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Cooking with a Costa Rican Family: An Insight into Local Traditions and Customs
4.9
32 Ratings
San Ramon
Experience the warmth and hospitality of a Costa Rican family as you join them in their kitchen. Learn about local traditions and customs while cooking delicious traditional dishes.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
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Ceibo Arenal Home - After booking our experiences, you will arrive at our kitchen where you will be very welcome and where you will share a good time with an authentic Costa Rican family.
After introducing ourselves and getting to know each other over a refreshing drink, we will take you on a tour of our organic garden, where you will learn about the different crops and aromatic plants, followed by picking some of the ingredients that we will use for the preparation of our dish.
When we return to the kitchen we will prepare a refreshing mojito to proceed to prepare a typical dish with fresh ingredients, produced by us and our neighbors.
At the end of the preparation of the dish, we will consume everything prepared in a family atmosphere.
If you come with more time than agreed there is a good chance to observe some animals such as frogs, birds and sloths that live in our garden.
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What's Included
- Lunch included
- Tea and coffee provided
Meal Options
- Chicken rice - Shredded chicken, a special marinade sauce, Vegetables, spices are added to the rice mixture.
- Typical desserts - Organic fruit honeys
Additional Information
Our humble family of five hails from Costa Rica, composed of Lidiana, Eddie, our boys Aaron, Edison, and our dear daughter-in-law Tiffany. We live with our three feline companions and a canine pal. Each day we push to enhance our lives, holding steadfast to our goals as a Costa Rican family and farming folk – to preserve and share our cultural traditions and practices with those who visit. Our aim is to make our guests feel as if they’re part of our family and at home.
Location
Ceibo Arenal Home
Personally I wait for you with pleasure, in our parking I give you the indications of the whole
experience and I put them at your disposal.
It is our pleasure to serve you.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(32 Ratings)
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Jamiebr9339bt
Jun 15, 2024
10/10 recommend! - This was my second time attending the cooking class with Lidiana and her family, and I would go again and again! A beautiful, friendly family who opened their home, garden and hearts to us. They took time to explain everything to us and show us the way they live. Amazing experience. 10/10 recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katie_s
Jun 7, 2024
Unique organic cooking experience with a gracious family ❤️ - The family is so welcoming! They were social and we felt very welcome in their home and garden. They spoke excellent English and were happy to communicate what and why we were using certain ingredients. The organic garden is a beautiful walk and we enjoyed the fun frog discovery tour in the dark.
The only thing that would make it better would be to receive a link to the recipes we made! We are ready to try these at home. Loved it and for sure recommend to couples, families… anyone who wants to experience a little local flavor with a wonderful family working together to create a great experience for all.
Review provided by Viator
Shonnaw
May 21, 2024
Delicious foods, gracious hosts, and wonderful overall experience. - Aaron and Edison were our hosts for the evening. The tour of the organic farm was great! We learned what herbs and vegetables they grew and got to taste them as well. There were a couple varieties of herbs that looked completely different than what we have in the states - but taste the same. They were the Cilantro and the spinach. We learned to make Arroz con pollo (can't wait to get the recipe - so yummy!), yuca hashbrowns (OMG!), fried plantains, refried beans and a pineapple & sugar cane dessert. Not to mention the mojitos made with fresh mint.
Bonuses we weren't expecting - a baby sloth in one of their trees, several species of frogs, and the view of Arenal Volcano was postcard perfect from their property. I highly recommend booking this adventure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Xiscom2014
May 14, 2024
Fantastic and original experience - Fantàstic evening watching the sunset in their private garden. We saw 2 sloths, mother and son, several toads and frogs. We recollected some herbs and veggies for the salad. We cooked together, they showed us some tricks and tips and we do feel confident to cook this again home. The whole experience was a celebration of life and nature. Can't recommend it enough. Their passion for life is contagious. One feels more alive and full of joy afterwards. Pura vida
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Venture09209996038
Apr 13, 2024
Delicious food! - Amazing time! Felt very welcomed. Awesome hospitality. Food was super delicious. Best i had in my week stay in Costa Rica. Not to forget the homemade mojito with fresh mint leaves from garden. Highly recommend. Would def come back.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E2640ytstephanien
Mar 24, 2024
Group of teenagers loved it! - We brought our group of high school students to Lidiana's class and farm and were absolutely delighted by everything. Want to really test how well something like this is executed? Bring a group of teenagers to it at the end of a long day of hiking. It could have been a recipe for disaster, but instead it was one of the highlights of the trip, with amazing food and an absolutely wonderful family to enjoy it with. Bring your family and enjoy an amazing experience!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Colliemp
Mar 19, 2024
Wonderful Experience - Our family of four (including my 17 year old son) all loved this evening. Smiles from the time we got there. Lidian and her sons Aaron and Edison were amazing hosts, warm and welcoming. We started with a tour of their garden, then made the best dinner we’ve had in a long time (my kids even agree), and finished with a short night walk in their yard. Warm hugs to say good by.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kiwijudy90
Feb 20, 2024
Unforgettably delicious experience - Lidiana and her two sons prepared an unforgettable evening for us.
First, we were greeted with freshly squeezed orange juice. Our children were happy to pet the family's dogs and cats. Then we strolled through the garden and tried fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables and were given lots of information about the plants. We saw lots of different birds, especially lots of toucans. Afterwards, we were served a delicious mochito as a refreshment.
After that, we cut, grated and cooked while having good conversations. Our three-year-old daughter cooked diligently and Lidiana looked after our baby so that we had our hands free to cook. The two of them had a lot of fun together.
The food was very authentic and delicious. The children also enjoyed it very much. There was also a vegetarian option for our daughter.
The evening was even more unforgettable when Lidiana showed us a mother sloth with her twins and we were shown lots of frogs and lizards at the ponds. We can highly recommend this cooking class. It was a highlight of our Costa Rica trip. Thank you so much to the whole family.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jayne_d
Feb 7, 2024
Wonderful experience with beautiful hosts! - The dinner was delicious and it was such fun to learn and to join in the cooking experience. The tour of the garden to gather salad ingredients was fun and informative. We spotted Toucans and the sloth that hangs out in the trees on the property. After dinner the family went out of their way and took us out to search for amphibians! Such a great evening and one we’ll always remember as a highlight of our trip!
Review provided by Viator
Eboesige
May 4, 2024
The host family was... - The host family was welcoming, warm and friendly. The site has a lovely organic garden. The actual cooking portion was disappointing. In terms of preparing the meal, my only hands-on was chopping ingredients, not the cooking experience I had hoped for.
Review provided by Viator