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Host: Jyashree

Chennai (Madras), India

USD
$50-$162 per person

A traditional South Indian vegetarian meal in Chennai

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

Meet Jyashree

Attention to detail is Jyashree's signature cooking talent. She still follows the traditional way of cooking and uses authentic, traditional vessels and organic country vegetables to prepare South Indian Iyer cuisine, which is vegetarian by definition. Her ammamma (mother's mother) taught her that the smallest detail has the ability to elevate simple, everyday dishes to the level of masterpieces. Jyashree would watch as her grandmother prepared gulab jamuns, an elaborate dessert that requires hours of patience and skill, from scratch and as she steamed idlis (a simple traditional South Indian breakfast staple) to perfection. Her grandmother would line the idli batter with homespun muslin cloth to give it an extra texture, the kind of additional detail that has long been abandoned by most cooks for the sake of efficiency. Jyashree focuses on these small touches to bring an extra element of care and refinement to her cooking.

She says, "Now when I cook, I don't just use her years of experience and favorite earthen pots that have passed down from generation to generation in the household, I also think "what would ammamma do?" And so when you sit at my dining table, I'd like to think you'll meet some part of her too - a feisty feminist and homemaker whose way of life shaped me in her mold."

Jyashree lives in a comfortable home with her husband and their three beloved dogs. They look forward to welcoming you to their table and sharing their South Indian culture and cuisine with their guests.

"Food in my house is not just something we eat - it is a central part of our life and relationships."

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: (1-10 guests) Jyashree prepares a traditional South Indian Iyer sapaad, a vegetarian Tamil Brahmin spread consisting of a wide variety of dishes all prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and served on a banana leaf. You'll taste dishes such as sambar (lentil and tamarind based stew with country vegetables), rasam (peppery soup of puréed tomatoes, spices, and tamarind or lemon), vegetable poriyal (sautéed vegetables with regional spices and freshly grated coconut), moorkuzhmbu (spicy yogurt gravy with coconut, red chilies, mango and curry leaves), and a vegetable roast (either potato, cauliflower or colacassia, marinated in spices and fried to golden brown perfection).

The meal is accompanied by rice and handmade dosas (crispy South Indian crepes). You will also sample Jyashree's homemade pickles and chutneys, which vary based on the seasons, such as lime and tender mango pickle, sweet and sour mango pickle, dhal (chutney made of red chilies, garlic and grated coconut) or her green tomato, chili and garlic chutney.

End with a homemade sweet, perhaps her badam kheer (a creamy, cold dessert made of ground almonds, milk and saffron) or a payasam (dessert made from milk or coconut milk, sugar or jaggery, mixed with tender coconuts, bananas or jackfruit).

Cooking experience: (1-15 guests) Join Jyashree in her kitchen where she will teach you to prepare a variety of rices, a vegetable poriyal (sautéed vegetables with spices) and a rasam (a peppery soup that is an essential element to the South Indian Iyer sapaad), the basics of a typical South Indian meal. You can expect the cooking lesson to last about 1-2 hours before you share the meal you helped prepare which will include additional dishes Jyashree prepared in advance. if you wish to learn how to make dosas or appams or anything else in particular, please let Jyashree know in advance so that she can be prepared.

Market visit: (1-15 guests) Meet Jyashree at her home and after a drink and snack, drive together to the local market. Explore the local vegetable, fruit and flower vendors' stalls, learn about the different varieties of regional produce, and get a feel for the local neighborhood Unlike a typical market, this is more of a neighborhood street market experience where you will see everyday local life. Please note that the street may be uneven and chaotic so wear comfortable footwear.

Notes: Jyashree only serves vegetarian food.

Languages spoken: English, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

We were greeted by Jyashree’s husband and were taken upstairs to their living area. The house was very well maintained and was full of Hindu tradition. Jyashree started with explaining the making of every dish she had prepared. We were served almost 15 different varieties of freshly prepared South Indian vegetarian food. Every single item tasted unbelievably delicious. My most favorite was the manga pachidi (a sweet and sour dish made of mangoes). Everything that she prepared was at the right consistency, spice level and quantity. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Jyashree and her husband and we think she’d be a wonderful host to all travelers!

