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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Lasha and Elene

Tbilisi, Georgia

USD
$105-$135 per person

Traditional Georgian cuisine with a Georgian grandmother in Rustaveli

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food Tour

Meet Lasha and Elene

Lasha hosts this experience with his mother, Elene. Lasha quit his corporate job five years ago to live a more active and fulfilling life. Today, he runs a guest house, is a tour guide and offers cooking classes along with his mother. Elene is a great cook and has served as a chef for hundreds of events and banquets, cooking traditional Georgian cuisine. She learned to cook from her mother, mother-in-law and late husband. Lasha fondly remembers helping his mother in the kitchen as a child, and so he saw fit that they host together, doing something they are both so passionate about. Lasha and Elene are excited to cook, eat and share stories of Georgian customs and traditions with guests at their dining table!

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: (1-4 guests) Elene will welcome you into her newly built apartment building. While sparsely decorated, her apartment is cozy and welcoming with lots of natural light and a view. You will be entertained by Lasha’s anecdotes about living in Georgia, while you share a traditional Georgian meal prepared by Elene at their dining table. Your menu might include dishes such as eggplant, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), khinkali (Georgian dumpling) and imeruli khachapuri (cheese bread), which will be served with homemade wine from the Kakheti region. Your meal concludes with a dessert such as pelamushi (a Georgian dessert porridge made with flour and pressed, condensed grape juice) that you will enjoy while listening to Lasha’s favorite Georgian music.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) During your 2-hour, hands-on Georgian cooking class, you will learn to make three dishes from scratch. The living/dining area and kitchen are separated by a counter which is where you will prepare most of your meal. Learn to make authentic Georgian dishes such as dolma (stuffed grape leaves), khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and imeruli khachapuri (cheese bread) during your Tbilisi cooking class.

Market visit: (1-4 guests) Depending on the weather, you will either visit the Dezerter Bazaar (when the weather is pleasant) or Agrohub (when its not!) for your market tour. The Dezerter Bazaar is Tbilisi’s biggest food market and covers more than 2,000 square meters! Discover a variety of stalls selling local spices, cheese, fruits, vegetables and traditional Georgians sweets such as churchkhela. You might even purchase locally made fresh, organic and healthy agricultural products for your cooking class before driving together 30 minutes to Lasha's home to begin your cooking experience.

Notes: Lasha and Elene can offer vegetarian meals on request. Their apartment is on the 4th floor, so until they get a lift installed (one is being built into the building), it might not be great for guests with limited mobility. Please note that while there is currently no air conditioning (they will have it installed in the summer of 2020) the temperature in the apartment is pleasant.

Languages spoken: English, Russian, Georgian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Eggplant or other seasonal vegetable
  • Dolma (stuffed grape leaves)
  • Khinkali (Georgian dumpling)
  • Imeruli khachapuri (cheese bread)
  • Pelamushi (a Georgian dessert porridge made with flour and pressed, condensed grape juice)
  • If you select alcohol - you will be served homemade wine from the Kakheti region
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

I spent an amazing day with Lasha and his mother Elene in her newly-built apartment building in a suburban, local area. Both are very warm, hospitable people who already have plenty of experience dealing with tourists since they have previously offered these cooking classes to some of Lasha’s AirBnB guests. Both speak great English and were very happy to answer all my questions about the food and cooking, and in addition talking more about Georgian history, tourism and more. My glass was never empty; in a true Georgian fashion, Lasha kept making toasts for everything from future and dreams to parents and Finnish-Georgian friendships (we even toasted for Traveling Spoon at one point!). Both Lasha and Elene made me feel very welcome, and their talkativeness and humour made the time pass very quickly. I thought I’d spent maybe two or three hours with them – turned out to be closer to five hours. At the end of the meal and the actual dessert (pelamushi pudding), they still brought figs and plums to the table - everything was delicious! I greatly enjoyed the experience and the best part was that Lasha and Elene went out of their way to introduce me to some other Georgian foods – even ones that we weren’t cooking. One of my favorite was a delicious tkhemali plum sauce that I got to try.

Elina, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (9)
Great class with welcoming hosts - learnt a lot and ended up with a delicious meal. Got the ingredient list in plenty of time to order the harder to get items.
- Venetian January 30, 2024
Online Class Review
We had a lovely morning with Lasha and Elene! Instructions were clear and they were warm and friendly hosts. We had a great time!
- Christopher March 30, 2021
Online Class Review
This was such a great way to learn not just about cooking a particular dish that I love, but also about Georgian culture. The results were tasty, and it did really help to have Lasha and Elene show me the technique on video so I could see how it was done. This would be even more fun with a small group of friends!
- Melissa January 16, 2021
Online Class Review
The class with Lasha and Elene was great ! They explained very well and are friendly. They help throughout the experience with all the proper gestures. We learned also about georgian culture. We had a very good time. And the Kachapuri was delicious !
- Elise, Tristan and Rina January 14, 2021
Online Class Review
We truly enjoyed the virtual khachapuri and dolma cooking class with Lasha and Elene. Throughout the class, they monitored our progress and provided helpful advice. There were some ingredients that were difficult to find in the U.S. and UK, and they provided substitutions that were easy to find locally. We visited Georgia last year and this class brought back some wonderful memories through the traditional foods of the country.
- Nancy Sarpolis September 06, 2020
Read More

Lasha and Elene

$105-$135 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
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $119 $105 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $135 $119 Not offered
Alcohol
 $15 per person
Transportation
 $37 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $119 $105 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $135 $119 Not offered
Alcohol
 $15 per person
Transportation
 $37 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 12:00pm-3:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-7:00pm

Meet Lasha and Elene

Lasha hosts this experience with his mother, Elene. Lasha quit his corporate job five years ago to live a more active and fulfilling life. Today, he runs a guest house, is a tour guide and offers cooking classes along with his mother. Elene is a great cook and has served as a chef for hundreds of events and banquets, cooking traditional Georgian cuisine. She learned to cook from her mother, mother-in-law and late husband. Lasha fondly remembers helping his mother in the kitchen as a child, and so he saw fit that they host together, doing something they are both so passionate about. Lasha and Elene are excited to cook, eat and share stories of Georgian customs and traditions with guests at their dining table!

