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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Zinnia

Kolkata (Calcutta), India

USD
$39-$49 per person

Authentic Bengali Cooking in a Local Kolkata Home

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

Meet Zinnia

Zinnia lives with her husband and their daughter in Kolkata. She teaches spoken English and communication skills in a cabin crew and hospitality training academy, but cooking and baking has always been her passion. For Zinnia being in the kitchen is truly a stress buster! She is a real foodie herself and loves feeding people too! She taught herself to cook after she got married from recipe books and long phone conversations with her mother! As a family they love traveling, meeting new people and getting to know different cultures and are really excited to share their culture with travelers.

“I love to experiment with new dishes and feed my family and friends!”

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: (1-4 guests) Zinnia and her family will welcome you to their apartment in New Town with a warm smile. While you sip on your welcome drink and some home made snacks, she will share all about her love for cooking. She cooks not only traditional Bengali food but can also fix up a few delectable North Indian dishes. The menu is thoughtfully chosen, according to your preferences, to feature 3-4 Bengali specialties and the distinctive use of mustard oil and mustard seed paste which is unique to Bengali cuisine. You will join Zinnia and her family (when at home) at their dining table for a home cooked Bengali meal that might include a few dishes such as shorshe maach (fish cooked in mustard sauce), chicken kosha (chicken curry) or aloo dum (potatoes cooked in tomato gravy), chorchori (mixed vegetables cooked in the authentic Bengali style), aloo posto (potatoes with poppy seeds) or begun bhaaja (eggplant/aubergine fry) and cholar dal (lentils) served with rice or lucchi (flat white bread deep fried) and tomato and dates chutney or raw mango chutney. Your meal will end with some paayesh (rice pudding) or if the season permits, maybe something sweet made with mangoes!

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Join Zinnia in her kitchen for a hands-on Bengali cooking class in Kolkata. The class will begin with an introduction to Indian spices and she will show you the ingredients which comprise Paanch Phoron, a combination of 5 seeds, very commonly used in Bengali cuisine. She will also explain why mustard oil is used in Bengali cuisine and will show you how mustard seeds are ground into a paste. In your Kolkata cooking class, you will be cooking yourself with instructions from Zinnia, right from washing, peeling and cutting vegetables to frying, cooking the chicken or fish and rolling out and frying the lucchis!

Notes: Zinnia can offer vegetarian meals on request. Any dietary preferences may be available.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi and Bengali.

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.
  • Rice or Lucchi
  • Fish or Chicken
  • Dal
  • Vegetable
  • Chutney
  • Pudding
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Zinnia has the gift of hospitality and she and her husband make a great team. They live in a very welcoming home that is clean comfortable and well kept. It is very hard to forget the wonderful surprise of being presented with a box of sandesh from the best sweet shop in town! - it really made us feel spoilt, like friends. Even the opportunity to cook the Shorshe chingri myself from scratch was equally special. My favorite dishes were the fish kaalia, the bhaja moong dal and the fresh mango pudding. It was like being invited by friends for lunch, having their undivided attention and being taught to cook one of the dishes for lunch. A real privilege! Everything was excellent and the experience was invaluable.

