Nicole is an American who has been living in Spain since 2007. She graduated from Hofmann Culinary School, a Michelin-accredited school, in 2020. Previously, she worked as an English teacher for 15 years. Now she likes to combine these two loves - teaching and cooking, so that travelers can explore new ingredients, prepare traditional dishes, and enjoy typical Spanish and Catalan cuisine. Nicole enjoys meeting people from all over the world and loves how food brings people together no matter where someone is from. She is excited to share the tricks and tips she has learned to prepare the perfect sangria and tapas in the traditional way.
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:
(1-8 guests)
In this Sangria and Tapas class in Barcelona, Nicole shares her love for teaching and cooking as she guides you through a flavorful journey exploring fresh local ingredients, learning how to prepare traditional Spanish and Catalan tapas, and discovering the secrets to making the perfect sangria.
Join Nicole in her home kitchen for a 2.5-3 hour hands-on cooking class, where you will learn to make three tapas and sangria from scratch. You will start your Barcelona cooking class by chopping fruit to prepare the classic Spanish drink, sangria. Then, Nicole will guide you step by step through the process of making three traditional Spanish tapas such as gazpacho (cold soup), tortilla de patatas (traditional potato omelet) and pan con tomate (toasted bread rubbed with tomato). After cooking, enjoy the meal you helped prepare along with dessert (crema Catalana) and sangria (red wine & seasonal fruit).
A hands-on cooking class with locals is one of the best things to do in Barcelona if you enjoy food, culture, and meeting people.
Notes:
1. Nicole can accommodate lactose free, vegetarian and vegan diets, on request. Please let her know if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance, while booking your Barcelona cooking class online.
2. A glass of Sangria is included in the price of your experience.
Languages spoken: English, Spanish
Nicole was very informative with the ingredients and how to layer ingredients. It was a great learning experience and we have decided to do it again when we do it again. The dish was so rich with flavor and I can't wait to try to make it at home.- larry April 15, 2026
We spent an unforgettable day with Chef Nicole Hooks through Traveling Spoon, learning to make traditional paella and Crema Catalana on her sunny rooftop terrace overlooking Barcelona. Nicole met us at a nearby café before leading us on a short walk through the Jardins de la Rambla de Sants, an elevated park full of murals and local life. At the Mercat de Sants, she shopped like a true local, explaining ingredients and sharing stories of the neighborhood. We loved the personal touches and storytelling along the way. Back at her apartment, we enjoyed wine, cheese, and olives before moving to her rooftop kitchen, complete with a double-ring paella burner and sweeping city views. Nicole guided us step-by-step through every stage—from chopping and browning to building the sofrito and achieving that perfect socarrat crust. The finished paella was incredible—rich, smoky, and perfectly balanced—and our Crema Catalana dessert was the ideal sweet finish. Nicole’s warmth, humor, and deep knowledge made the afternoon fly by. If you’re looking for an authentic, hands-on cooking class in Barcelona that blends culture, history, and great food, this is it. Highly recommended for anyone arriving by cruise or staying in the city—five stars all the way!- Cam November 05, 2025
Cooking with Nicole will leave a lasting impression on my husband Greg and me . Not only was our food amazing , but it was an incredible experience. We felt like we were at home hanging out with a friend . We can not wait to go home and cook our new dish for our family ! Highly recommend cooking with Nicole!- Becky October 05, 2025
Cooking with Nicole will leave a lasting impression on my husband Greg and me . Not only was our food amazing , but it was an incredible experience. We felt like we were at home hanging out with a friend . We can not wait to go home and cook our new dish for our family ! Highly recommend cooking with Nicole!- Becky October 05, 2025
This review is overdue! My friend and I decided to book a paella cooking class with Nicole and it was by far one of the biggest highlights of the trip! To start, Nicole’s flat and rooftop setup is the authentic setting we were looking for. It was the perfect balance of a cooking classroom (you can tell Nicole was a former teacher and details like a map of Spain that Nicole referenced throughout was a great, unexpected value add to the cooking classroom) /entertaining environment. Nicole herself was a delight. Not only was she a great instructor, but she is genuinely a kind, cool person who entertained our questions even if they weren’t entirely related to cooking. She really made the extensive process of cooking paella seem relatively easy. The paella and dessert were both beyond delicious and Nicole provided wine that paired perfectly with the dish. 10/10 - I highly recommend booking with Nicole if you’re seeking a fun, laid back, authentic and educational paella making experience. Also noting, while Nicole never rushed us, she was very good about staying on schedule to ensure we finished our session on time as not to impact other plans we had for the day. I greatly appreciated this as my friend and I both have ADD and needed someone to keep us on track. Thanks, Nicole for a great experience!- Gaby September 21, 2025
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