Cookies! They are not just something we eat. This site uses cookies so we can provide you the best user experience and deliver advertising and offers that are relevant to you. To read more about our cookie policy, including how to change your cookie settings, please read our Privacy and Cookie Policy. By continuing to use the site you are agreeing to our cookie policy.

Host: Jose

Valencia, Spain

USD
$89-$99 per person

Valencia Paella Cooking Class with Michelin-Star Chef

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

Meet Jose

Jose is a passionate, native Valencian chef with over a decade of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants in London and Valencia. After exploring cuisines from around the world, he returned to his roots to share the rich culinary traditions of Valencia. Jose’s specialty is rice dishes, a staple introduced to Valencia by the Arabs centuries ago. He loves showing guests the many ways Valencians have adapted rice into their cuisine. While paella is traditionally enjoyed with family and friends on Sundays, Jose believes every day is a Sunday and is eager to teach you how to prepare authentic Valencian paella during your experience. Jose’s goal is to create unforgettable gastronomic experiences that delight the senses, evoke emotions, and leave lasting memories. He looks forward to sharing traditional Valencian cooking techniques, teaching culinary tips, and learning about his guests’ cultures, making every cooking class a warm and immersive journey into Valencia’s food heritage.

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.

Cooking experience: (2-6 guests) Meet your host, Chef Jose, a Michelin-star trained Valencian chef, at the entrance to the IVAM Museum. Begin your experience with a 10-minute guided walk through Valencia’s old town, past the Turia River before your immersive Valencia cooking class. Start your culinary journey with a traditional vermouth, Valencian beer, or soft drink, paired with a Gilda spherification, an innovative twist on this classic pintxo. Next, create a refreshing sangria with Jose and learn about the rich history, culture, and traditions behind Valencian rice dishes and paella. While paella is traditionally eaten with family and friends on Sundays, Jose believes every day is a Sunday and will teach you how to prepare authentic Valencian paella, a delicious combination of rice and meat. Alternatively, choose from three other traditional paella options: vegetarian paella, seafood paella, or paella with duck, asparagus, and mushrooms. While your paella cooks, enjoy hands-on tapas preparation, including skewering a classic Gilda and making two other traditional dishes from scratch. After cooking, sit down to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, followed by a creamy mousse dessert and cremaet, a must-try Valencian coffee-based drink. Take home a personalized recipe book from Chef Jose, featuring authentic paellas, tapas, and traditional Spanish drinks, so you can recreate the experience at home.

Notes:
1. Dietary Restrictions: Jose can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free diets. Please share your dietary preferences when making your booking.
2. Alternative Valencian Dishes: If you’d like to try something other than paella, let Jose know in advance. You can learn to cook arroz al horno (oven-baked rice with pork ribs, sausages, potatoes, and tomatoes) or arroz negro (black rice with seafood and squid ink).
3. Group Size & Timing: For groups of 2–3 guests, please book a lunch experience. Dinner experiences are available for groups of 4 or more.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

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.
  • Sangria or Agua de Valencia
  • Choose 2 of 4 tapas: Galician-style octopus, Salmorejo with tuna belly, Iberian ham pintxo or corn toast with smoked sardines, cream cheese, and basil
  • Traditional Valencian paella (meat based), arroz del senyoret (seafood paella), vegetarian paella (with seasonal vegetables) or duck, mushroom, and asparagus paella
  • Dessert of Horchata de Chufa Mousse topped with a Valencian pastry
  • Cremaet, Valencian style rum and cinnamon infused coffee
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Jose's passion for Valencian cuisine is simply wonderful! It is a unique opportunity to learn to cook from a fun and native Valencian trained at the Michelin-starred restaurant El Poblet in Valencia.

AV, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (51)
My wife and I had a wonderful experience where once we left we felt like José was our best friend. He gave us all kinds of history, shared family stories, and taught us all kinds of chef tricks to cook the most perfect paella. We cannot wait to get home and try his recipes he gave us. I highly recommend this intimate experience in his very clean and comfortable home which was a short walk from the city center.
- mike May 20, 2026
We would highly recommend taking Jose's cooking class. We wished we could give him more Stars. It was not just another Paella cooking class. The food was delicious! We learned and understand now the proper Valencian Paella cooking. It was a beautiful learning experience of the Valencian food, culture, and Jose personal journey. Jose guided us though this culinary journey from his initial aperitif, tapas, drinks, Paella, and finishing with a twist on a Spanish light dessert of course "Chef Jose" style. Chef Jose is a wonderful teacher, personable, authentic, funny. Vive la vida Valenciana, Any day is truly a Sunday!
- dayle May 04, 2026
Jose was fun, funny, and engaging. He provided top-notch guidance while allowing us to prepare some the most delicious food and drinks we’d ever tasted…and then there was dessert!
- pat April 19, 2026
This was a fantastic experience, we loved it. Jose is a proffessional, he showed us how to properly prepare the Valencian paella, it was alot of fun and we learned so much about the ingredients and cooking. It is the highlight of our trip so far and we will go for another session in future if possible.
- carrie April 16, 2026
We had a wonderful meal and experience with Jose. Making and enjoying it at his home made it even more enjoyable. From the Vermut ice breaker to the fabulous molecular gastronomy appetizers and traditional paella, it was a most fabulous experience.
- queenie April 09, 2026
Read More