Michele and Darren, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (15)
Zinnia is a fantastic cook, and she, her husband, and her daughter are all warm, intelligent, and highly educated. They welcomed me so kindly and openly, and Zinnia went to the trouble of giving a cooking class just for me. She is incredibly organized; everything was perfectly prepared. She asked about my wishes and preferences beforehand and then tailored everything to me. I not only had a wonderful evening and a delicious meal, but I also learned a great deal. At the end, Zinnia and her husband even gave me a ride home. How kind! A big plus: Her English is perfect, so communication was seamless.
- jamie January 26, 2026
First of all it was fun from start to end. We met an outstanding family with great hospitality and openess. With the cooking the underlying concepts were explained so that we believe we understood all dimensions of the relevant dish. The self performance helped to get a feel - to be proofen in the "homework " though ;-) but we will get online support if needed. As a special treasure we will take the mustard twist of our favorite dish home with us and close with a big thanks!
- Thomas and Kilian Hierl January 15, 2026
My wife and I spent an afternoon and evening with Zinnia and her family learning to cook Bengali food! It was a wonderful experience, both in the cooking and the personal attention. We learned to cook four different dishes (and had a number more in the dinner). It was a wonderful experience and I recommend her to anyone!! https://www.flickr.com/photos/randyandellen/albums/72177720331169070/
- randal December 29, 2025
I had a great experience at Zinnia cooking class. We prepared together a indian/bengali menu based on my food preferences and I got to learn tricks and secrets of this delicious cuisine. Then we had a lovely dinner with her sweet family in their beautiful home. I totally recommend this experience for whoever wants to enjoy not only food but also some great human interaction with Zinnia and her family. Looking forward to come back and thank you for havingme!
- Sabina December 23, 2025
I wholeheartedly recommend this cooking class. Zinnia and her family were wonderful hosts and welcomed us into their home with open arms. We had a truly wonderful evening and are already looking forward to cooking the recipes for our families in Germany. (Google translated)
- Anna April 14, 2025
This is my second visit. I had a great time last year, so I decided to come again. Zinnia helped me think up the recipes I wanted to learn. She explained the cooking steps very carefully and clearly. After cooking together, we enjoyed a meal with Zinnia's family. This is definitely the best cooking class in Kolkata. I'll definitely come back next time I visit Kolkata.
- detokaz March 18, 2025
This is my second visit. I had a great time last year, so I decided to come again. Zinnia helped me think up the recipes I wanted to learn. She explained the cooking steps very carefully and clearly. After cooking together, we enjoyed a meal with Zinnia's family. This is definitely the best cooking class in Kolkata. I'll definitely come back next time I visit Kolkata.
- detokazumi March 18, 2025
I’m traveling across India and wanted to explore the cuisine of every region. That’s how I came across Zinnia. What can I say? It was simply a perfect evening! I was invited into her wonderful home and had the chance to meet her lovely family. Some of the dishes had already been prepared by Zinnia, while others we cooked together, allowing me to savor a variety of dishes from Bengali cuisine – and it was absolutely delicious! Accompanied by engaging conversations and fascinating stories, it was an evening that made me feel completely at ease, as if we had known each other for a long time. I’m already looking forward to my next visit! P.S.: Don’t hesitate to ask about other dishes from Bengali or North Indian cuisine! Zinnia will create something amazing for you!
- NorthStar January 21, 2025
Zinnia is an excellent teacher and a wonderful person. It was an unforgettable experience that enabled me to discover how to prepare Indian dishes that I'll be able to share with my friends and family in France. I was made very welcome and she and her husband even came to pick me up and take me back to the hotel. I sincerely thank them and the rest of their family for their hospitality.
- Odyssey January 08, 2025
It was really a great time. We learnt a lot of "bengali cooking secrets " and we warmly thank Zinnia and her family to receive us lire that. Definitely, we will become great Bengali cooks. So we highly recommend !
- 87jacquesr February 22, 2024
Before the cooking class started, she emailed me to discuss what to make. They designed a menu according to my wishes. On the day of the cooking class, Zinnia welcomed me very kindly. Her very nice and clean home was a great place to relax and learn about traditional Bengali cooking. My favorite memory of going to Kolkata was meeting my girlfriend and her family. I'm very happy. (Google Translated)
- detokazumi February 19, 2024
We had an amazing experience cooking with Zinnia and eating with her family! Such welcoming and friendly people, Zinnia's family have shown us all their love for sharing culture and hospitality and we are so grateful for the hours spent together. The cooking class was super informative and personalised, we had fun and will cherish these moments and info forever. 1000% recommended!
- D7912Q January 04, 2024
We had an amazing experience cooking with Zinnia and eating with her family! Such welcoming and friendly people, Zinnia's family have shown us all their love for sharing culture and hospitality and we are so grateful for the hours spent together. The cooking class was super informative and personalised, we had fun and will cherish these moments and info forever. 1000% recommended!
- D7912QFmonicab January 04, 2024
Fantastic evening with Zinnia and her family ! They were all very welcoming and I felt like being part of the family for a very nice evening of cooking class, diner and chating. Zinnia adapted her lesson to my wish to learn Bengali vegetarian cuisine and we prepared wonderful veg dishes in her kitchen. The eggplant dish with mustard seed, ginger and garlic was exquisite ! Instructions were very clear and we extended our chat to Indian and Bengali culture, beyond diner preparation. The whole family made me feel at home and like I was part of the family. I did not only discover fantastic recipes, I discovered the way of life of this wonderful and caring Bengali family and the values of Indian society. An experience that I will remember for a very long time as it is engaved in my heart ! I definately recommend everybody to join this cooking class by Zinnia in order to have a deep insight of the Bengali life.
- Isidore April 24, 2023
Zinnia was absolutely fantastic and the meal we created together was delicious! Very unique flavor profile that I will be adding to my collection and definitely plan on making again. Thank you again!
- 730tony March 28, 2023
Read More

Zinnia

$39-$49 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $49 $39 Not offered
Alcohol
 $6 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $49 $39 Not offered
Alcohol
 $6 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-8:30pm

Meet Zinnia

Zinnia lives with her husband and their daughter in Kolkata. She teaches spoken English and communication skills in a cabin crew and hospitality training academy, but cooking and baking has always been her passion. For Zinnia being in the kitchen is truly a stress buster! She is a real foodie herself and loves feeding people too! She taught herself to cook after she got married from recipe books and long phone conversations with her mother! As a family they love traveling, meeting new people and getting to know different cultures and are really excited to share their culture with travelers.

