful. She taught us every step of the dishes we made. We got to make them with her and she shared a lot of recipes with us. Her house is absolutely beautiful and she hosted us in the most wonderful way. If in Florence, don't miss the chance for a cooking class with her. I would recommend it to everyone."

Enjoy a guided tour of the San Lorenzo market, followed by a hands-on cooking class and delicious meal with Maria!

13/03/2025

Pasta Lovers, This One’s for You!

Always dreamed of making pasta from scratch? Meet Patrizia, a cookbook author and food journalist, for the ultimate pasta-making experience in Florence! Start your journey at Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio, picking out fresh produce before learning to make tagliatelle, ravioli, or gnocchi. 

Here’s what a happy guest had to say: 

"My husband and I had our honeymoon in Italy and were lucky enough to book Patrizia's Tuscan cooking class. The class began by meeting her at her local farmer's market and picking out the food we would use for our recipes. We ended up making three different courses and she had appetizers for us to munch on while we cooked and wine to pair with our meal. Patrizia was such a gem to learn from, she was friendly, inviting, and so knowledgeable of everything culinary. My husband and I agree that this was one of our favorite things we did while in Italy and would absolutely dine with Patrizia again. Upon leaving she sent us an email that included recipes for each of the dishes we made and even included recommendations for some of the olive oils and cooking utensils we used while cooking with her. We loved Patrizia and will forever remember this cooking experience."

Don’t miss this hands-on pasta-making class in the heart of Florence!

12/03/2025

Unforgettable Cooking Experience in the Florence Countryside!  

Fabio, an architect and designer, and his wife Christiane, a German journalist, invite you to their cozy countryside home for a truly unique cooking class! Expect breathtaking views, a stroll through an olive grove, fascinating insights into Florence’s rich history, and the chance to try authentic homemade dishes you can only find in a local’s home!  

Review by a guest who enjoyed Italian Christmas with Fabio and Christiane:

"We had a wonderful experience from the moment we booked our reservation, Fabio was in contact with us in preparation for the menu and the meeting location for our cooking class. He arranged the time so that we could see the sunset overlooking Florence from the countryside, It was an amazing view! We made a traditional Italian Christmas dinner with bollito and meat broth, salsa verde, green sauce for the "bollito", cappelletti in the meat broth, and pears tart with chocolate. The meal was delicious and the company was wonderful. Fabio and Christiane were very warm and welcoming hosts with great conversation. It was all we expected and more."

Book this off-the-beaten-path culinary experience in Florence—you won’t regret it!

10/03/2025

Get ready to experience Florence like never before, from cooking classes to hidden gems! This week, we're diving into the heart of Florence with our top hosts, glowing reviews, and insider tips on the best cultural experiences with locals.

Stay tuned for all the local secrets!

24/02/2025

The BEST Mexican food is made in a local’s home! Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind dining experience with Martha and Arturo in Mexico City! Learn to cook traditional Mexican dishes, some dating back to the pre-Hispanic era, in Martha’s warm, welcoming kitchen.

Here's what our traveler had to say about their cooking class with Martha: "We cooked and had dinner in Martha’s lovely home. We requested making tortillas and mole, and lucky for us, she was able to accommodate that night. We were also able to make a veggie side—I was surprised by how much we were able to make! Martha clearly loves hosting people, cooking, and sharing her culture. Cooking while enjoying a glass of wine and her warm company in her kitchen was so fun. I’m excited to try these dishes at home now. I highly recommend spending an evening with Martha!"

Join a local in their home kitchen and learn to cook from family recipes, while sharing stories, wine, and great food!