Authentic Bengali Cooking Class in a Local Kolkata Home

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Summary
Experience Details
What You’ll Experience
Where to Meet
Reviews
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Duration
2 hours
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Number of Guests
1 - 4 guests
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Language
English
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Other
Private Experience
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Digital Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted

Join Zinnia in her Kolkata home for an engaging Bengali cooking class. Experience local flavors, learn her authentic recipes, and enjoy a meal you've prepared together. Vegetarian options available.

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For each guest that attends this experience, byFood will donate
10 meals

Experience Details

Zinnia lives with her husband and their 14 year old daughter in Kolkata. For Zinnia being in the kitchen is truly a stress buster! Zinnia taught herself to cook after she got married from recipe books and long phone conversations with her mother! 


Zinnia will welcome you to their apartment in New Town with a warm smile. While you sip on your welcome drink, Zinnia will share all about her love for cooking. She cooks not only traditional Bengali food but can also fix up a few delectable North Indian dishes. The menu is thoughtfully chosen to feature 3-4 Bengali specialties and the distinctive use of mustard oil and mustard seed paste which is unique to Bengali cuisine. Join Zinnia in her small kitchen for a one hour hands-on cooking class and then sit down at the dinning table to enjoy the meal you helped prepare.


Zinnia can offer vegetarian meals on request. Any dietary preferences may be available.

What You Get

All taxes, fees and handling charges
Private cooking class with your host Zinnia
Local alcohol (1-2 glasses of local beer)
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Good To Know

  • If any travelers in your party have any allergies, dietary restrictions or cooking preferences please advise at time of booking
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • Notes: Zinnia can offer vegetarian meals on request.
  • Menu may vary depending on the season
  • Private, personalized experience

What You’ll Experience

Join Zinnia in her small kitchen for a one hour hands-on cooking class. The cooking class will begin with an introduction to Indian spices and Zinnia will show you the ingredients of panch phoran, a spice blend of cumin, brown mustard, fenugreek, nigella and fennel which is commonly used in Eastern India. She will also explain why mustard oil is used in Bengali cuisine and will show you how mustard seeds are ground into a paste. After which you will learn to roll out the dough and fry luchis (a deep-fried flatbread), prepare the shorshe chingri (prawns in mustard gravy) and tomato and dates chutney from scratch.  You will then join Zinnia and her family (when at home) at their dining table for a home cooked Bengali meal that might include a few dishes such as shorshe maach (fish cooked in mustard sauce) or kosha maangsho (mutton curry), aaloo posto (potatoes with poppy seeds) or begun bhaaja (eggplant/aubergine fry) and cholar dal (lentils) served with rice or flat bread and a tomato and dates chutney. Your meal will end with some paayesh (rice pudding), the most favored dessert in Bengali homes for any occasion.

Meeting & Pickup

Meeting Point
Kolkata

Cancellation Policy

Cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.

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What People Are Saying
Overall ratings and reviews
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(7)
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An unforgettable experience!
April 14, 2025
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(TripAdvisor)

I can wholeheartedly recommend this cooking class. Zinnia and her family were great hosts and welcomed us into their home with open arms. We had a really nice evening and are already looking forwar...read more

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A very friendly teacher, the number one cooking class in Kolkata
March 18, 2025
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(TripAdvisor)

This is my second visit. Last year's visit was so enjoyable that I decided to ask for it again. Zinnia worked with me to come up with a recipe for hope that I would like you to share. The cooking i...read more

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So much joy, most delicious food, loooooved it!
January 21, 2025
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(TripAdvisor)

I’m traveling across India and wanted to explore the cuisine of every region. That’s how I came across Zinnia. What can I say? It was simply a perfect evening! I was invited into her wonderful home...read more

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A wonderful culinary and human experience !
January 08, 2025
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(TripAdvisor)

Zinnia is an excellent teacher and a wonderful person. It was an unforgettable experience that enabled me to discover how to prepare Indian dishes that I'll be able to share with my friends and fam...read more

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No.1 Cooking Class in Kolkata.
February 18, 2024
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(TripAdvisor)

Before the cooking class started, we discussed in advance what we would make by email. She came up with a menu based on my wishes. On the day of the cooking class, Zinnia welcomed me very kindly. I...read more

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from  $68.02 
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Please note that the time is in India Standard Time.
Free cancellation (48 hours notice)
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Earliest available date: July 2, 2025
from  $68.02  per guest
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Please note that the time is in India Standard Time.
Free cancellation (48 hours notice)
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For each guest that attends this experience, byFood will donate
10 meals
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