“I love to experiment with new dishes and feed my family and friends!”

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: (1-4 guests) Zinnia and her family will welcome you to their apartment in New Town with a warm smile. While you sip on your welcome drink and some home made snacks, she will share all about her love for cooking. She cooks not only traditional Bengali food but can also fix up a few delectable North Indian dishes. The menu is thoughtfully chosen, according to your preferences, to feature 3-4 Bengali specialties and the distinctive use of mustard oil and mustard seed paste which is unique to Bengali cuisine. You will join Zinnia and her family (when at home) at their dining table for a home cooked Bengali meal that might include a few dishes such as shorshe maach (fish cooked in mustard sauce), chicken kosha (chicken curry) or aloo dum (potatoes cooked in tomato gravy), chorchori (mixed vegetables cooked in the authentic Bengali style), aloo posto (potatoes with poppy seeds) or begun bhaaja (eggplant/aubergine fry) and cholar dal (lentils) served with rice or lucchi (flat white bread deep fried) and tomato and dates chutney or raw mango chutney. Your meal will end with some paayesh (rice pudding) or if the season permits, maybe something sweet made with mangoes!

Cooking experience: (1-4 guests) Join Zinnia in her kitchen for a hands-on Bengali cooking class in Kolkata. The class will begin with an introduction to Indian spices and she will show you the ingredients which comprise Paanch Phoron, a combination of 5 seeds, very commonly used in Bengali cuisine. She will also explain why mustard oil is used in Bengali cuisine and will show you how mustard seeds are ground into a paste. In your Kolkata cooking class, you will be cooking yourself with instructions from Zinnia, right from washing, peeling and cutting vegetables to frying, cooking the chicken or fish and rolling out and frying the lucchis!

Notes: Zinnia can offer vegetarian meals on request. Any dietary preferences may be available.

Languages spoken: English, Hindi and Bengali.

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.
  • Rice or Lucchi
  • Fish or Chicken
  • Dal
  • Vegetable
  • Chutney
  • Pudding
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Zinnia has the gift of hospitality and she and her husband make a great team. They live in a very welcoming home that is clean comfortable and well kept. It is very hard to forget the wonderful surprise of being presented with a box of sandesh from the best sweet shop in town! - it really made us feel spoilt, like friends. Even the opportunity to cook the Shorshe chingri myself from scratch was equally special. My favorite dishes were the fish kaalia, the bhaja moong dal and the fresh mango pudding. It was like being invited by friends for lunch, having their undivided attention and being taught to cook one of the dishes for lunch. A real privilege! Everything was excellent and the experience was invaluable.