Preethi, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (17)
My friend and I booked this experience, at first unsure if we could make it since we booked it barely 24h in advance. A quick tip- if you can use Whassap to contact the number provided by Traveling spoon, it should be able to reach the hosts directly. Makes everything easier! As for the cooking class, Jyashree and her husband were the warmest and most knowledgeable of all things delicious and south indian. We were surprised to find that they welcomed us into their beautiful home, and got to hang out with their sweet lab dog! (Btw they will graciously put the dog in another room if preferred.) After a short intro, we headed off to the local vegetable market to get some extra ingredients. The market tour was loud, colorful and so much fun! After coming back, we made chutney, dosa, curry, and observed many other dishes being prepared. We were so full with lunch that Jyashree kindly packed away our food for another delicious meal later in the day! My friend and I felt as though we got adopted by an Indian mama, and it was hard to leave when it was time to do so. Anyways, if that paragraph was way too long to read, BOOK THIS. You shall not regret it!
- Sofia C September 01, 2024
Wow! Amazing hospitality, We learned recipes and got to do hands-on supervised cooking on three dishes. And, we could elect the level of chile we cooked with, from USA our tourist heat tolerance is milder than South India's love of chile. The many other spices layered under the heat are wonderful. On arrival, our host took us on a car tour of a local shrine, the beach front, and a bustling outside vegetable market identifying unfamiliar fruits, vegetables, spices, and lentils. Back home, we were greeted by a friendly yellow lab! We visited, then adjourned to the kitchen, making three dishes. What fun. We learned a lot! Highly recommend this experience.
- DogDaz November 15, 2023
Such fun! What a lovely experience - meeting Jyashree & Ravi was a highlight of our trip. From our first contact, responses were prompt and information was clear. We were met at our hotel by Ravi, Jyashrees lovely husband and went to a local cafe where we had the best coffee and traditional Idly for breakfast. A walk around the vegetable market showed us a number of vegetables we had never seen! Then to their home where we received a warm welcome. We cooked a number of dishes under Jyashrees guidance and then had an absolute feast! We look forward to recreating them when home. The whole event felt like meeting old friends and if this entertaining couple is ever our way, we look forward to welcoming them to our home…. on the basis that Jyashree supervises the cooking!! Thank you SO much. Xx
- Safari0 October 02, 2023
Jyashree and her family we wonderful hosts and teachers. Her home was beautiful and the food delicious. The market tour added a nice touch.
- O3876 March 05, 2023
Jyashree and her family we wonderful hosts and teachers. Her home was beautiful and the food delicious. The market tour added a nice touch.
- O3876J March 05, 2023
Jyashree was a very sophisticated, elegant Indian lady, and her home was located in a nice, clean residential area. I was welcomed by her family (including her dog), and felt like I was a honored guest. We started with getting to know the basic indian ingredients (spicies), and made several dishes together. My favorite Dosa was included!! She already prepared a lot in advance, and offered me a feast!! I was a honored guest, and just enjoyed the excellent cuisine. Her food was so healthy, tasty and beautifully presented. I had a such a wonderful time, and next time in Chennai I will definitely visit Jyashree again. Can't thank you enough for the incredible experience. Thank you so much, Jyashree!
- HyeJoo_J December 04, 2022
Our experience with Kamala started with her collecting us from our hotel in Chennai which was a lovely touch of hospitality. She then spoke with us openly and in such a friendly, familiar manner as her driver took us out of the city and dropped us off at a local fruits and vegetables market where we collected items for our meal at lunchtime. We asked Kamala lots of questions and she introduced us to many new items. It was an excellent opportunity to wander through a local market that we would never have stumbled across without a local and a driver! We stopped off at a fishmongers and a convenience store to collect some bottled water before heading back to Kamala's beautiful home next to the seashore. It is here where she explained her way through many delicious dishes - always going the extra mile to accommodate us (I had shown interest in cooking a jackfruit masala curry in our emails beforehand and as it was out of season, she managed to fetch us one from her local village outside of the city!) We helped Kamala cook some delicious and previously unknown dishes, exploring new ingredients and cooking methods and utensils along the way. We enjoyed a lunchtime feast of jackfruit masala, red snapper curry in the tangiest tamarind-infused sauce, dosa (plain, masala and egg), coriander chutney and a ‘drumstick’ veg dhal – all on banana leaves. We enjoyed all of these delicious foods with Kamala, chatting about life in south India. My partner, sister and I can't rate this experience more highly – if in Chennai, this is a must and Kamala is simply wonderful.
