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Host: Daniel

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

USD
$64-$200 per person

Authentic Ethiopian cooking class and coffee ceremony

Host offerings
  • House
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Daniel

Daniel and his wife Tigist are from the Oromia region of Ethiopia but love to cook dishes from around the country, so prepare to be served pan-Ethiopian cuisine. Tigist learned to cook helping her mother around the house as a child, and ran her own kitchen after marrying Daniel. Daniel speaks perfect English and enjoys discussing diverse subjects from food and history to politics. Tigist is less confident speaking English but is incredibly friendly - together they make a great team. Daniel has a master's degree in social anthropology and is a tourism professional - he has led trips around Ethiopia for over a decade. He enjoys meeting people from different cultural backgrounds and sharing his rich heritage with them. They are blessed with three handsome boys who may join you during your experience if it's on a weekend.

Please note that on days that Daniel is traveling, his friend and business partner Yadassa will host you along with Daniel's wife, Tigist at their home.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Daniel and Tigist’s home is in the outskirts of Addis Ababa, a neighborhood not frequented by tourists that is calmer and greener than central Addis Ababa. Their home is comfortable, clean and homey, decorated with pictures of their three boys, who you may meet if your experience takes place during the evening or on the weekend. Ethiopian cuisine is comprised of a variety of spices in its wots (stews) and tibs (curry), making the cuisine hot and piquant. You will eat as Ethiopians do, from communal plates lined with injera, a traditional fermented bread. Injera acts like an edible plate with other dishes served on top of it. The juices soak into the injera, which diners tear off into morsels to eat and even feed each other in a gesture called gursha that is meant to strengthen bonds. Teff flour is used to make the injera bread, which is soft, spongy and perfect to mop up the delicious gravies that soak through it. Your meal will be served family style with injera served alongside an assortment of meat, fish, vegetables and lentils. You will sit around the injera and enjoy your meal from one single platter. As Ethiopia is the birth place of coffee, you will enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony after your meal.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) Your cooking class will take place in Daniel and Tigist’s home kitchen. During your two hour class, Tigist will show you how to make a traditional Ethiopian dish as well as how to pour and cook the perfect injera. You might learn to make shiro (chickpea or broad bean stew) or tibs (stir-fried meat with vegetables and spices) in addition to injera. You will also learn to roast coffee beans. If you're interested in learning to make an additional dish, include it in the "notes" section of your booking - please note that it will extend the cooking time. Daniel is excited to share his culture through food and offer an authentic/traditional cooking class in Addis Ababa. He can also accommodate vegetarian diet in his Ethiopian cooking class.

Market visit: (1-6 guests) After you meet your host at his home, he will take you to the Keta/Asco market, a 15-20 minute walk from his home. Here you will be introduced to local ingredients that you will use in your cooking class later. The market is a daily local market known for its spices, cereals, vegetables and other industrial materials. While the market is open on all days, Wednesdays and Saturdays are especially good for visits. Saturday is considered market day all over the country and the market teems with life and people. Your market tour lasts about an hour.

Notes: Daniel’s home is in the outskirts of Addis Ababa and about 25 km from the airport. Since public transportation is not very convenient and there are no clear postal addresses in Ethiopia, Daniel prefers arranging transport for you. He is happy to offer hotel pick up and drop off for an additional cost. If you would like this option please select "Yes" to transportation in the booking form.

Languages spoken: English

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Their home is comfortable, clean, and homey and everything was great! The food was fresh and delicious. We'd eaten a week's worth of injera at many restaurants, including top rated trip advisor restaurants, and the flavor and freshness at Daniel's home was better than anything else, especially for the vegetable dishes. Daniel was the best English speaker we met in Ethiopia, and we were able to ask him questions we had had to give up on with other Ethiopians because of language barriers - like about politics and history. The month before Easter in Ethiopia, everyone typically only eats vegetarian food so I actually hadn't had meat in days (weeks really) but Daniel and Tigist sourced some beef with some effort that was amazing! Additionally, we loved the coffee and popcorn, and the vegetables were the freshest and tastiest we had in Ethiopia. My favorite thing was talking to Daniel and Tigist, and playing with their incredibly adorable baby boy :)

