Curaçao Cooking Class: Experience Traditional Caribbean Cuisine and Innovation with Chef Helmi
5.0
26 Ratings
Willemstad

Join Chef Helmi in a hands-on cooking class in Curaçao and experience the traditional Caribbean cuisine with a twist. Learn innovative ways to use Caribbean ingredients and create exciting dishes. Taste fresh fruits and vegetables, learn cooking techniques, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked Caribbean lunch.

Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Helmi Smeulders - Caribbean Chef - Explore the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean during a hands-on cooking class with Chef Helmi Smeulders, known from her appearances on the Caribbean Cook-Out Show, Top Chef and 24Kitchen. Discover the secrets of Caribbean cuisine and learn how to use exotic ingredients like tamarind, funchi and lionfish. Whether…
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What's Included
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Snacks
  • Lunch
  • Tea and coffee
  • Alcoholic Beverages
Meal Options
  • Lionfish Ceviche -
  • Jerk Chicken
  • Corn Tortillas
  • Sweet Potato Salad
  • Green Papaya Salad
  • Funchi Fries
  • Papaya Cake with Lime Cream
Additional Information

Taste the flavors of the Caribbean!
Explore the vibrant flavors of the Caribbean during a hands-on cooking class with Chef Helmi Smeulders, known from her appearances on the Caribbean Cook-Out Show, Top Chef and 24Kitchen. Discover the secrets of Caribbean cuisine and learn how to use exotic ingredients like tamarind, funchi and lionfish. Whether you’re…

see more
Location
Helmi Smeulders - Caribbean Chef
Djonoramarthaweg
My kitchen is located opposite the dentist behind the taupe wall with pink flowers. Please park somewhere down the street, not at the dentist parking lot.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(26 Ratings)
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1 star
Andrew_t
Jun 23, 2024
Wonderful Experience - My wife and I had a wonderful time! It was a different adventure for us from what we typically do on vacation, but the experience was worth it! Helmi was a great hostess and her assistant helps guide the group to have a fun time. We have some great recipes to take home with us!
Review provided by Viator
710hazelc
Apr 28, 2024
Fantastic experience! - It was great to get together with like-minded people who like to cook and enjoy good food. Helmi provided a great overview of elevated Caribbean cooking. Her recipes were inspiring and enjoyable to prepare and eat! Also, as English-speaking folk from Canada, we really appreciated that our classmates, the majority of whom were Dutch speaking, spoke English for our benefit. This was our first trip to Curacao and the cooking class was the highlight of our visit. We'll be back and will definitely sign up for another one of Helmi's food experiences!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kimberly_n
Apr 25, 2024
Best Local Cooking Class We've Ever Taken.... and we look for them on every island! - AMAZING!! Helmi does a great job of introducing foods that are local to the island, and goes deep on the lion fish (see pictures). Our experience had 9 people including Americans, Germans, and Nederlanders (local and expats) with a broad range of cooking capability. It was a very comfortable environment, with all activities being supported by Helmi and her sous chef (I'm so sorry I don't remember his name but we really enjoyed working with him!!). As more advanced cooks, we love taking local cooking classes when we travel, and this proved to be the best one yet! With many years of home cooking experience, it can be hard to learn a new skill and this class gave us TWO! Helmi supported us in the filleting of a lion fish (yes the spines are poisonous, but the meat is delicious), and I feel confident I could fillet fish again. We also made tortillas, which while seeming simple, we had never tried and left so inspired we purchased a tortilla press for home. The group was fantastic! Most people arrived in groups of 2, but one person didn't and it didn't slow anyone down. The space is well designed to support a large cooking group, and the dining and conversation at the end was wonderful. We left very full, and raving to everyone about what a wonderful experience we had. (We also took Helmi's advice and headed to a special spot to get some lion fish jewelry!) Handsdown a wonderful experience and would do it again if we return to Curacao!
Review provided by Viator
Robert
Feb 3, 2024
Great class - Great class! Helmi is great. She begins with an introduction to some of the fruits and vegetables we’ll be using. Very informative and tasty. Then it’s time to start cooking. The class was very hands on, and the food was delicious.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marshallmaue
Dec 12, 2023
Best of Curacao Cooking - Had a fabulous experience with Helmi! She and her sous chef/partner were most welcoming and friendly. After her intro, Helmi presented us her planned menu for lunch, letting each of us (7 total attendees) choose one or two parts to make. Her kitchen was well-organized, allowing us individually and together to easily fashion our dishes. When done, we shared the meal we created, toasting each other and revelling in our repast. My wife and I have attended many such classes while on vacation and highly recommend this one! So impressed, we purchased Helmi’s cookbook. Her combination of Caribbean and Dutch cooking makes for delicious fare.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Scottie4800
Jul 14, 2023
A great way to get to know The food of Curaçao! - My husband and I have done many cooking cooking classes in different parts of the world and Helmi’s rates right up at the top! A great mix of information on local foods, favorites and history with demonstrations and hands- on cooking experience. The recipes were appropriate for the time frame and could be prepared by novices and those experienced in the kitchen. It was a fun atmosphere and the meal was delightful. I highly recommend this Curaçao experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marlene_v
Jul 13, 2023
Unforgettable - Amazing experience! We had a great time and learned so much. I will definitely be recreating the recipes at home.
Review provided by Viator
Hkoetteritz
Jun 15, 2023
Cooking in Curacao - Our family had a great time. We learned new techniques and met some wonderful people also visiting. Helmi was a great host and teacher. And the food was all fantastic
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Janice3282
Jun 1, 2023
Great fun learning about and cooking with local ingredients - This was awesome. I had some much fun and the food was delicious. Helmi is a great host. She introduced us to local ingredients and recipes using them. She actually had us cook using her recipes and her and her assistant Reilly were there for support. We finished with a group lunch Bach eats by all the dishes we made using her recipes. The group that day was very international and super fun. I would highly recommend this. Helmi is amazing at bringing it all together
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kippenkooi
Apr 15, 2023
Cooking class - Totally worth the money! Helmi first introduced the group of some ingredients typically to the Cariben kitchen. Than she put us all to work to prep a 10 dish meal. This was so much fun, Helmi and her sous chef were there to guide us when we needed directions. When all cooking was done we shared all the dishes at the terras, accompanied with some drinks and nice conversations. Thank you Helmi for this wonderful experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Check Availability
From $175
From $175
up to 12 guests
1 Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).