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Host: George David

Naples, FL, United States

USD
$130-$230 per person

Traditional Greek cooking in Naples Florida using heirloom recipes

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

Meet George David

George was born in Vancouver and is of Greek heritage. He was raised in Canada and Greece. He is an airline pilot, sailor and traditional Greek chef. George was introduced to cooking as a young boy and cooking has been therapeutic for him. He enjoys cooking for friends and family and watching them smile after their first bite is what gives him real satisfaction! For the past 16 years, George has been cooking and learning 200+ year old traditional Greek family recipes! He has studied under chefs from Greece and family members. He enjoys the old-style Greek cooking and uses recipes that have been carried down from his great great great grandparents to him! Cooking, flying and boats are some of his passions.

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: (1-12 guests) George and his wife Julia are excited to welcome you into their home, for a real Greek dinning experience. He will be sharing recipes that have been around for 200+ years and that have taken him 16 years to research, learn and master. These recipes are what Greek families eat at home and very hard to find in traditional restaurants, even in Greece! Join them at their dining table to share a home-cooked, traditional Greek meal that may include dishes such as as artichokes in lemon and dill sauce with potatoes, or baked stuffed vegetables or grilled Greek meat balls and lamb chops or baked lamb with pasta in a tomato sauce or lemon chicken with potatoes baked for hours. End your meal with yogurt and honey, followed by Greek coffee or a cappuccino. Please indicate if you don’t like a specific food group or have specific allergies so you won’t be disappointed! Greek dancing is taught on request but be prepared to dine, laugh and dance the evening away!

Cooking experience: (1-12 guests) During your 1.5-hour, hands-on Naples, FL cooking class, learn to make three different kinds of salads traditionally served in Greece and most of the Balkans! Join George in his open style kitchen as he shares his recipes, tips and tricks that he has learned over the years. Help him chop, fry, cook, assemble and add the final touches on dishes. After cooking, sit down at the table to share a meal together that you helped prepare!

Notes: George can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, keto, palio, gluten free and lactose free diets. Please let him know in advance, while booking the experience online. PLEASE NOTE: This experience happens in a private home of a local. George's availability has been severely limited due to his new working schedule for the next few months, so please contact Traveling Spoon reservations if you cannot book the date you are interested in.