Subhanu and Chetans, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

4.91 (77)
I joined this tour because I’m really into home cooking. Since I went by myself, it was a bit pricey for me, but honestly, it was totally worth it. Daniel and his family were super welcoming and friendly, and they took the time to answer all my questions. I had a great time! There was a bit of a mix-up when I booked, and I had some trouble reaching out through the app. So I’d recommend sending a message or giving a quick call after booking, just to make sure everything’s clear. Because it was getting late (?), we were able to enjoy an unexpected night drive around Addis Ababa during the pick-up and drop-off. Since I was unfamiliar with the area, I was glad to be able to ask for a pick-up and drop-off service.
- Dai Chika August 20, 2025
Excellent Cooking Class and Dinner in Private Home! Daniel picked us up at our hotel and drove us to his home. Our family of four - including sons who are 16 and 21 - had a wonderful experience cooking Injera and Shiro Wat with Daniel and his wife, Tigist, in their kitchen. We then ate dinner together - an array of excellent dishes - and enjoyed one of the best Ethiopian meals of our stay in Addis Ababa. The food was fantastic and the conversation with Daniel, Tigist and their son made for a truly delightful evening. It was also a treat to visit their neighborhood and be out of the hustle and bustle of the city center for an evening. Coffee ceremony was also offered. Daniel then drove us back to our hotel. Transport is additional and was much appreciated. We highly recommend this experience.
- Elizabeth December 22, 2023
I had a wonderful time with Daniel and his family. Daniel picked me up from my hotel and we went to the market for some items. The cooking class was a good balance of me cooking and some pre-cooked items. I also enjoyed the coffee afterwards. Nice family! And communication throughout was excellent. I would recommend!
- 482ken April 26, 2023
Daniel is an excellent guide. He has a teaching degree, a bachelors degree in history, and a masters in sociology. His depth of knowledge and ability to answer questions made the day a great experience. The market had a calm day when I went, Sunday, but that meant that we could walk calmly as he told me about all the ingredients for sale. His wife and family are very kind and taught me a lot about food and coffee. I even made injera. I feel confident that if I can find the ingredients I will be able to keep making the dish they prepared for me at home. I could not recommend this tour enough.
- laurasS September 19, 2022
My husband and I were picked up at our hotel promptly, and Daniel led us through the Akso market, patient with our questions, and guiding us through the etiquette of taking pictures. His wife led the cooking demo and is a delightful person as well, clear in her explanations. In their lovely home we ate a huge variety of dishes, and enjoyed more conversation over delicious coffee. They have a charming family we enjoyed meeting as well.
- E. Blanchard March 17, 2020
Read More

Daniel

$64-$200 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $92 $78 $64
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $110 $88
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $200 $174 $160
Transportation
 $96 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $92 $78 $64
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $110 $88
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $200 $174 $160
Transportation
 $96 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 3:00pm-7:00pm

Meet Daniel

Daniel and his wife Tigist are from the Oromia region of Ethiopia but love to cook dishes from around the country, so prepare to be served pan-Ethiopian cuisine. Tigist learned to cook helping her mother around the house as a child, and ran her own kitchen after marrying Daniel. Daniel speaks perfect English and enjoys discussing diverse subjects from food and history to politics. Tigist is less confident speaking English but is incredibly friendly - together they make a great team. Daniel has a master's degree in social anthropology and is a tourism professional - he has led trips around Ethiopia for over a decade. He enjoys meeting people from different cultural backgrounds and sharing his rich heritage with them. They are blessed with three handsome boys who may join you during your experience if it's on a weekend.

Please note that on days that Daniel is traveling, his friend and business partner Yadassa will host you along with Daniel's wife, Tigist at their home.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-6 guests) Daniel and Tigist’s home is in the outskirts of Addis Ababa, a neighborhood not frequented by tourists that is calmer and greener than central Addis Ababa. Their home is comfortable, clean and homey, decorated with pictures of their three boys, who you may meet if your experience takes place during the evening or on the weekend. Ethiopian cuisine is comprised of a variety of spices in its wots (stews) and tibs (curry), making the cuisine hot and piquant. You will eat as Ethiopians do, from communal plates lined with injera, a traditional fermented bread. Injera acts like an edible plate with other dishes served on top of it. The juices soak into the injera, which diners tear off into morsels to eat and even feed each other in a gesture called gursha that is meant to strengthen bonds. Teff flour is used to make the injera bread, which is soft, spongy and perfect to mop up the delicious gravies that soak through it. Your meal will be served family style with injera served alongside an assortment of meat, fish, vegetables and lentils. You will sit around the injera and enjoy your meal from one single platter. As Ethiopia is the birth place of coffee, you will enjoy a traditional coffee ceremony after your meal.

Cooking experience: (1-6 guests) Your cooking class will take place in Daniel and Tigist’s home kitchen. During your two hour class, Tigist will show you how to make a traditional Ethiopian dish as well as how to pour and cook the perfect injera. You might learn to make shiro (chickpea or broad bean stew) or tibs (stir-fried meat with vegetables and spices) in addition to injera. You will also learn to roast coffee beans. If you're interested in learning to make an additional dish, include it in the "notes" section of your booking - please note that it will extend the cooking time. Daniel is excited to share his culture through food and offer an authentic/traditional cooking class in Addis Ababa. He can also accommodate vegetarian diet in his Ethiopian cooking class.