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: (1-4 guests) Elene will welcome you into her newly built apartment building. While sparsely decorated, her apartment is cozy and welcoming with lots of natural light and a view. You will be entertained by Lasha’s anecdotes about living in Georgia, while you share a traditional Georgian meal prepared by Elene at their dining table. Your menu might include dishes such as eggplant, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), khinkali (Georgian dumpling) and imeruli khachapuri (cheese bread), which will be served with homemade wine from the Kakheti region. Your meal concludes with a dessert such as pelamushi (a Georgian dessert porridge made with flour and pressed, condensed grape juice) that you will enjoy while listening to Lasha’s favorite Georgian music.

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) During your 2-hour, hands-on Georgian cooking class, you will learn to make three dishes from scratch. The living/dining area and kitchen are separated by a counter which is where you will prepare most of your meal. Learn to make authentic Georgian dishes such as dolma (stuffed grape leaves), khinkali (Georgian dumplings) and imeruli khachapuri (cheese bread) during your Tbilisi cooking class.

Market visit: (1-4 guests) Depending on the weather, you will either visit the Dezerter Bazaar (when the weather is pleasant) or Agrohub (when its not!) for your market tour. The Dezerter Bazaar is Tbilisi’s biggest food market and covers more than 2,000 square meters! Discover a variety of stalls selling local spices, cheese, fruits, vegetables and traditional Georgians sweets such as churchkhela. You might even purchase locally made fresh, organic and healthy agricultural products for your cooking class before driving together 30 minutes to Lasha's home to begin your cooking experience.

Notes: Lasha and Elene can offer vegetarian meals on request. Their apartment is on the 4th floor, so until they get a lift installed (one is being built into the building), it might not be great for guests with limited mobility. Please note that while there is currently no air conditioning (they will have it installed in the summer of 2020) the temperature in the apartment is pleasant.

Languages spoken: English, Russian, Georgian

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Eggplant or other seasonal vegetable
  • Dolma (stuffed grape leaves)
  • Khinkali (Georgian dumpling)
  • Imeruli khachapuri (cheese bread)
  • Pelamushi (a Georgian dessert porridge made with flour and pressed, condensed grape juice)
  • If you select alcohol - you will be served homemade wine from the Kakheti region
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

I spent an amazing day with Lasha and his mother Elene in her newly-built apartment building in a suburban, local area. Both are very warm, hospitable people who already have plenty of experience dealing with tourists since they have previously offered these cooking classes to some of Lasha’s AirBnB guests. Both speak great English and were very happy to answer all my questions about the food and cooking, and in addition talking more about Georgian history, tourism and more. My glass was never empty; in a true Georgian fashion, Lasha kept making toasts for everything from future and dreams to parents and Finnish-Georgian friendships (we even toasted for Traveling Spoon at one point!). Both Lasha and Elene made me feel very welcome, and their talkativeness and humour made the time pass very quickly. I thought I’d spent maybe two or three hours with them – turned out to be closer to five hours. At the end of the meal and the actual dessert (pelamushi pudding), they still brought figs and plums to the table - everything was delicious! I greatly enjoyed the experience and the best part was that Lasha and Elene went out of their way to introduce me to some other Georgian foods – even ones that we weren’t cooking. One of my favorite was a delicious tkhemali plum sauce that I got to try.

Elina, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (9)
Great class with welcoming hosts - learnt a lot and ended up with a delicious meal. Got the ingredient list in plenty of time to order the harder to get items.
- Venetian January 30, 2024
Online Class Review
We had a lovely morning with Lasha and Elene! Instructions were clear and they were warm and friendly hosts. We had a great time!
- Christopher March 30, 2021
Online Class Review
This was such a great way to learn not just about cooking a particular dish that I love, but also about Georgian culture. The results were tasty, and it did really help to have Lasha and Elene show me the technique on video so I could see how it was done. This would be even more fun with a small group of friends!
- Melissa January 16, 2021
Online Class Review
The class with Lasha and Elene was great ! They explained very well and are friendly. They help throughout the experience with all the proper gestures. We learned also about georgian culture. We had a very good time. And the Kachapuri was delicious !
- Elise, Tristan and Rina January 14, 2021
Online Class Review
We truly enjoyed the virtual khachapuri and dolma cooking class with Lasha and Elene. Throughout the class, they monitored our progress and provided helpful advice. There were some ingredients that were difficult to find in the U.S. and UK, and they provided substitutions that were easy to find locally. We visited Georgia last year and this class brought back some wonderful memories through the traditional foods of the country.
- Nancy Sarpolis September 06, 2020
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $119 $105 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $135 $119 Not offered
Alcohol
 $15 per person
Transportation
 $37 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $119 $105 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $135 $119 Not offered
Alcohol
 $15 per person
Transportation
 $37 per car
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 12:00pm-3:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 4:00pm-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.