- jsht89 December 10, 2019
地元の人と一緒にいなかったらできない素晴らしい体験ができました。迎えてくださるJyashreeさんのご家族は、外国人に慣れているため、お話しするだけで楽しく、すぐに打ち解けた雰囲気になり、リラックスして過ごせました。ベジタブルマーケットでは、自分の国にはなかったり、形が異なる野菜を丁寧に説明してくださいました。また、ホテルで食べて美味しかった料理を見せたら、その料理の作り方を教えてくださり、柔軟にリクエストに応えてくださり、とても感動しました。最後には、めでたい時に食べる特別な料理を用意してくださり、チェンナイ料理をフルに味わうことができ、おもてなしの心に感謝の気持ちでいっぱいになりました。
- Sana8888 November 29, 2019
Fantastic cooking experience with Jyashree. Booked last minute but Jyashree was so accommodating. The hospitality shown by herself and very clever family was lovely. Picked up from hotel by Ravi, her husband, and taken to temple and local market. Then coffee and conversation at her house before demonstrating a Madras curry with coconut rice, dosa and a tomato and onion chutney. You must also try her Inji Puli, a very gingery and spicy chutney. I took some home (wrap it up well or it will leak from the jar) and devoured it in 2 days. Then came a lunch made with all different kinds of Indian vegetarian dishes. More food than you could ever wish to eat. All in all a lovely day out meeting her and her family. A very personal experience.
- N7001RBpaulk August 26, 2019
Jyrashee was amazing. I felt like an honored guest in her wonderful home. I was offered coffee and a snack while we (her husband as well) visited. And then the food!!!We made a Madras curry, rice and dosa together. I ate that- and then Jyrashee brought out my dinner, that she had prepared before hand. I’ve been eating India food for two weeks and this was as good as anything I’ve had. Varied and delectable.
- Rockhoun May 19, 2019
Five friends travelling around India. We spent a magical evening with Sundar and her husband Krishna. A very laid back evening with a great cook, learnt so much.
- kpos2 April 14, 2019
Jyashree was great. Was fantastic to talk to a feminist in south India about their experiences and views about living there. Probably didn't need to do the market visit, but the food was amazing, and Jyashree was great adapting her menu to be vegan. She even gave us some rasam powder to take with us!
- tonyg7832 April 07, 2019
Sundari and Krishna are such wonderful welcoming people. The activity was well organized - Sundari had asked us ahead of time (1-2 days before) about which recipes we wanted to learn. I had named several, and she kindly had made several dishes in addition to the three main ones. It was such a wonderful educational experience and the food was delicious. We had a traditional sit down lunch with so much food. She gave so many useful tips. We took our kids with us who had a wonderful time and they learned so much as well. We will definitely take lessons with Sundari next time we are in Chennai.
- revsuppiah November 28, 2018
A cooking experience with Jyashree is an absolute must if you are in Chennai. I enjoyed a delicious lunch of south indian specialities after watching Jyashree prepare it. Her family & home were delightful - warm & hospitable. It was wonderful not only learning about Indian food but about their culture & traditions too. I love every minute & can't wait to try a few dishes at home.
- Katefromzim July 28, 2018
Jyashree has her own force-field and we were immediately drawn in. Aside from the fact that we just met, we were treated like old friends with warmth and hospitality. The cooking lessons were fabulous and we were stunned by how delicious everything tasted. It was our introduction to South Indian cooking and in many ways, it was the very best!
- Lynn Terpstra & Don Walter February 05, 2018
Fantastic food and company. This is the best thing I did during my stay in Chennai - Jyashree, my host, was very welcoming and the experience was so much more than I hoped for. We went to the market to buy supplies (with a temple visit and a little souvenir shopping on the side), then Jyashree showed us how to make various delicious south Indian foods, including sambar which I had particularly requested. The meal we ate was one of the best meals I have eaten in India and I left very full and happy! I would definitely recommend this to anyone, whether you have an interest in cooking yourself or would just like to experience a proper home-cooked meal.
- Harriet B January 25, 2018
My cooking experience and meal with Jyashree (and her husband, Ravi) was exceptional. I loved each of the 9 dishes, the dessert poli, and the homemade sweet lassi that Jyashree whipped up when I mentioned that it was my favorite part of the hotel breakfast spread. Learning to cook was a blast. Jyashree has a great sense of humor and she adapted the course perfectly for me - giving me great tips for shortcuts and kitchen equipment and slowing things down to explain the different types of dhal and components of a good masala box.Jyashree and Ravi have a great dynamic. Conversation over dinner was easy and engaging and they took great care of me, arranging a ride back to the hotel with their driver and sending me off with some beautifully packaged rasam powder.Their home was lovely and spacious as well - couldn't have asked for a better experience.
- Elizabeth B November 18, 2017
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Jyashree

