Private Puerto Rican Cooking Class in San Juan with Chef Viviana

What your day looks like

Host Bio: Viviana has worked as a professional in the food industry for 23 years. She has vast experience in the kitchen, having worked the line at numerous establishments and as a private chef abroad. Parallel to that she also built a career in publishing, working as a recipe tester and developer and as a food writer and editor for various magazines and cookbooks. She owns and operates a catering business from her home cooking studio, where she also conducts cooking classes on traditional Puerto Rican cuisine for locals and tourists. When we asked Viviana what travelers should expect during their experience with you, she said, “I believe that it is through tradition, food, and the gathering at the table, that you can get to know a country and its people. Knowing its food and its table antics makes it easier for the traveler to navigate through the country they are visiting.” And we couldn’t agree more! Meal Description: Viviana is professionally trained in French and International cuisine and is also very passionate about the gastronomy of Puerto Rico. Viviana is proud to share her abundance of knowledge and skill on Puerto Rican cooking through her family recipes, passed own passed down through generations, and start a conversation of rich cultural exchange. A few dishes that you will share will Viviana at her dining table are tostones (smashed fried plantains), arroz con habichuelas (rice and stewed beans with Caribbean pumpkin,) and piñón de amarillo y picadillo (sweet plantain lasagna with spiced ground beef). A sweet treat of homemade panetela de guayaba (guava shortbread) will be served with coffee to finish the meal. Cooking Description: Join Viviana in her beautiful home cooking studio for your Puerto Rican cooking class in San Juan, a dream kitchen that has been built thoughtfully over the years. Learn to cook two traditional Puerto Rican dishes in your 1.5-hour hands-on San Juan cooking class. You will learn to make sofrito (a mix of aromatic herbs and vegetables, it is used as a vegetable base for arroz con habichuelas, stewed beans with Caribbean pumpkin), and crispy tostones (smashed fried plantains). Discover traditional recipes, and hands-on techniques, and enjoy a taste of the island's vibrant flavors. Perfect for all skill levels! After cooking, share the meal you helped prepare with your host in her dining room. Note: This host offers multiple experiences so please choose whether you prefer only a meal or a cooking class and meal when booking.