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.
VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Isaiah

Manila, Philippines

USD
$22-$74 per person

Traditional Filipino Cooking in Metro Manila with Isaiah

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

Meet Isaiah

Isaiah, also known as 'Seya,' is a passionate chef from Manila with over 30 years of culinary experience. His love for food began at the age of six when he started learning to cook by observing his family in the kitchen. Though he often got into trouble—burning himself and getting wounded in the process—his determination to master the art of cooking only grew stronger. His fascination with food was fueled by a desire to create delicious dishes and the joy he felt when discovering new techniques. Currently, Isaiah works as a corporate chef for a food manufacturing company and a group of restaurants, where he continues to showcase his culinary expertise. His dedication to promoting Filipino cuisine is evident in his active participation in cooking competitions, where he aims to share traditional Filipino recipes with a wider audience. Through his Manila cooking classes, Isaiah invites travelers into his home to explore Filipino cuisine, sharing his passion for cooking and the cultural significance of traditional 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) Isaiah lives with his family of six in Mandaluyong city in Metro Manila. He is excited to share homecooked Filipino dishes using family recipes and fresh, seasonal ingredients. Filipino cuisine is highly regional, with over 7,000 islands offering a diverse array of unique dishes. It commonly features ingredients like coconut, garlic, chilies, ginger, and aromatics. Isaiah believes that one of the best places to enjoy authentic food in Manila is at the home of a local family, a truly culturally immersive experience. A few dishes that you might try at Isaiah' home are lumpiang sariwa (fresh hearts of palm spring rolls) or lumpiang shanghai (crispy fried meaty spring rolls), sinigang na karne sa gabi, calamansi and sampaloc (stew of pork with taro, local lemon, and tamarind fruit and leaves) and chilled buko pandan salad (young coconut with mixed seasonal fruits, pandan jelly and coconut cream).

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) Join Isaiah in his beautiful, spacious kitchen for a 2.5-hour hands-on cooking class in Manila. During this immersive cooking experience, you’ll learn to prepare 2-3 traditional Filipino dishes from scratch with a local expert. Master the step-by-step process of cooking lumpiang sariwa (fresh spring rolls) or lumpiang shanghai (fried spring rolls), sinigang (pork stew), and chilled buko pandan salad (young coconut with seasonal fruits, pandan jelly, and coconut cream). Isaiah will share his family recipes, his deep knowledge of traditional Filipino cooking, and the cultural significance of each dish, along with personal stories of learning to cook these dishes as a child from his family. After cooking, sit down with Isaiah and his family (when available) to enjoy the meal you helped prepare.

Market visit: (1-5 guests) Join Isaiah for a guided tour of Cartimar in Pasay, one of his favorite local markets. He prefers to start the tour early so that everything is fresh and abundant. Cartimar offers a plethora of ingredients from fresh seafood to live poultry and a wide array of vegetables. After meeting Isaiah at his home, enjoy a short 20-minute drive to the market, where you will be introduced to local produce used in Filipino cuisine, interact with vendors and pick fresh, seasonal ingredients for your cooking class. Back home, Isaiah will teach you to cook three traditional Filipino dishes using the ingredients you bought at the market.

Notes: Isaiah can accommodate a lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diet, if informed in advance.

Languages spoken: English

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.
  • Lumpiang Sariwa (fresh hearts of palm spring rolls) or Lumpiang Shanghai (crispy fried meaty spring rolls)
  • Sinigang na karne sa gabi, calamansi and sampaloc (stew of pork with taro, local lemon, and tamarind fruit and leaves)
  • Chilled buko pandan salad (young coconut with mixed seasonal fruits, pandan jelly and coconut cream)

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Manila Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
7a5c79f8 760c 4efa 8621 d33c9d00a442

Isaiah

$22-$74 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
$32 $28 $22
Cooking Experience + Meal
$54 $48 $40
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$74 $68 $60
Alcohol
$10 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$32 $28 $22
Cooking Experience + Meal
$54 $48 $40
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$74 $68 $60
Alcohol
$10 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
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
8:00am-12:00pm 4:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Isaiah

