Dotty is a passionate and welcoming host who has spent her life bridging cultures through food. Born in Java and raised in the United States, she later moved to Australia after marriage. Now back in her home country of Indonesia, Dotty has fulfilled her lifelong dream of creating a charming bed and breakfast near the vibrant town of Canggu, Bali. Here, she offers intimate cooking classes that showcase the rich flavors and traditions of her Javanese heritage. Inspired by recipes passed down through generations—most notably from her grandmother and mother, one of Jakarta's first home caterers. Dotty creates an unforgettable culinary experience for travelers eager to learn the art of Indonesian cooking.
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) Enjoy an authentic, homecooked Javanese meal in Dotty's home, located in the lush and tranquil Tumbak Bayuh amongst rice paddy fields that Bali is known for. Your Javanese meal might include dishes such as Dotty's addictively light and crispy corn fritters served with turmeric coconut rice, another favorite, soya chicken, chicken cooked in soy sauce with traditional ingredients, and gado gado (Indonesian salad with a peanut sauce dressing) or urab (vegetables with a spiced coconut dressing). Share a delightful meal with Dotty over conversation about food and culture and dessert such as fresh fruit or black rice pudding served with coconut cream.
Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Join Dotty in her home kitchen in Tumbakbayuh, North Canggu, for an authentic Javanese cooking class. Learn to prepare 2-3 traditional dishes from scratch, using local ingredients and family recipes passed down through generations. Dotty offers valuable tips on ingredient substitutes, making it easy to recreate these dishes at home. After cooking, enjoy the delicious meal you've helped create, just like it’s served in an Indonesian household. This experience is perfect for travelers, foodies, home cooks, and anyone looking to explore authentic Javanese cuisine in Bali in a warm, hands-on setting.
Notes:
Tanah Lot Temple is 20min away from Dotty's home and is a great side trip before or after the experience. Dotty lives about 45min to 1hour from Kuta beach.
Dotty can offer optional round trip transportation at an additional cost only from Canggu hotels. Only if you're staying in Canggu, select optional round trip transportation at an additional cost. Pick-up will be half hour prior to the start of your experience.
Languages spoken: English
The highlight of our grand trip to Bali. Yes, the food was amazing. We helped prepare it and learned about the different cooking methods and ways to repeat the recipe at home in the United States. Beyond the food though, the connection we made with our hosts in her home with her family is beyond describing. If you can fit this into your itinerary, you will not regret it. We went for a meal and left with our own Indonesian Ibu. Even the transportation from our resort to her house and back was smooth and flawless. It's all. Dotty communicated with me via WhatsApp a multiple times before arrival to coordinate and customize the meal. From start to finish a very, very special experience.- kimmy July 01, 2026
I had the most wonderful experience this morning at Dotty cooking class. Dotty is such a charming woman who shares her love through food, making every moment warm and special. Truly a memorable highlight of my trip!- Victoria August 21, 2025
It was truly truly a highlight of my whole trip! Ibu warmly welcomed me into her home and into her kitchen. I wasn't sure how it would all go, but in the end it felt like spending time with a long lost family member. I appreciated the simplicity of the ingredients and the recipe and the cooking process, but the food turned out so flavourful and delicious but also healthy. It's one thing to read a recipe, it's something entirely different to be able to see the recipe being prepared by someone who grew up cooking these traditional recipes alongside her mother and grandmother. She was warm and responsive when organising the time and was generous with little mementos and copies of all of the recipes we made. It was so enjoyable spending that time with Dotty in her kitchen and was truly a highlight of my whole trip.- Teddi July 19, 2025
Cooking with Dotty is so much more then learning to cook Javanese style. You learn about how to do it back in Australia and learn about how to present it and she shares more then her knowledge of cooking but her experiences here in Bali now and growing up in Java. I felt so welcomed into her home and so at home I didn’t want to leave. You get to cook but really get to know Dotty and her love of food and family. She shares so much more with you! It was an honour to do this amazing and very personal cooking experience with Dotty.- Judith April 28, 2025
My day begun with Dewy picking me up at my hotel and driving me back to his village. All along the way, he told me stories from his grandfather and history about Bali and its people. Once we arrived to his village, he pulled over so we could walk the rest of the way. I loved talking with Dewy and learning all about his culture. When we got to his home, it was beautiful and I was given a quick tour before we started to prep for lunch. I sliced, diced and mixed alongside Dewy while listening to all the sounds around me. Seriously a magical place! I ate as much food as possible and he took me back to my hotel. One of my favorite experiences ever and I hope to go back and do it again!- Jaclyn C October 21, 2019
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