$50-$162 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
 $100 $80 $50
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $152 $122 $100
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $162 $152 $110
Transportation
 $70 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $100 $80 $50
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $152 $122 $100
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $162 $152 $110
Transportation
 $70 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:30pm-2:30pm 8:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:30pm-9:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-10:30pm

Meet Jyashree

Attention to detail is Jyashree's signature cooking talent. She still follows the traditional way of cooking and uses authentic, traditional vessels and organic country vegetables to prepare South Indian Iyer cuisine, which is vegetarian by definition. Her ammamma (mother's mother) taught her that the smallest detail has the ability to elevate simple, everyday dishes to the level of masterpieces. Jyashree would watch as her grandmother prepared gulab jamuns, an elaborate dessert that requires hours of patience and skill, from scratch and as she steamed idlis (a simple traditional South Indian breakfast staple) to perfection. Her grandmother would line the idli batter with homespun muslin cloth to give it an extra texture, the kind of additional detail that has long been abandoned by most cooks for the sake of efficiency. Jyashree focuses on these small touches to bring an extra element of care and refinement to her cooking.

She says, "Now when I cook, I don't just use her years of experience and favorite earthen pots that have passed down from generation to generation in the household, I also think "what would ammamma do?" And so when you sit at my dining table, I'd like to think you'll meet some part of her too - a feisty feminist and homemaker whose way of life shaped me in her mold."

Jyashree lives in a comfortable home with her husband and their three beloved dogs. They look forward to welcoming you to their table and sharing their South Indian culture and cuisine with their guests.

"Food in my house is not just something we eat - it is a central part of our life and relationships."

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: (1-10 guests) Jyashree prepares a traditional South Indian Iyer sapaad, a vegetarian Tamil Brahmin spread consisting of a wide variety of dishes all prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients and served on a banana leaf. You'll taste dishes such as sambar (lentil and tamarind based stew with country vegetables), rasam (peppery soup of puréed tomatoes, spices, and tamarind or lemon), vegetable poriyal (sautéed vegetables with regional spices and freshly grated coconut), moorkuzhmbu (spicy yogurt gravy with coconut, red chilies, mango and curry leaves), and a vegetable roast (either potato, cauliflower or colacassia, marinated in spices and fried to golden brown perfection).