Languages spoken: English, Greek , Romanian

Traveler reviews

5.0 (8)
We had an incredible time with George! The food was absolutely incredible, his home is lovely, and he and his wife were so much fun. Would highly highly recommend!
- Gina B June 30, 2023
An awesome night! Julia and George have a beautiful home and they are very welcoming. The food was outstanding. Hope to do it again and would highly recommend!
- Dream March 15, 2023
An awesome night! Julia and George have a beautiful home and they are very welcoming. The food was outstanding. Hope to do it again and would highly recommend!
- Dream March 13, 2023
Oh my goodness— our cooking dining experience was absolutely wonderful. Julia and George immediately make us feel comfortable in their wonderful home. We spent time getting acquainted and then the spectacular food prep began!!!! George is a great instructor and chef and our Greek meal was absolutely perfect!! Our party of four felt it was the best food we had eaten in all of Naples.
- deb0402 January 27, 2023
While spending a week on Ft Myers Beach. I ventured out and found the beaches on Sanibel Island to be beautiful and full of shells, I learned a lot from a pickle ball clinic I attended, I totally enjoyed the beauty and serenity of Naples Botanical Garden, and I did a lot of shopping at outlets. I also took a Traditional Greek Cooking Class which turned out to be, without a doubt, the highlight of my trip. I really enjoyed my time with Chef George and his wife, Julia. They were gracious hosts and I felt welcome in their beautiful home. The kitchen is a chef’s dream. I found George and Julia to be knowledgeable and very serious about eating healthy traditional meals. My kitchen (knife) skills are not the best, but Chef George was very patient and kept a watchful eye as I chopped green onions and Romaine lettuce and spinach. And he showed me how to work with phyllo dough as we prepared a delicious meal of Spanakopita (spinach pie), Marouli Salata (green salad with very simple ingredients), and a main (red sauce) pasta dish called KOKINISTO. We also enjoyed a serving of yogurt with nuts, honey and cinnamon. While all of this preparation and eating was happening, the wine flowed freely, the Greek music played in the background, and great conversation took place. I actually left there feeling comfortable in (attempting) to try to prepare this meal when I get home. Chef George assured me that I could call him if I got stuck or had any questions. I will definitely use Traveling Spoon to book more classes when l am in the area. Truly an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!!!
- Venture September 20, 2022
The food was delicious the experience extrordinary the host George was very knowledgeable and patient and a people person the surrounding was excellent will recommend a must do!!!!!!
- cindjnrg September 05, 2022
January 4th, 2022 My Amazing Traditional Greek Cooking Class in Naples Florida I decided to do something different on my vacation to Naples, Florida this year. One of the choices I made was to take a cooking class. It was a traditional Greek cooking class. I made my reservation and drove to the location. The class was at the chef’s home. Chef George and his wife Julia greeted me at the door. I was instantly comfortable in their lovely home. Chef George proceeded to tell me the menu of the evening and we quickly started to prepare the following mouth-watering dishes. Saganaki {fried cheese}, spinach pie, orzo mixed with lamb meat, grilled lamb chops, dandelions, Greek salad with feta cheese, grilled bread with oregano, red wine, Greek yogurt with honey, walnut and cinnamon, and of course Greek coffee. The food was amazing!! While cooking, we had great conversation. I found out that Chef George is also a commercial pilot and Julia is a real estate agent for Coastal International Properties in Naples, Florida. Two of their friends stopped over to join us for this delicious meal. Steve and Elaine were a delight. Steve is also a pilot and Elaine is a real estate agent. I cannot thank George and Julia enough for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful experience with them. I love cooking and I love good food. I enjoyed both this evening. I highly recommend taking a cooking class with Chef George. I will definitely return for more classes in the future. While I booked my class through Viator, you can also book through the Traveling Spoon...
- 610beverly January 05, 2022
George was an amazing host and the food was outstanding. We have been to Greece many times and have eaten in their restaurants, George has outdone our highest expectation when it comes to authentic Greek cuisine. We would highly recommend experiencing a night with George and the travelling spoons for exceptional cuisine, atmosphere and hospitality.
- Sindi August 12, 2021
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George David

$130-$230 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
 $170 $146 $130
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $200 $170
Alcohol
 $24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $170 $146 $130
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $200 $170
Alcohol
 $24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm

Meet George David

George was born in Vancouver and is of Greek heritage. He was raised in Canada and Greece. He is an airline pilot, sailor and traditional Greek chef. George was introduced to cooking as a young boy and cooking has been therapeutic for him. He enjoys cooking for friends and family and watching them smile after their first bite is what gives him real satisfaction! For the past 16 years, George has been cooking and learning 200+ year old traditional Greek family recipes! He has studied under chefs from Greece and family members. He enjoys the old-style Greek cooking and uses recipes that have been carried down from his great great great grandparents to him! Cooking, flying and boats are some of his passions.

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: (1-12 guests) George and his wife Julia are excited to welcome you into their home, for a real Greek dinning experience. He will be sharing recipes that have been around for 200+ years and that have taken him 16 years to research, learn and master. These recipes are what Greek families eat at home and very hard to find in traditional restaurants, even in Greece! Join them at their dining table to share a home-cooked, traditional Greek meal that may include dishes such as as artichokes in lemon and dill sauce with potatoes, or baked stuffed vegetables or grilled Greek meat balls and lamb chops or baked lamb with pasta in a tomato sauce or lemon chicken with potatoes baked for hours. End your meal with yogurt and honey, followed by Greek coffee or a cappuccino. Please indicate if you don’t like a specific food group or have specific allergies so you won’t be disappointed! Greek dancing is taught on request but be prepared to dine, laugh and dance the evening away!

Cooking experience: (1-12 guests) During your 1.5-hour, hands-on Naples, FL cooking class, learn to make three different kinds of salads traditionally served in Greece and most of the Balkans! Join George in his open style kitchen as he shares his recipes, tips and tricks that he has learned over the years. Help him chop, fry, cook, assemble and add the final touches on dishes. After cooking, sit down at the table to share a meal together that you helped prepare!

Notes: George can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, keto, palio, gluten free and lactose free diets. Please let him know in advance, while booking the experience online. PLEASE NOTE: This experience happens in a private home of a local. George's availability has been severely limited due to his new working schedule for the next few months, so please contact Traveling Spoon reservations if you cannot book the date you are interested in.

