Meet
Christina
Christina grew up in a farming family in a small village in western Greece, where she still gets her local eggs, cheese, organic extra virgin olive oil, dried herbs, and hand-collected sea salts. Christina is passionate about baking traditional phyllo pies made with hand-made dough, a technique she first learned from her grandmother. After attending culinary school, Christina perfected the phyllo technique by working in a local bakery where she expertly created a wide variety of phyllo pies from scratch. Christina is also a licensed tour guide, so if you need any help planning your trip, she is the right person to speak to! She joined Traveling Spoon with the mission to share her knowledge of Greece’s phyllo traditions with as many people as possible in order to help preserve these age-old cooking methods.
Christina lives in a simple apartment in Pangrati, a central yet quiet neighborhood, located about 20 minutes by subway from the historic center of Athens and easily reached by taxi. Her apartment is located on the 5th floor of her building and is accessible by elevator.
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:
(3-6 guests)
Christina serves a vibrant, authentic Greek meal that highlights seasonal ingredients and creative, home-style preparations. You might begin with a selection of local cheeses, artisanal cold cuts, and traditional spreads, followed by her signature handmade phyllo pies. Main courses may include pistachio-crusted chicken with a rich molasses glaze or olive-crusted lamb paired with a tangy yogurt sauce. Enjoy fresh, seasonal sides such as a salad of anthotyro (a soft Greek cheese), cherry tomatoes, and toasted bread, or foraged wild greens from the countryside.
Cooking experience:
(3-6 guests)
Step into Christina’s welcoming kitchen in Athens and discover the centuries-old tradition of Greek pie-making - a practice so culturally significant, it’s recognized by UNESCO as part of the Mediterranean diet on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List. This unique cooking class specializes in phyllo, the delicate, paper-thin dough at the heart of Greece’s beloved savory pies. Begin your Athens cooking class with a traditional treat of Greek coffee and loukoumi (a local sweet), then roll up your sleeves for a hands-on lesson in making spanakopita, a quintessential Greek dish. Christina will guide you through every step of the process, starting from scratch with just flour and water. You’ll use seasonal ingredients like wild spinach, local greens, and a mix of Greek cheeses to craft your filling. On Christina’s dining table, you’ll knead and roll your dough into impossibly thin sheets, learning the art of layering to create a light, flaky crust with a perfectly golden finish. Christina shares not only her technique, but also the rich history and cultural significance behind each step. You’ll leave with printed recipes so you can recreate the experience at home. The cooking portion lasts around two hours, followed by a shared meal featuring the spanakopita you made - alongside other seasonal and traditional dishes Christina has thoughtfully prepared. Enjoy your meal with Tsipouro (a traditional Greek spirit) and a glass of white or rosé wine, finishing with a delicious Greek dessert.
Market visit:
(3-6 guests)
Join Christina for a delightful walking tour through her favorite neighborhood shops in Athens. Visit a local cheese monger to sample freshly made cheeses, explore a charming deli specializing in olive oil, dried herbs, and other traditional Greek staples, and stop by her go-to bakery for a taste of local life. As you browse, Christina will share insights into the origins and stories behind the products you see, offering a deeper appreciation of Greek culinary culture. After the tour, you’ll head to Christina’s nearby apartment to begin your hands-on Greek cooking experience.
Please note: Christina’s neighborhood is hilly, so comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended. The walking tour lasts approximately one hour.
Languages spoken:
English, Greek
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
Christina was an excellent hostess with expert knowledge of traditional Greek cuisine. Her lesson on making phyllo dough from scratch was so thorough and inspiring it compelled my wife to seek out a phyllo rolling pin to try to recreate the pastry at home. In short, A++++. Would cook with again.
Craig, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
It was such a wonderful and memorable experience. We had the chance to bake delicious Greek pastries, enjoy some beautiful traditional dishes, and really feel the warmth of Greek hospitality.
Everything was fresh, authentic, and full of flavor, but what made the experience even more special was Christina. She was absolutely amazing — welcoming, kind, passionate, and very knowledgeable. She made the whole experience feel personal, relaxed, and truly enjoyable.
It was more than just food; it was a beautiful cultural and culinary experience. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy authentic Greek flavors, learn something new, and spend a lovely time in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
-
maggie
May 22, 2026
Christina was such an incredible host and teacher. We were welcomed into her wonderful apartment and she took her time to get to know us, and also told us about herself and her neighborhood. We visited several shops, including a vegetable grocer, cheese monger, a bakery, and a winery where we sampled our new favorite wine, retzina! This cooking lesson took place on the birthday of one of our kids, who is very interested in pursuing culinary arts. Christina was so natural, delegating tasks for cutting up vegetables to be used in salads, the spanikopita, and finally, the preparation of the filo dough. This is such a painstaking process, and Christina was the perfect guide, patient with all of us, and so warm. We all ate together, a delicious meal of chicken, cooked perfectly in the oven with eggplant and zucchini, salads, including rusk served with tomatoes and olives, and of course, the spanikopita. We finished it all off with spoon sweet of bergamot. We left as friends, eager to stay connected and to practice Christina's excellent recipes once we return home. We highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Greece who is eager to have a real, intimate lesson on how to cook some of the best food in the world. Christina, efcharisto poli! Have a wonderful summer!
-
Omar
July 27, 2025
Christina is undoubtedly a very talented chef. One of the best spinach pies I've ever eaten.
It was really fun to participate in the preparation.
-
Mack
July 02, 2025
Great experience! The hostess was very warm and made us feel welcome, like we were friends cooking together. The lesson was fun and we all participated in every step. I liked how we ensured the perfect crust for the phyllo, by slicing the pie for moisture to escape, but sprinkling the top with water as well. I will try it at home to impress my friends, especially Greeks who I don't think had a perfect spanakopita in a while. The meal Christina prepared was also beautiful. Overall highly recommended.
-
Jill
May 15, 2025
Christina was an amazing host! The lesson had all the steps with every detail on the technique. She was very friendly and answered to all the questions. I actually learned how to make spanakopita and put it to the test with the recipe she gave us. It came out really great!
loved the meal, the atmosphere, the jokes, the alcohol, everything!
Cheers, Christina!
-
Erin
May 15, 2025
Read More