The meal is accompanied by rice and handmade dosas (crispy South Indian crepes). You will also sample Jyashree's homemade pickles and chutneys, which vary based on the seasons, such as lime and tender mango pickle, sweet and sour mango pickle, dhal (chutney made of red chilies, garlic and grated coconut) or her green tomato, chili and garlic chutney.

End with a homemade sweet, perhaps her badam kheer (a creamy, cold dessert made of ground almonds, milk and saffron) or a payasam (dessert made from milk or coconut milk, sugar or jaggery, mixed with tender coconuts, bananas or jackfruit).

Cooking experience: (1-15 guests) Join Jyashree in her kitchen where she will teach you to prepare a variety of rices, a vegetable poriyal (sautéed vegetables with spices) and a rasam (a peppery soup that is an essential element to the South Indian Iyer sapaad), the basics of a typical South Indian meal. You can expect the cooking lesson to last about 1-2 hours before you share the meal you helped prepare which will include additional dishes Jyashree prepared in advance. if you wish to learn how to make dosas or appams or anything else in particular, please let Jyashree know in advance so that she can be prepared.

Market visit: (1-15 guests) Meet Jyashree at her home and after a drink and snack, drive together to the local market. Explore the local vegetable, fruit and flower vendors' stalls, learn about the different varieties of regional produce, and get a feel for the local neighborhood Unlike a typical market, this is more of a neighborhood street market experience where you will see everyday local life. Please note that the street may be uneven and chaotic so wear comfortable footwear.

Notes: Jyashree only serves vegetarian food.

Languages spoken: English, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

We were greeted by Jyashree’s husband and were taken upstairs to their living area. The house was very well maintained and was full of Hindu tradition. Jyashree started with explaining the making of every dish she had prepared. We were served almost 15 different varieties of freshly prepared South Indian vegetarian food. Every single item tasted unbelievably delicious. My most favorite was the manga pachidi (a sweet and sour dish made of mangoes). Everything that she prepared was at the right consistency, spice level and quantity. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with Jyashree and her husband and we think she’d be a wonderful host to all travelers!