Michele and Darren, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (15)
Zinnia is a fantastic cook, and she, her husband, and her daughter are all warm, intelligent, and highly educated. They welcomed me so kindly and openly, and Zinnia went to the trouble of giving a cooking class just for me. She is incredibly organized; everything was perfectly prepared. She asked about my wishes and preferences beforehand and then tailored everything to me. I not only had a wonderful evening and a delicious meal, but I also learned a great deal. At the end, Zinnia and her husband even gave me a ride home. How kind! A big plus: Her English is perfect, so communication was seamless.
- jamie January 26, 2026
First of all it was fun from start to end. We met an outstanding family with great hospitality and openess. With the cooking the underlying concepts were explained so that we believe we understood all dimensions of the relevant dish. The self performance helped to get a feel - to be proofen in the "homework " though ;-) but we will get online support if needed. As a special treasure we will take the mustard twist of our favorite dish home with us and close with a big thanks!
- Thomas and Kilian Hierl January 15, 2026
My wife and I spent an afternoon and evening with Zinnia and her family learning to cook Bengali food! It was a wonderful experience, both in the cooking and the personal attention. We learned to cook four different dishes (and had a number more in the dinner). It was a wonderful experience and I recommend her to anyone!! https://www.flickr.com/photos/randyandellen/albums/72177720331169070/
- randal December 29, 2025
I had a great experience at Zinnia cooking class. We prepared together a indian/bengali menu based on my food preferences and I got to learn tricks and secrets of this delicious cuisine. Then we had a lovely dinner with her sweet family in their beautiful home. I totally recommend this experience for whoever wants to enjoy not only food but also some great human interaction with Zinnia and her family. Looking forward to come back and thank you for havingme!
- Sabina December 23, 2025
I wholeheartedly recommend this cooking class. Zinnia and her family were wonderful hosts and welcomed us into their home with open arms. We had a truly wonderful evening and are already looking forward to cooking the recipes for our families in Germany. (Google translated)
- Anna April 14, 2025
This is my second visit. I had a great time last year, so I decided to come again. Zinnia helped me think up the recipes I wanted to learn. She explained the cooking steps very carefully and clearly. After cooking together, we enjoyed a meal with Zinnia's family. This is definitely the best cooking class in Kolkata. I'll definitely come back next time I visit Kolkata.
- detokaz March 18, 2025
This is my second visit. I had a great time last year, so I decided to come again. Zinnia helped me think up the recipes I wanted to learn. She explained the cooking steps very carefully and clearly. After cooking together, we enjoyed a meal with Zinnia's family. This is definitely the best cooking class in Kolkata. I'll definitely come back next time I visit Kolkata.
- detokazumi March 18, 2025
I’m traveling across India and wanted to explore the cuisine of every region. That’s how I came across Zinnia. What can I say? It was simply a perfect evening! I was invited into her wonderful home and had the chance to meet her lovely family. Some of the dishes had already been prepared by Zinnia, while others we cooked together, allowing me to savor a variety of dishes from Bengali cuisine – and it was absolutely delicious! Accompanied by engaging conversations and fascinating stories, it was an evening that made me feel completely at ease, as if we had known each other for a long time. I’m already looking forward to my next visit! P.S.: Don’t hesitate to ask about other dishes from Bengali or North Indian cuisine! Zinnia will create something amazing for you!
- NorthStar January 21, 2025
Zinnia is an excellent teacher and a wonderful person. It was an unforgettable experience that enabled me to discover how to prepare Indian dishes that I'll be able to share with my friends and family in France. I was made very welcome and she and her husband even came to pick me up and take me back to the hotel. I sincerely thank them and the rest of their family for their hospitality.
- Odyssey January 08, 2025
It was really a great time. We learnt a lot of "bengali cooking secrets " and we warmly thank Zinnia and her family to receive us lire that. Definitely, we will become great Bengali cooks. So we highly recommend !
- 87jacquesr February 22, 2024
Before the cooking class started, she emailed me to discuss what to make. They designed a menu according to my wishes. On the day of the cooking class, Zinnia welcomed me very kindly. Her very nice and clean home was a great place to relax and learn about traditional Bengali cooking. My favorite memory of going to Kolkata was meeting my girlfriend and her family. I'm very happy. (Google Translated)
- detokazumi February 19, 2024
We had an amazing experience cooking with Zinnia and eating with her family! Such welcoming and friendly people, Zinnia's family have shown us all their love for sharing culture and hospitality and we are so grateful for the hours spent together. The cooking class was super informative and personalised, we had fun and will cherish these moments and info forever. 1000% recommended!
- D7912Q January 04, 2024
We had an amazing experience cooking with Zinnia and eating with her family! Such welcoming and friendly people, Zinnia's family have shown us all their love for sharing culture and hospitality and we are so grateful for the hours spent together. The cooking class was super informative and personalised, we had fun and will cherish these moments and info forever. 1000% recommended!
- D7912QFmonicab January 04, 2024
Fantastic evening with Zinnia and her family ! They were all very welcoming and I felt like being part of the family for a very nice evening of cooking class, diner and chating. Zinnia adapted her lesson to my wish to learn Bengali vegetarian cuisine and we prepared wonderful veg dishes in her kitchen. The eggplant dish with mustard seed, ginger and garlic was exquisite ! Instructions were very clear and we extended our chat to Indian and Bengali culture, beyond diner preparation. The whole family made me feel at home and like I was part of the family. I did not only discover fantastic recipes, I discovered the way of life of this wonderful and caring Bengali family and the values of Indian society. An experience that I will remember for a very long time as it is engaved in my heart ! I definately recommend everybody to join this cooking class by Zinnia in order to have a deep insight of the Bengali life.
- Isidore April 24, 2023
Zinnia was absolutely fantastic and the meal we created together was delicious! Very unique flavor profile that I will be adding to my collection and definitely plan on making again. Thank you again!
- 730tony March 28, 2023
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $49 $39 Not offered
Alcohol
 $6 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $49 $39 Not offered
Alcohol
 $6 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:30pm-8:30pm
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 4% 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.