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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Selda

Istanbul, Turkey

USD
$124-$170 per person

Fresh seasonal Turkish cuisine with a modern twist

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

Meet Selda

Selda's father was an excellent cook. Originally from the Black Sea region of Turkey, he fed the family plenty of fish and only the freshest vegetables. Selda remembers him cooking chestnuts on a wood stove in the family home, and omelets that were so beautifully presented that they could have been mistaken for works for art. He believed cooking was a form of personal expression. Selda inherited her father's love of the kitchen - and then some.

Selda prides herself on her healthy take on traditional Turkish recipes cooked with seasonal ingredients. She also likes trying out non-traditional ingredients like quinoa. She has been experimenting with healthy cooking for several years and opened a food studio where she entertains friends and holds workshops. Don't expect common kebabs and other heavy meat dishes at Selda's - she showcases the real foods that Turks eat on a daily basis, with a healthy twist.

A warm and inviting host, Selda loves to entertain and get to know new people.

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: (4-8 guests) You'll be warmly welcomed into Selda's professional cooking studio in Sariyer, Istanbul. Your authentic seasonal Turkish meal will start with a soup (warm in winter or chilled in summer). Then taste dishes like Selda's savory karnıyarık (eggplant stuffed with minced meat and vegetables, on top of pillowy bulgur wheat), zeytinyağlı taze fasulye (green beans cooked in olive oil, a Turkish staple) and börek filled with chard (a recipe passed down from her husband's mother), all accompanied by a garden-fresh salad.

Cooking experience: (4-8 guests) Join Selda in her modern cooking studio for a hands-on lesson of a few of her favorite seasonal Turkish recipes. As you cook together she'll tell you about the origins of the dishes she prepares and how she experiments with incorporating non-traditional ingredients to create her signature cooking style. Your cooking class will last about 1.5 hours before you sit down to enjoy the meal you helped prepare.

Languages spoken: English

Traveler reviews

5.0 (1)
It was delightful to meet Selda and her family, and to have such a delicious meal in her beautiful home, overlooking the Bosphorus Straight.
- Theresa Garza September 30, 2016
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Selda

$124-$170 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 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $170 $170
Alcohol
 $30 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $170 $170
Alcohol
 $30 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 8:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm

Meet Selda

Selda's father was an excellent cook. Originally from the Black Sea region of Turkey, he fed the family plenty of fish and only the freshest vegetables. Selda remembers him cooking chestnuts on a wood stove in the family home, and omelets that were so beautifully presented that they could have been mistaken for works for art. He believed cooking was a form of personal expression. Selda inherited her father's love of the kitchen - and then some.

Selda prides herself on her healthy take on traditional Turkish recipes cooked with seasonal ingredients. She also likes trying out non-traditional ingredients like quinoa. She has been experimenting with healthy cooking for several years and opened a food studio where she entertains friends and holds workshops. Don't expect common kebabs and other heavy meat dishes at Selda's - she showcases the real foods that Turks eat on a daily basis, with a healthy twist.

A warm and inviting host, Selda loves to entertain and get to know new people.

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: (4-8 guests) You'll be warmly welcomed into Selda's professional cooking studio in Sariyer, Istanbul. Your authentic seasonal Turkish meal will start with a soup (warm in winter or chilled in summer). Then taste dishes like Selda's savory karnıyarık (eggplant stuffed with minced meat and vegetables, on top of pillowy bulgur wheat), zeytinyağlı taze fasulye (green beans cooked in olive oil, a Turkish staple) and börek filled with chard (a recipe passed down from her husband's mother), all accompanied by a garden-fresh salad.

Cooking experience: (4-8 guests) Join Selda in her modern cooking studio for a hands-on lesson of a few of her favorite seasonal Turkish recipes. As you cook together she'll tell you about the origins of the dishes she prepares and how she experiments with incorporating non-traditional ingredients to create her signature cooking style. Your cooking class will last about 1.5 hours before you sit down to enjoy the meal you helped prepare.

Languages spoken: English

Traveler reviews

5.0 (1)
It was delightful to meet Selda and her family, and to have such a delicious meal in her beautiful home, overlooking the Bosphorus Straight.
- Theresa Garza September 30, 2016
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $170 $170
Alcohol
 $30 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $124 $124
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $170 $170
Alcohol
 $30 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 8:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
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.