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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Vandana

Gurgaon, India

USD
$16-$50 per person

Share a traditional home-cooked Rajasthani or Punjabi meal

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

Meet Vandana

Vandana lives in a beautiful apartment with her husband, Vikramjit, and their two daughters, Saanchi and Sakshi. Vandana started baking at age 13 and learned most of her cooking skills from her mother and older sisters. She has passed her passion for food on to her daughters as well. Sakshi is studying culinary arts and has been cooking since the age of 3, and Saanchi is a journalism student who loves to bake teacakes and brownies in her free time. Vandana loves hosting friends and family and even her daughter Saanchi enjoys meeting and serving people and learning about different cultures. Vandana also bakes for orders on the side and offers a selection of over 18 different varieties of brownies to choose from, in addition to from vegan cakes and chocolates.

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: (2-8 guests) Vandana and Saanchi will greet you with a welcome drink and an appetizer such as kalmi vadas (deep fried gram dal crispies). After telling you about their Rajasthani and Punjabi food and cultures you will share an authentic meal with the family at the dinning table. The Rajasthani meal will be served in a silver thali and might include dishes such as meeta chawal (sweet saffron rice), kadi (buttermilk curry), mogar (dry lentils), khersangri (dried vegetables in a flavorful saue), panchmel ki subzi (curry made with five vegetables), and mutter ki puri (green pea flatbread). For the Punjabi meal dishes such as aloo gobi (cauliflower and potato), chole kulcha (chickpea curry served with leavened bread), chicken curry, paneer (fresh cheese) and kheer (rice pudding) will be served.
Please tell Vandana if you would prefer a Rajasthani or Punjabi menu at the time of booking.

Cooking experience: (2-6 guests) Vandana has a beautiful open kitchen that opens up to the dining area and balcony, giving you plenty of space for a class. You will start by visiting her balcony where she has potted plants and loves to pluck fresh herbs for her cooking. You can expect to learn from your host Vandana how to make 2-3 of the dishes you will be eating, such as a seasonal vegetable and flat breads or an Indian curry and a sweet dish, depending on your menu.

Food tour: (5-15 guests) Vandana’s neighbourhood, Gurgaon does not have an open market so Vandana will bring the market experience home by inviting vendors home. They will teach the women how to drape a sari and the men how to tie a turban, and while you enjoy your masala chai and Indian tea time snacks you can select your bangles, scarves and even apply mehendi (henna).

Notes: This is a family-friendly experience.

Languages spoken: English

Traveler reviews

5.0 (4)
I had a perfect evening With Sujata and here friend, chatting, cooking and eating ! I'd recommend this experience to anyone .
- Edouard L February 26, 2018
What an incredible experience to capstone my 2 week trip to India! Being invited into the experience from my friend, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly satisfied with every step of the journey. Our hostess, Vandana, and her family provided such a warm experience, I never felt anything but relaxed. They live in a newly developed, very modern condo that overlooks areas soon to be transformed by the rapid development of Delhi's middle class. It was a glimpse into the modernization of the city and at the same time the traditional dishes served (which we helped to prepare!) provided an incredible sense of adventure and comfort.We ended up really connecting with Vandana and her family and staying for hours after the meal! It was truly special to see all the culture wrapped around the cuisine and be invited into such an intimate atmosphere. I would highly recommend adding a Travel Spoon experience to anyone's itinerary. The experience of learning how to cook like a local, in their home provided the best deep dive into a culture one could hope for.
- brandonnnapoli June 25, 2017
What an incredible experience to capstone my 2 week trip to India! Being invited into the experience from my friend, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly satisfied with every step of the journey. Our hostess, Vandana, and her family provided such a warm experience, I never felt anything but relaxed. They live in a newly developed, very modern condo that overlooks areas soon to be transformed by the rapid development of Delhi's middle class. It was a glimpse into the modernization of the city and at the same time the traditional dishes served (which we helped to prepare!) provided an incredible sense of adventure and comfort. We ended up really connecting with Vandana and her family and staying for hours after the meal! It was truly special to see all the culture wrapped around the cuisine and be invited into such an intimate atmosphere. I would highly recommend adding a Travel Spoon experience to anyone's itinerary. The experience of learning how to cook like a local, in their home provided the best deep dive into a culture one could hope for.
- Brandon Napoli January 16, 2016
Our fight was 2 hours late, but she was kindly waiting for us. Her cooking class was wonderful. She is very good at teaching.
- Kyoko January 13, 2016
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Vandana

$16-$50 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
 Not offered $20 $16
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $32 $26
Food Tour
 Not offered Not offered $50
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $20 $16
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $32 $26
Food Tour
 Not offered Not offered $50
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:30pm-3:30pm 7:30pm-10:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Food Tour
 3:30pm-5:30pm

