What to do · Chania
Cretan cooking class on a farm in Stylos
Information
- From
- €80 per person
- Duration
- 5 h
- Who it's for
- All ages
What it involves
It is a Cretan cooking class of about five hours at Veggera, a family farm in Stylos, a village in the Apokoronas valley, east of Chania. It isn't only cooking: the day begins with a visit to the stable, where you watch the animals being milked, continues with the hands-on class in the farm's kitchen and ends with the meal you have prepared, at the long table, with wine, cheese and live Cretan music.
The class is given in English, with an apron and utensils for each participant and fresh ingredients from the farm. The menu changes with the season. Among the dishes prepared are the Cretan salad, dakos (barley rusk with tomato and cheese), kalitsounia (cheese pastries), gemista (stuffed vegetables), boureki and lamb with potatoes from the wood oven.
What is included and how much it costs
The published price is from €80 per person. It includes the class, the ingredients, the visit to the stable with the milking, a wine and cheese tasting, the full meal with live music, coffee, lemonade and tsikoudia, the Cretan spirit, as well as a souvenir from the farm. Taxes and service are included.
It does not include the transfer from the hotel, which the farm offers at extra cost, nor souvenir photos or videos. The website does not publish a price for children: ask when you book.
Group, age and booking
Groups are of up to 12 people, so there is room for everyone to cook. The farm accepts participants from one year old: when the children tire of kneading, they go off to the stable.
You book on the Veggera website. The page does not publish the days or the start time: they give them to you when you book, or by phone (+30 6984 231 745) and email. In high season book ahead, because the groups are small.
How to get there
Stylos is about half an hour by car from Chania, east along the national road and then inland through the Apokoronas valley. If you go in a hire car, see the car hire page; bear in mind there is wine and tsikoudia with the meal. If you don't want to drive, ask for the farm's transfer when you book.
What to bring
Sun cream and a hat for the stable visit, which is outdoors, and comfortable clothes that can get dirty. Wear closed shoes if your children are going to be with the animals. Tell them about allergies and intolerances when you book: Cretan cooking uses a lot of cheese, flour and oil.
How to fit it in
Five hours with a meal take up a long half day: do the class on a day without another excursion. In the evening, back in Chania, the light plan is a stroll around the Venetian harbour and lighthouse. For another day of local produce, the Manousakis winery, in Vatolakkos, shows you Cretan wine.
Tips
- Ask for the transfer if you are going to drink The wine and tsikoudia are included; the farm's transfer saves you driving back.
- Mention allergies Cretan cooking uses a lot of cheese and wheat flour: say so when booking.
- Go hungry The meal is complete and generous: don't eat before the class.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the cooking class at Veggera cost?
From €80 per person, with the meal, the wine and cheese tasting and the music included. The transfer is paid separately.
Can small children take part?
Yes. The farm accepts participants from one year old, and children can go to the stable during the class.
How long does it last?
About five hours, with the stable visit, the class and the meal.
As a familyWith teenagers
Who runs it
- VeggeraCooking Class with Barn Visit and Lunch Visit their website