Preethi, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (17)
My friend and I booked this experience, at first unsure if we could make it since we booked it barely 24h in advance. A quick tip- if you can use Whassap to contact the number provided by Traveling spoon, it should be able to reach the hosts directly. Makes everything easier! As for the cooking class, Jyashree and her husband were the warmest and most knowledgeable of all things delicious and south indian. We were surprised to find that they welcomed us into their beautiful home, and got to hang out with their sweet lab dog! (Btw they will graciously put the dog in another room if preferred.) After a short intro, we headed off to the local vegetable market to get some extra ingredients. The market tour was loud, colorful and so much fun! After coming back, we made chutney, dosa, curry, and observed many other dishes being prepared. We were so full with lunch that Jyashree kindly packed away our food for another delicious meal later in the day! My friend and I felt as though we got adopted by an Indian mama, and it was hard to leave when it was time to do so. Anyways, if that paragraph was way too long to read, BOOK THIS. You shall not regret it!
- Sofia C September 01, 2024
Wow! Amazing hospitality, We learned recipes and got to do hands-on supervised cooking on three dishes. And, we could elect the level of chile we cooked with, from USA our tourist heat tolerance is milder than South India's love of chile. The many other spices layered under the heat are wonderful. On arrival, our host took us on a car tour of a local shrine, the beach front, and a bustling outside vegetable market identifying unfamiliar fruits, vegetables, spices, and lentils. Back home, we were greeted by a friendly yellow lab! We visited, then adjourned to the kitchen, making three dishes. What fun. We learned a lot! Highly recommend this experience.
- DogDaz November 15, 2023
Such fun! What a lovely experience - meeting Jyashree & Ravi was a highlight of our trip. From our first contact, responses were prompt and information was clear. We were met at our hotel by Ravi, Jyashrees lovely husband and went to a local cafe where we had the best coffee and traditional Idly for breakfast. A walk around the vegetable market showed us a number of vegetables we had never seen! Then to their home where we received a warm welcome. We cooked a number of dishes under Jyashrees guidance and then had an absolute feast! We look forward to recreating them when home. The whole event felt like meeting old friends and if this entertaining couple is ever our way, we look forward to welcoming them to our home…. on the basis that Jyashree supervises the cooking!! Thank you SO much. Xx
- Safari0 October 02, 2023
Jyashree and her family we wonderful hosts and teachers. Her home was beautiful and the food delicious. The market tour added a nice touch.
- O3876 March 05, 2023
Jyashree and her family we wonderful hosts and teachers. Her home was beautiful and the food delicious. The market tour added a nice touch.
- O3876J March 05, 2023
Jyashree was a very sophisticated, elegant Indian lady, and her home was located in a nice, clean residential area. I was welcomed by her family (including her dog), and felt like I was a honored guest. We started with getting to know the basic indian ingredients (spicies), and made several dishes together. My favorite Dosa was included!! She already prepared a lot in advance, and offered me a feast!! I was a honored guest, and just enjoyed the excellent cuisine. Her food was so healthy, tasty and beautifully presented. I had a such a wonderful time, and next time in Chennai I will definitely visit Jyashree again. Can't thank you enough for the incredible experience. Thank you so much, Jyashree!
- HyeJoo_J December 04, 2022
Our experience with Kamala started with her collecting us from our hotel in Chennai which was a lovely touch of hospitality. She then spoke with us openly and in such a friendly, familiar manner as her driver took us out of the city and dropped us off at a local fruits and vegetables market where we collected items for our meal at lunchtime. We asked Kamala lots of questions and she introduced us to many new items. It was an excellent opportunity to wander through a local market that we would never have stumbled across without a local and a driver! We stopped off at a fishmongers and a convenience store to collect some bottled water before heading back to Kamala's beautiful home next to the seashore. It is here where she explained her way through many delicious dishes - always going the extra mile to accommodate us (I had shown interest in cooking a jackfruit masala curry in our emails beforehand and as it was out of season, she managed to fetch us one from her local village outside of the city!) We helped Kamala cook some delicious and previously unknown dishes, exploring new ingredients and cooking methods and utensils along the way. We enjoyed a lunchtime feast of jackfruit masala, red snapper curry in the tangiest tamarind-infused sauce, dosa (plain, masala and egg), coriander chutney and a ‘drumstick’ veg dhal – all on banana leaves. We enjoyed all of these delicious foods with Kamala, chatting about life in south India. My partner, sister and I can't rate this experience more highly – if in Chennai, this is a must and Kamala is simply wonderful.
- jsht89 December 10, 2019
地元の人と一緒にいなかったらできない素晴らしい体験ができました。迎えてくださるJyashreeさんのご家族は、外国人に慣れているため、お話しするだけで楽しく、すぐに打ち解けた雰囲気になり、リラックスして過ごせました。ベジタブルマーケットでは、自分の国にはなかったり、形が異なる野菜を丁寧に説明してくださいました。また、ホテルで食べて美味しかった料理を見せたら、その料理の作り方を教えてくださり、柔軟にリクエストに応えてくださり、とても感動しました。最後には、めでたい時に食べる特別な料理を用意してくださり、チェンナイ料理をフルに味わうことができ、おもてなしの心に感謝の気持ちでいっぱいになりました。