Languages spoken: English, Greek , Romanian

Traveler reviews

5.0 (8)
We had an incredible time with George! The food was absolutely incredible, his home is lovely, and he and his wife were so much fun. Would highly highly recommend!
- Gina B June 30, 2023
An awesome night! Julia and George have a beautiful home and they are very welcoming. The food was outstanding. Hope to do it again and would highly recommend!
- Dream March 15, 2023
An awesome night! Julia and George have a beautiful home and they are very welcoming. The food was outstanding. Hope to do it again and would highly recommend!
- Dream March 13, 2023
Oh my goodness— our cooking dining experience was absolutely wonderful. Julia and George immediately make us feel comfortable in their wonderful home. We spent time getting acquainted and then the spectacular food prep began!!!! George is a great instructor and chef and our Greek meal was absolutely perfect!! Our party of four felt it was the best food we had eaten in all of Naples.
- deb0402 January 27, 2023
While spending a week on Ft Myers Beach. I ventured out and found the beaches on Sanibel Island to be beautiful and full of shells, I learned a lot from a pickle ball clinic I attended, I totally enjoyed the beauty and serenity of Naples Botanical Garden, and I did a lot of shopping at outlets. I also took a Traditional Greek Cooking Class which turned out to be, without a doubt, the highlight of my trip. I really enjoyed my time with Chef George and his wife, Julia. They were gracious hosts and I felt welcome in their beautiful home. The kitchen is a chef’s dream. I found George and Julia to be knowledgeable and very serious about eating healthy traditional meals. My kitchen (knife) skills are not the best, but Chef George was very patient and kept a watchful eye as I chopped green onions and Romaine lettuce and spinach. And he showed me how to work with phyllo dough as we prepared a delicious meal of Spanakopita (spinach pie), Marouli Salata (green salad with very simple ingredients), and a main (red sauce) pasta dish called KOKINISTO. We also enjoyed a serving of yogurt with nuts, honey and cinnamon. While all of this preparation and eating was happening, the wine flowed freely, the Greek music played in the background, and great conversation took place. I actually left there feeling comfortable in (attempting) to try to prepare this meal when I get home. Chef George assured me that I could call him if I got stuck or had any questions. I will definitely use Traveling Spoon to book more classes when l am in the area. Truly an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!!!
- Venture September 20, 2022
The food was delicious the experience extrordinary the host George was very knowledgeable and patient and a people person the surrounding was excellent will recommend a must do!!!!!!
- cindjnrg September 05, 2022
January 4th, 2022 My Amazing Traditional Greek Cooking Class in Naples Florida I decided to do something different on my vacation to Naples, Florida this year. One of the choices I made was to take a cooking class. It was a traditional Greek cooking class. I made my reservation and drove to the location. The class was at the chef’s home. Chef George and his wife Julia greeted me at the door. I was instantly comfortable in their lovely home. Chef George proceeded to tell me the menu of the evening and we quickly started to prepare the following mouth-watering dishes. Saganaki {fried cheese}, spinach pie, orzo mixed with lamb meat, grilled lamb chops, dandelions, Greek salad with feta cheese, grilled bread with oregano, red wine, Greek yogurt with honey, walnut and cinnamon, and of course Greek coffee. The food was amazing!! While cooking, we had great conversation. I found out that Chef George is also a commercial pilot and Julia is a real estate agent for Coastal International Properties in Naples, Florida. Two of their friends stopped over to join us for this delicious meal. Steve and Elaine were a delight. Steve is also a pilot and Elaine is a real estate agent. I cannot thank George and Julia enough for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful experience with them. I love cooking and I love good food. I enjoyed both this evening. I highly recommend taking a cooking class with Chef George. I will definitely return for more classes in the future. While I booked my class through Viator, you can also book through the Traveling Spoon...
- 610beverly January 05, 2022
George was an amazing host and the food was outstanding. We have been to Greece many times and have eaten in their restaurants, George has outdone our highest expectation when it comes to authentic Greek cuisine. We would highly recommend experiencing a night with George and the travelling spoons for exceptional cuisine, atmosphere and hospitality.
- Sindi August 12, 2021
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $170 $146 $130
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $200 $170
Alcohol
 $24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $170 $146 $130
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $230 $200 $170
Alcohol
 $24 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

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FAQ

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