Market visit: (1-6 guests) After you meet your host at his home, he will take you to the Keta/Asco market, a 15-20 minute walk from his home. Here you will be introduced to local ingredients that you will use in your cooking class later. The market is a daily local market known for its spices, cereals, vegetables and other industrial materials. While the market is open on all days, Wednesdays and Saturdays are especially good for visits. Saturday is considered market day all over the country and the market teems with life and people. Your market tour lasts about an hour.

Notes: Daniel’s home is in the outskirts of Addis Ababa and about 25 km from the airport. Since public transportation is not very convenient and there are no clear postal addresses in Ethiopia, Daniel prefers arranging transport for you. He is happy to offer hotel pick up and drop off for an additional cost. If you would like this option please select "Yes" to transportation in the booking form.

Languages spoken: English

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Their home is comfortable, clean, and homey and everything was great! The food was fresh and delicious. We'd eaten a week's worth of injera at many restaurants, including top rated trip advisor restaurants, and the flavor and freshness at Daniel's home was better than anything else, especially for the vegetable dishes. Daniel was the best English speaker we met in Ethiopia, and we were able to ask him questions we had had to give up on with other Ethiopians because of language barriers - like about politics and history. The month before Easter in Ethiopia, everyone typically only eats vegetarian food so I actually hadn't had meat in days (weeks really) but Daniel and Tigist sourced some beef with some effort that was amazing! Additionally, we loved the coffee and popcorn, and the vegetables were the freshest and tastiest we had in Ethiopia. My favorite thing was talking to Daniel and Tigist, and playing with their incredibly adorable baby boy :)

Subhanu and Chetans, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

4.91 (77)
I joined this tour because I’m really into home cooking. Since I went by myself, it was a bit pricey for me, but honestly, it was totally worth it. Daniel and his family were super welcoming and friendly, and they took the time to answer all my questions. I had a great time! There was a bit of a mix-up when I booked, and I had some trouble reaching out through the app. So I’d recommend sending a message or giving a quick call after booking, just to make sure everything’s clear. Because it was getting late (?), we were able to enjoy an unexpected night drive around Addis Ababa during the pick-up and drop-off. Since I was unfamiliar with the area, I was glad to be able to ask for a pick-up and drop-off service.
- Dai Chika August 20, 2025
Excellent Cooking Class and Dinner in Private Home! Daniel picked us up at our hotel and drove us to his home. Our family of four - including sons who are 16 and 21 - had a wonderful experience cooking Injera and Shiro Wat with Daniel and his wife, Tigist, in their kitchen. We then ate dinner together - an array of excellent dishes - and enjoyed one of the best Ethiopian meals of our stay in Addis Ababa. The food was fantastic and the conversation with Daniel, Tigist and their son made for a truly delightful evening. It was also a treat to visit their neighborhood and be out of the hustle and bustle of the city center for an evening. Coffee ceremony was also offered. Daniel then drove us back to our hotel. Transport is additional and was much appreciated. We highly recommend this experience.
- Elizabeth December 22, 2023
I had a wonderful time with Daniel and his family. Daniel picked me up from my hotel and we went to the market for some items. The cooking class was a good balance of me cooking and some pre-cooked items. I also enjoyed the coffee afterwards. Nice family! And communication throughout was excellent. I would recommend!
- 482ken April 26, 2023
Daniel is an excellent guide. He has a teaching degree, a bachelors degree in history, and a masters in sociology. His depth of knowledge and ability to answer questions made the day a great experience. The market had a calm day when I went, Sunday, but that meant that we could walk calmly as he told me about all the ingredients for sale. His wife and family are very kind and taught me a lot about food and coffee. I even made injera. I feel confident that if I can find the ingredients I will be able to keep making the dish they prepared for me at home. I could not recommend this tour enough.
- laurasS September 19, 2022
My husband and I were picked up at our hotel promptly, and Daniel led us through the Akso market, patient with our questions, and guiding us through the etiquette of taking pictures. His wife led the cooking demo and is a delightful person as well, clear in her explanations. In their lovely home we ate a huge variety of dishes, and enjoyed more conversation over delicious coffee. They have a charming family we enjoyed meeting as well.
- E. Blanchard March 17, 2020
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $92 $78 $64
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $110 $88
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $200 $174 $160
Transportation
 $96 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $92 $78 $64
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $136 $110 $88
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $200 $174 $160
Transportation
 $96 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-7:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm 3:00pm-7:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.