Jose

$89-$99 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $99 $89
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $99 $89
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
11:00am-3:00pm 6:00pm-10:00pm

Meet Jose

Jose is a passionate, native Valencian chef with over a decade of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants in London and Valencia. After exploring cuisines from around the world, he returned to his roots to share the rich culinary traditions of Valencia. Jose’s specialty is rice dishes, a staple introduced to Valencia by the Arabs centuries ago. He loves showing guests the many ways Valencians have adapted rice into their cuisine. While paella is traditionally enjoyed with family and friends on Sundays, Jose believes every day is a Sunday and is eager to teach you how to prepare authentic Valencian paella during your experience. Jose’s goal is to create unforgettable gastronomic experiences that delight the senses, evoke emotions, and leave lasting memories. He looks forward to sharing traditional Valencian cooking techniques, teaching culinary tips, and learning about his guests’ cultures, making every cooking class a warm and immersive journey into Valencia’s food heritage.

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.

Cooking experience: (2-6 guests) Meet your host, Chef Jose, a Michelin-star trained Valencian chef, at the entrance to the IVAM Museum. Begin your experience with a 10-minute guided walk through Valencia’s old town, past the Turia River before your immersive Valencia cooking class. Start your culinary journey with a traditional vermouth, Valencian beer, or soft drink, paired with a Gilda spherification, an innovative twist on this classic pintxo. Next, create a refreshing sangria with Jose and learn about the rich history, culture, and traditions behind Valencian rice dishes and paella. While paella is traditionally eaten with family and friends on Sundays, Jose believes every day is a Sunday and will teach you how to prepare authentic Valencian paella, a delicious combination of rice and meat. Alternatively, choose from three other traditional paella options: vegetarian paella, seafood paella, or paella with duck, asparagus, and mushrooms. While your paella cooks, enjoy hands-on tapas preparation, including skewering a classic Gilda and making two other traditional dishes from scratch. After cooking, sit down to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, followed by a creamy mousse dessert and cremaet, a must-try Valencian coffee-based drink. Take home a personalized recipe book from Chef Jose, featuring authentic paellas, tapas, and traditional Spanish drinks, so you can recreate the experience at home.

Notes:
1. Dietary Restrictions: Jose can accommodate vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free diets. Please share your dietary preferences when making your booking.
2. Alternative Valencian Dishes: If you’d like to try something other than paella, let Jose know in advance. You can learn to cook arroz al horno (oven-baked rice with pork ribs, sausages, potatoes, and tomatoes) or arroz negro (black rice with seafood and squid ink).
3. Group Size & Timing: For groups of 2–3 guests, please book a lunch experience. Dinner experiences are available for groups of 4 or more.

Languages spoken: English, Spanish

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.
  • Sangria or Agua de Valencia
  • Choose 2 of 4 tapas: Galician-style octopus, Salmorejo with tuna belly, Iberian ham pintxo or corn toast with smoked sardines, cream cheese, and basil
  • Traditional Valencian paella (meat based), arroz del senyoret (seafood paella), vegetarian paella (with seasonal vegetables) or duck, mushroom, and asparagus paella
  • Dessert of Horchata de Chufa Mousse topped with a Valencian pastry
  • Cremaet, Valencian style rum and cinnamon infused coffee
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Jose's passion for Valencian cuisine is simply wonderful! It is a unique opportunity to learn to cook from a fun and native Valencian trained at the Michelin-starred restaurant El Poblet in Valencia.

AV, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (51)
My wife and I had a wonderful experience where once we left we felt like José was our best friend. He gave us all kinds of history, shared family stories, and taught us all kinds of chef tricks to cook the most perfect paella. We cannot wait to get home and try his recipes he gave us. I highly recommend this intimate experience in his very clean and comfortable home which was a short walk from the city center.
- mike May 20, 2026
We would highly recommend taking Jose's cooking class. We wished we could give him more Stars. It was not just another Paella cooking class. The food was delicious! We learned and understand now the proper Valencian Paella cooking. It was a beautiful learning experience of the Valencian food, culture, and Jose personal journey. Jose guided us though this culinary journey from his initial aperitif, tapas, drinks, Paella, and finishing with a twist on a Spanish light dessert of course "Chef Jose" style. Chef Jose is a wonderful teacher, personable, authentic, funny. Vive la vida Valenciana, Any day is truly a Sunday!
- dayle May 04, 2026
Jose was fun, funny, and engaging. He provided top-notch guidance while allowing us to prepare some the most delicious food and drinks we’d ever tasted…and then there was dessert!
- pat April 19, 2026
This was a fantastic experience, we loved it. Jose is a proffessional, he showed us how to properly prepare the Valencian paella, it was alot of fun and we learned so much about the ingredients and cooking. It is the highlight of our trip so far and we will go for another session in future if possible.
- carrie April 16, 2026
We had a wonderful meal and experience with Jose. Making and enjoying it at his home made it even more enjoyable. From the Vermut ice breaker to the fabulous molecular gastronomy appetizers and traditional paella, it was a most fabulous experience.
- queenie April 09, 2026
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $99 $89
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $99 $89
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
11:00am-3:00pm 6:00pm-10:00pm
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.