Isaiah, also known as 'Seya,' is a passionate chef from Manila with over 30 years of culinary experience. His love for food began at the age of six when he started learning to cook by observing his family in the kitchen. Though he often got into trouble—burning himself and getting wounded in the process—his determination to master the art of cooking only grew stronger. His fascination with food was fueled by a desire to create delicious dishes and the joy he felt when discovering new techniques. Currently, Isaiah works as a corporate chef for a food manufacturing company and a group of restaurants, where he continues to showcase his culinary expertise. His dedication to promoting Filipino cuisine is evident in his active participation in cooking competitions, where he aims to share traditional Filipino recipes with a wider audience. Through his Manila cooking classes, Isaiah invites travelers into his home to explore Filipino cuisine, sharing his passion for cooking and the cultural significance of traditional 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) Isaiah lives with his family of six in Mandaluyong city in Metro Manila. He is excited to share homecooked Filipino dishes using family recipes and fresh, seasonal ingredients. Filipino cuisine is highly regional, with over 7,000 islands offering a diverse array of unique dishes. It commonly features ingredients like coconut, garlic, chilies, ginger, and aromatics. Isaiah believes that one of the best places to enjoy authentic food in Manila is at the home of a local family, a truly culturally immersive experience. A few dishes that you might try at Isaiah' home are lumpiang sariwa (fresh hearts of palm spring rolls) or lumpiang shanghai (crispy fried meaty spring rolls), sinigang na karne sa gabi, calamansi and sampaloc (stew of pork with taro, local lemon, and tamarind fruit and leaves) and chilled buko pandan salad (young coconut with mixed seasonal fruits, pandan jelly and coconut cream).

Cooking experience: (1-5 guests) Join Isaiah in his beautiful, spacious kitchen for a 2.5-hour hands-on cooking class in Manila. During this immersive cooking experience, you’ll learn to prepare 2-3 traditional Filipino dishes from scratch with a local expert. Master the step-by-step process of cooking lumpiang sariwa (fresh spring rolls) or lumpiang shanghai (fried spring rolls), sinigang (pork stew), and chilled buko pandan salad (young coconut with seasonal fruits, pandan jelly, and coconut cream). Isaiah will share his family recipes, his deep knowledge of traditional Filipino cooking, and the cultural significance of each dish, along with personal stories of learning to cook these dishes as a child from his family. After cooking, sit down with Isaiah and his family (when available) to enjoy the meal you helped prepare.

Market visit: (1-5 guests) Join Isaiah for a guided tour of Cartimar in Pasay, one of his favorite local markets. He prefers to start the tour early so that everything is fresh and abundant. Cartimar offers a plethora of ingredients from fresh seafood to live poultry and a wide array of vegetables. After meeting Isaiah at his home, enjoy a short 20-minute drive to the market, where you will be introduced to local produce used in Filipino cuisine, interact with vendors and pick fresh, seasonal ingredients for your cooking class. Back home, Isaiah will teach you to cook three traditional Filipino dishes using the ingredients you bought at the market.

Notes: Isaiah can accommodate a lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diet, if informed in advance.

Languages spoken: English

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.
  • Lumpiang Sariwa (fresh hearts of palm spring rolls) or Lumpiang Shanghai (crispy fried meaty spring rolls)
  • Sinigang na karne sa gabi, calamansi and sampaloc (stew of pork with taro, local lemon, and tamarind fruit and leaves)
  • Chilled buko pandan salad (young coconut with mixed seasonal fruits, pandan jelly and coconut cream)

Traveler reviews

This is a new host who does not yet have any reviews. You can see reviews of our other Manila Traveling Spoon experiences on TripAdvisor:
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$32 $28 $22
Cooking Experience + Meal
$54 $48 $40
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$74 $68 $60
Alcohol
$10 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
$32 $28 $22
Cooking Experience + Meal
$54 $48 $40
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
$74 $68 $60
Alcohol
$10 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
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
8:00am-12:00pm 4:00pm-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.