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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Amol

Goa, India

USD
$20-$38 per person

Typical Goan Saraswat cuisine

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

Meet Amol

Amol has restored his ancestral property into a sumptuous seven-villa resort on a lush, green hill teeming with pineapples, cashews, pepper, and an abundance of additional vegetables and spices, all of which serve as inspiration for his Goan dishes.

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: (1-5 guests) Amol is a true nature lover, and will begin your experience with a garden tour of his gorgeous eight-acre villa resort property filled with exotic local fruits and vegetables. Amol serves traditional Hindu Goan cuisine which focuses on subtle flavors with a rich coconut base. Dishes may include chicken xacuti, prawn and fish curry, kismoor (dried roasted prawns with grated coconut), green leafy vegetables stir-fried or in a coconut-based gravy, a coconut milk-based vegetable kurma with rice or roti, mung or toor dal, pulses with a coconut-based gravy. For dessert you might have brownies, ice cream, or a creamy banana halwa.

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) You will learn to cook some of Amol's Hindu Goan family recipes that have been passed down through generations of his family. You will cook together in the resort's professional kitchen and then share a meal with Amol at one of the dining tables in his seven villa resort.

Notes: This experience takes place in a beautiful resort that Amol has created, not in his home as you might typically expect.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi

Traveler reviews

5.0 (4)
We had a wonderful cooking experience with Amol in his ancestral home turned luxury resort. We started in his immaculate garden, tasting leaves and berries every step, learning about local herbs and botany. Once we arrived in the kitchen, a lot of the prep had already been done for us but we still managed to cook for hours, making prawn curry, chicken Xacuti, fish fry, bread fruit fry and more. We learnt how to shave fresh coconut which was a highlight for me. I would recommend this experience in a heartbeat. Thank you Amol, for a lovely time.
- Gemma A January 02, 2023
A great experience. We watched the chef and Amol cook 4 dishes and then we ate them on the lovely terrace. Very good food and a lovely environment
- guyg January 01, 2020
Amol was an excellent host and the villa is an oasis from the usual crowds of Goa! After a refreshing fresh fruit juice, he gave us a tour of the fruit and vegetable plants around the property, many of which are unique to the climate and cuisine. We picked fresh ingredients for cooking and to try as we walked around. The meal was healthy and delicious! During the cooking experience, we asked endless questions, and Amol was happy to explain ingredients, cooking techniques, ways to adjust the spice, and how the flavors interact in Goan cooking. We now have a much better understanding of Goan menus and with the simple recipes and natural ingredients, we look forward to cooking our own Goan meal soon!
- Kimberly Heaton May 29, 2017
He gave us a lovely garden tour and then we had a great conversation about Indian economy and government. We learned a lot and it was the most delicious meal we've had yet - including our fancy dinner at Bukhara in Delhi.
- Charlie Guthrie August 13, 2015
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Amol

$20-$38 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
 $28 $24 $20
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $38 $32 $26
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $28 $24 $20
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $38 $32 $26
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:30am-2:30pm 5:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Amol

Amol has restored his ancestral property into a sumptuous seven-villa resort on a lush, green hill teeming with pineapples, cashews, pepper, and an abundance of additional vegetables and spices, all of which serve as inspiration for his Goan dishes.

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: (1-5 guests) Amol is a true nature lover, and will begin your experience with a garden tour of his gorgeous eight-acre villa resort property filled with exotic local fruits and vegetables. Amol serves traditional Hindu Goan cuisine which focuses on subtle flavors with a rich coconut base. Dishes may include chicken xacuti, prawn and fish curry, kismoor (dried roasted prawns with grated coconut), green leafy vegetables stir-fried or in a coconut-based gravy, a coconut milk-based vegetable kurma with rice or roti, mung or toor dal, pulses with a coconut-based gravy. For dessert you might have brownies, ice cream, or a creamy banana halwa.

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) You will learn to cook some of Amol's Hindu Goan family recipes that have been passed down through generations of his family. You will cook together in the resort's professional kitchen and then share a meal with Amol at one of the dining tables in his seven villa resort.

Notes: This experience takes place in a beautiful resort that Amol has created, not in his home as you might typically expect.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi

Traveler reviews

5.0 (4)
We had a wonderful cooking experience with Amol in his ancestral home turned luxury resort. We started in his immaculate garden, tasting leaves and berries every step, learning about local herbs and botany. Once we arrived in the kitchen, a lot of the prep had already been done for us but we still managed to cook for hours, making prawn curry, chicken Xacuti, fish fry, bread fruit fry and more. We learnt how to shave fresh coconut which was a highlight for me. I would recommend this experience in a heartbeat. Thank you Amol, for a lovely time.
- Gemma A January 02, 2023
A great experience. We watched the chef and Amol cook 4 dishes and then we ate them on the lovely terrace. Very good food and a lovely environment
- guyg January 01, 2020
Amol was an excellent host and the villa is an oasis from the usual crowds of Goa! After a refreshing fresh fruit juice, he gave us a tour of the fruit and vegetable plants around the property, many of which are unique to the climate and cuisine. We picked fresh ingredients for cooking and to try as we walked around. The meal was healthy and delicious! During the cooking experience, we asked endless questions, and Amol was happy to explain ingredients, cooking techniques, ways to adjust the spice, and how the flavors interact in Goan cooking. We now have a much better understanding of Goan menus and with the simple recipes and natural ingredients, we look forward to cooking our own Goan meal soon!
- Kimberly Heaton May 29, 2017
He gave us a lovely garden tour and then we had a great conversation about Indian economy and government. We learned a lot and it was the most delicious meal we've had yet - including our fancy dinner at Bukhara in Delhi.
- Charlie Guthrie August 13, 2015
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $28 $24 $20
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $38 $32 $26
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $28 $24 $20
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $38 $32 $26
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:30am-2:30pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
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 3% 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.