Meet
Paula
Born into a Goan family with roots in Goa, Mozambique, and Portugal, Paula is a true reflection of the cultural diversity woven into Portuguese cuisine. Her love for food began in childhood, inspired by her mother, a gifted home cook who often welcomed entire communities into their home. From traditional Portuguese dishes to Goan specialties like handmade samosas, Paula learned both the flavors and the hospitality that define her cooking today.
When her mother passed away, friends who missed her cooking turned to Paula, encouraging her to continue the family tradition. This led Paula into a second career in food, where she began recreating beloved Portuguese and Goan recipes. After training in cake design, she also discovered a passion for baking and opened her own cake studio, creating intricate cakes alongside her catering work.
Today, Paula welcomes guests into her Lisbon-area home to share authentic Portuguese meals with Goan influence. A true artist with food, she brings warmth, creativity, and cultural depth to every dish, helping travelers experience both Portuguese cuisine and everyday local life in a meaningful way.
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:
(1-6 guests)
Your culinary experience takes place in Almada, just a quick 7-minute ferry ride from downtown Lisbon. Paula will meet you at the ferry and guide you on a short walk through town to her home, where you’ll be welcomed with a glass of Portuguese wine from a historic 200-year-old Alentejo winery. (If you’re traveling south, Paula can even recommend a visit to this award-winning vineyard and underground cellar.)
Begin with appetizers that showcase both traditional Portuguese cuisine and Goan flavors shaped by Portugal’s history. Sample pataniscas de bacalhau (classic Portuguese cod fritters) alongside Goan gram flour fritters, while Paula shares the cultural stories behind each dish.
Then gather around Paula’s table for a family-style meal featuring a mix of Portuguese and Goan specialties. Depending on your preference, your menu might highlight Portuguese favorites, or a Goan-focused feast with dishes such as rich crab curry. The experience concludes with a sweet dessert and coffee or tea.
Cooking experience:
(1-6 guests)
Join Paula in her cozy Lisbon home for an intimate Portuguese cooking class with a Goan twist. In this hands-on Lisbon cooking experience, you’ll prepare 2–3 traditional dishes side by side, learning authentic Portuguese and Goan recipes. Start with appetizers like pataniscas de bacalhau (crispy Portuguese cod fritters) and Goan bojas (spiced gram flour fritters with onion and cumin). For the main course, choose from classics such as bacalhau à Brás (cod with shredded potatoes and egg), Amêijoas á Bulhão Pato (Portuguese-style clams in a garlic and herb sauce), or a flavorful Goan curry.
After cooking, gather at Paula’s dining table to enjoy your homemade meal paired with local flavors, ending with a sweet dessert like the iconic pastel de nata and coffee or tea. This Lisbon cooking class is ideal for food lovers, couples, and families with children who want an interactive and authentic culinary experience. Vegetarian options are available upon request. Learn the secrets of Portuguese and Goan cuisine while connecting with local culture in a relaxed, hands-on setting.
Market visit:
(1-6 guests)
Join Paula for a guided market tour in Lisbon and discover the flavors of a traditional neighborhood market. Paula will meet you at the ferry exit and walk with you 15–20 minutes to the local market she has visited since childhood. Many vendors still greet her by name, creating a warm, authentic experience. As you explore the vibrant stalls, Paula will introduce you to seasonal Portuguese ingredients and help you select fresh vegetables, meat, and fish for your cooking class. After 15–20 minutes at the market, you’ll return to Paula’s home to begin your hands-on Portuguese and Goan cooking class.
Market tours are available Tuesday through Saturday mornings.
Notes:
1. Please note that Paula shares her home with her family and has a cat. As this is a lived-in family home, guests should expect a casual, homey environment, and cat food may be present in the kitchen area.
2. Paula is happy to accommodate a vegetarian diet, if informed in advance.
3. If you are a group of 7 or more guests, email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com as Paula can host you in her friend's home.
Languages spoken:
English, Portuguese
Sample menu
Traveler reviews
We chose Paula’s Authentic Cooking Class hoping for an engaging and enjoyable cultural experience. While we appreciated meeting Paula and learning about local culture, several issues significantly affected our overall experience.
The day began with a pickup at the ferry, followed by a stop at a grocery store so Paula could purchase the ingredients she had said she had been unable to obtain earlier. During this time, we felt somewhat pressured to try items (such as squid and mussels) we had already indicated we did not prefer, which led us to purchase a pepperoni pizza from the frozen section for a teenager in our group.
Our primary concern was the cleanliness and hygiene of the kitchen. Raw seafood was prepared on a cutting surface that was then used for vegetables without proper sanitation. There was no soap available for washing hands or surfaces, and only a single shared hand towel was provided. Additionally, the kitchen surfaces, including counters and cabinets, appeared visibly unclean.
There were also a few logistical and comfort concerns. The restroom contained a litter box, and another individual residing in the apartment moved in and out during our visit, which we had not expected. At one point, Paula also took a phone call during the class.
The kitchen itself was very small, extremely warm, and did not comfortably accommodate our group of four. That meant that three of us either crowded around the cook and took turns or sat in chairs which we had dragged into the kitchen. At one point, Paula asked our teenager to climb a chair to get a large pot from the top of a cabinet.
Finally, the experience lasted significantly longer than advertised. The class was scheduled for approximately three hours but ran for five and a half hours, taking up nearly our entire day.
Overall, while there were some positive elements, the lack of cleanliness, organization, and adherence to the stated schedule made this a disappointing experience for our group.
TRAVELING SPOON REVIEW RESPONSE
We are very sorry to hear that this experience did not meet your expectations. While we're glad you enjoyed meeting Paula and learning about Portuguese culture, we regret that aspects of the experience left you disappointed.
We hope you received our follow-up messages regarding your experience and the steps we have taken to make things right. We have also reviewed your feedback with Paula to help ensure future guests have a comfortable, well-organized experience that aligns with the listing's expectations.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. It helps us continue improving the experiences we offer.
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Debe_D
June 27, 2026
Paula was a very good cook with many valuable cooking tips.
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farah
June 27, 2026
Very good experience sinve you you coo to the market and buy all you need. Then Paula
teached us how yo prepare clams with garlic, caldeirada de dog fish and the famous torta
de nata. Shecis very patient and an excellent teacher. Highly recommend this experience.
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rob
June 26, 2026
Paula’s cooking class is not your typical tourist experience. She welcomed us into her home like family and made everything feel personal from the start, reaching out beforehand to tailor the menu to our preferences.
We cooked a gorgeous spread together: a Goan clam dish, a classic Portuguese pork recipe, and a traditional dessert. Along the way, Paula shared personal stories, cultural context, and kitchen secrets that go far beyond any recipe.
Her warmth, knowledge, and passion for Portuguese food are truly unmatched. This was one of the best things we did in Lisbon. Book it without hesitation.
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patty
June 22, 2026
Fantastic experience! Paula is a wonderful host and a staple of her community, as evidenced throughout our walk to her apartment where she seemingly knew everyone. She is a very good teacher and the cooking tips she taught us were very useful. The food was delicious, too, and it was awesome to learn more about Goan food and culture. Overall, we had a very memorable and personal experience, and would recommend to anyone looking to have an authentic cooking class
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ethan
June 15, 2026
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