- Sana8888 November 29, 2019
Fantastic cooking experience with Jyashree. Booked last minute but Jyashree was so accommodating. The hospitality shown by herself and very clever family was lovely. Picked up from hotel by Ravi, her husband, and taken to temple and local market. Then coffee and conversation at her house before demonstrating a Madras curry with coconut rice, dosa and a tomato and onion chutney. You must also try her Inji Puli, a very gingery and spicy chutney. I took some home (wrap it up well or it will leak from the jar) and devoured it in 2 days. Then came a lunch made with all different kinds of Indian vegetarian dishes. More food than you could ever wish to eat. All in all a lovely day out meeting her and her family. A very personal experience.
- N7001RBpaulk August 26, 2019
Jyrashee was amazing. I felt like an honored guest in her wonderful home. I was offered coffee and a snack while we (her husband as well) visited. And then the food!!!We made a Madras curry, rice and dosa together. I ate that- and then Jyrashee brought out my dinner, that she had prepared before hand. I’ve been eating India food for two weeks and this was as good as anything I’ve had. Varied and delectable.
- Rockhoun May 19, 2019
Five friends travelling around India. We spent a magical evening with Sundar and her husband Krishna. A very laid back evening with a great cook, learnt so much.
- kpos2 April 14, 2019
Jyashree was great. Was fantastic to talk to a feminist in south India about their experiences and views about living there. Probably didn't need to do the market visit, but the food was amazing, and Jyashree was great adapting her menu to be vegan. She even gave us some rasam powder to take with us!
- tonyg7832 April 07, 2019
Sundari and Krishna are such wonderful welcoming people. The activity was well organized - Sundari had asked us ahead of time (1-2 days before) about which recipes we wanted to learn. I had named several, and she kindly had made several dishes in addition to the three main ones. It was such a wonderful educational experience and the food was delicious. We had a traditional sit down lunch with so much food. She gave so many useful tips. We took our kids with us who had a wonderful time and they learned so much as well. We will definitely take lessons with Sundari next time we are in Chennai.
- revsuppiah November 28, 2018
A cooking experience with Jyashree is an absolute must if you are in Chennai. I enjoyed a delicious lunch of south indian specialities after watching Jyashree prepare it. Her family & home were delightful - warm & hospitable. It was wonderful not only learning about Indian food but about their culture & traditions too. I love every minute & can't wait to try a few dishes at home.
- Katefromzim July 28, 2018
Jyashree has her own force-field and we were immediately drawn in. Aside from the fact that we just met, we were treated like old friends with warmth and hospitality. The cooking lessons were fabulous and we were stunned by how delicious everything tasted. It was our introduction to South Indian cooking and in many ways, it was the very best!
- Lynn Terpstra & Don Walter February 05, 2018
Fantastic food and company. This is the best thing I did during my stay in Chennai - Jyashree, my host, was very welcoming and the experience was so much more than I hoped for. We went to the market to buy supplies (with a temple visit and a little souvenir shopping on the side), then Jyashree showed us how to make various delicious south Indian foods, including sambar which I had particularly requested. The meal we ate was one of the best meals I have eaten in India and I left very full and happy! I would definitely recommend this to anyone, whether you have an interest in cooking yourself or would just like to experience a proper home-cooked meal.
- Harriet B January 25, 2018
My cooking experience and meal with Jyashree (and her husband, Ravi) was exceptional. I loved each of the 9 dishes, the dessert poli, and the homemade sweet lassi that Jyashree whipped up when I mentioned that it was my favorite part of the hotel breakfast spread. Learning to cook was a blast. Jyashree has a great sense of humor and she adapted the course perfectly for me - giving me great tips for shortcuts and kitchen equipment and slowing things down to explain the different types of dhal and components of a good masala box.Jyashree and Ravi have a great dynamic. Conversation over dinner was easy and engaging and they took great care of me, arranging a ride back to the hotel with their driver and sending me off with some beautifully packaged rasam powder.Their home was lovely and spacious as well - couldn't have asked for a better experience.
- Elizabeth B November 18, 2017
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Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $100 $80 $50
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $152 $122 $100
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $162 $152 $110
Transportation
 $70 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 $100 $80 $50
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $152 $122 $100
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $162 $152 $110
Transportation
 $70 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:30pm-2:30pm 8:00pm-10:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 6:30pm-9:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 9:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-10:30pm
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.