Meet Vandana

Vandana lives in a beautiful apartment with her husband, Vikramjit, and their two daughters, Saanchi and Sakshi. Vandana started baking at age 13 and learned most of her cooking skills from her mother and older sisters. She has passed her passion for food on to her daughters as well. Sakshi is studying culinary arts and has been cooking since the age of 3, and Saanchi is a journalism student who loves to bake teacakes and brownies in her free time. Vandana loves hosting friends and family and even her daughter Saanchi enjoys meeting and serving people and learning about different cultures. Vandana also bakes for orders on the side and offers a selection of over 18 different varieties of brownies to choose from, in addition to from vegan cakes and chocolates.

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: (2-8 guests) Vandana and Saanchi will greet you with a welcome drink and an appetizer such as kalmi vadas (deep fried gram dal crispies). After telling you about their Rajasthani and Punjabi food and cultures you will share an authentic meal with the family at the dinning table. The Rajasthani meal will be served in a silver thali and might include dishes such as meeta chawal (sweet saffron rice), kadi (buttermilk curry), mogar (dry lentils), khersangri (dried vegetables in a flavorful saue), panchmel ki subzi (curry made with five vegetables), and mutter ki puri (green pea flatbread). For the Punjabi meal dishes such as aloo gobi (cauliflower and potato), chole kulcha (chickpea curry served with leavened bread), chicken curry, paneer (fresh cheese) and kheer (rice pudding) will be served.
Please tell Vandana if you would prefer a Rajasthani or Punjabi menu at the time of booking.

Cooking experience: (2-6 guests) Vandana has a beautiful open kitchen that opens up to the dining area and balcony, giving you plenty of space for a class. You will start by visiting her balcony where she has potted plants and loves to pluck fresh herbs for her cooking. You can expect to learn from your host Vandana how to make 2-3 of the dishes you will be eating, such as a seasonal vegetable and flat breads or an Indian curry and a sweet dish, depending on your menu.

Food tour: (5-15 guests) Vandana’s neighbourhood, Gurgaon does not have an open market so Vandana will bring the market experience home by inviting vendors home. They will teach the women how to drape a sari and the men how to tie a turban, and while you enjoy your masala chai and Indian tea time snacks you can select your bangles, scarves and even apply mehendi (henna).

Notes: This is a family-friendly experience.

Languages spoken: English

Traveler reviews

5.0 (4)
I had a perfect evening With Sujata and here friend, chatting, cooking and eating ! I'd recommend this experience to anyone .
- Edouard L February 26, 2018
What an incredible experience to capstone my 2 week trip to India! Being invited into the experience from my friend, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly satisfied with every step of the journey. Our hostess, Vandana, and her family provided such a warm experience, I never felt anything but relaxed. They live in a newly developed, very modern condo that overlooks areas soon to be transformed by the rapid development of Delhi's middle class. It was a glimpse into the modernization of the city and at the same time the traditional dishes served (which we helped to prepare!) provided an incredible sense of adventure and comfort.We ended up really connecting with Vandana and her family and staying for hours after the meal! It was truly special to see all the culture wrapped around the cuisine and be invited into such an intimate atmosphere. I would highly recommend adding a Travel Spoon experience to anyone's itinerary. The experience of learning how to cook like a local, in their home provided the best deep dive into a culture one could hope for.
- brandonnnapoli June 25, 2017
What an incredible experience to capstone my 2 week trip to India! Being invited into the experience from my friend, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly satisfied with every step of the journey. Our hostess, Vandana, and her family provided such a warm experience, I never felt anything but relaxed. They live in a newly developed, very modern condo that overlooks areas soon to be transformed by the rapid development of Delhi's middle class. It was a glimpse into the modernization of the city and at the same time the traditional dishes served (which we helped to prepare!) provided an incredible sense of adventure and comfort. We ended up really connecting with Vandana and her family and staying for hours after the meal! It was truly special to see all the culture wrapped around the cuisine and be invited into such an intimate atmosphere. I would highly recommend adding a Travel Spoon experience to anyone's itinerary. The experience of learning how to cook like a local, in their home provided the best deep dive into a culture one could hope for.
- Brandon Napoli January 16, 2016
Our fight was 2 hours late, but she was kindly waiting for us. Her cooking class was wonderful. She is very good at teaching.
- Kyoko January 13, 2016
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $20 $16
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $32 $26
Food Tour
 Not offered Not offered $50
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $20 $16
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $32 $26
Food Tour
 Not offered Not offered $50
Alcohol
 $4 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:30pm-3:30pm 7:30pm-10:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Food Tour
 3:30pm-5:30pm
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.