Private Tour
Learn to Cook Authentic Bengali Food in a Local Kolkata Home
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Enjoy a private cooking demonstration in a Calcutta home. Your host for the day is Bibi, a local restauranteur and all-around food lover. Bibi will teach you about the features of regional Bengali cooking and then show you to the kitchen where she will demonstrate how to prepare a few dishes. Enjoy the meal together at her table and leave with a new appreciation of Indian cuisine and everyday life.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
This is a unique opportunity to visit the home of a local and explore traditional culture and cuisine. Join Bibi in her small kitchen watch her demonstrate how to cook authentic Bengali food that centers around a variety of vegetables and the flavors of mustard and panch poran (Bengali five-spice). The cooking demonstration will last about 1-2 hours.
Sample Menu
main
shaag bhaja (fried greens)
main
dal
main
vegetable bhaja (fried eggplant, crisp fried potato sticks)
main
Bengali style fish curry or chicken or prawns
dessert
mishti doi (sweetened yoghurt)
What‘s Included
Private cooking demo with your host Bibi
Local beer
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Cooking Demo + Meal
Option 1: Learn about Bengali cuisine in a private cooking demonstration followed by lunch in a local home.
Reviews
11 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic food and wonderful host!
L5852DKnicholask,Mar 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a fantastic experience I would definitely recommend. Bibi is a great host, full of knowledge on cooking but also India. This was a trip back to where my mum spent time as a child, and Bibi was happy to share everything she knew of the places we were going which was special. The traditional food we made was incredible and fresh, we learnt plenty, so I will return with recipes that will make me the envy of my friends. Thank you again Bibi!
We had a fantastic lunch...
Nicholas K,Mar 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a fantastic lunch with Bibi. She’s a fantastic cook and wonderful host, with plenty of stories and wisdom. This trip was a return to where my mother grew up and it was very special to learn from Bibi and have a good chat about life. Food was amazing, so fresh and delicious.
We'll come back !
87jacquesr,Feb 22, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It 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 ! Jacques et Anne- France
Perfect end to my trip very impressed 👌💯🇮🇳
Mark S,Feb 9, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00What can I say “ the high light of my West Bengal holiday “ this was the cherry on the top of a 12 day trip traveling in this beautiful region of India. Bibi is so welcoming and is highly knowledgeable on every aspect of India / Asian cooking. The meal we cooked together was the best Indian / Bengali food I had tasted. The instructions are explained step by step and I’m still watching some videos I shot while the prep and cooking was going on ! Can’t wait to get in the kitchen. Big thanks to Bibi and her family for allowing me to learn something I’ll surely repeat !
Amazing Experience 10/10
AbhiroopS,Oct 9, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The experience was amazing for us! Bibi was an amazing host and showed us how Bengali food is cooked. We not only had a great food, but also great "adda" to go with it, which really completes a Bengali meal. I would highly recommend this experience to others who want to taste Bengal as a local!
Great intro to Bengali flavors and cooking
Paul B,May 5, 2023
- Review from Viator
5.00Bibi gave a wonderful primer on Bengali cooking in her home. We had great conversation as she wove in her knowledge of the dishes and provided great back story and context to each dish. The ones she chose for the class highlighted different elements of Bengali flavors and were quite satisfying and varied. I can't recommend the class highly enough for people looking to experience authentic home Bengali cooking.
Bengali Renaissance in the kitchen
Connector50661853430,Mar 26, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I visited Debjani at 11 a.m. in her lovingly furnished apartment in South Kolkata. As a cinephile fan of Indian director Satjajit Ray, I was delighted when Debjani showed me her collection of Ray movie posters. We then cooked a finely spiced Dal, chicken in yogurt and shrimp in mustard and coconut paste in your kitchen, among other things. Ghee and Mustard Oil were used everywhere, the result was great. I hope to make some home cooking...
Great food and conversation
Brodie M,Mar 19, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were new to Bengali food so Bibi, our hostess asked us a few questions about our preferred level of spiciness, and our likes and dislikes. We arrived at her house at lunchtime and she welcomed us with a glass of Kingfisher beer. We settled into her cozy home as her helper prepped some items. After some chit-chat we gathered around for a demonstration as Bibi's helper prepared four dishes. Bibi provided commentary and answered our questions. We returned to our chairs as the gourd dish cooked and the chicken marinated and had some more beer. We shared 2 bottles of Kingfisher strong. Bibi loves literature and we had some good conversations as we admired her library. After a bit, we went back to the hotplate to see how her helper finished the gourd dish and cooked the chicken. We had developed quite an appetite and were ready to sit down an eat. Bibi and her helper had previously prepared rice and dal to go along with the dishes from the demonstration. Her helper also fried up some fresh puri (a fried dough) for us. Everything was delicious! You could taste the different flavors and each course blended into the next seamlessly. We finished with a sweet vermicelli pudding that had been previously prepared and chilled. Very yummy! I would recommend this experience not only for the food, but for the conversation, and recommendations that Bibi and her husband can provide. Thanks for everything!
Amazing cooking and culinary experience with Bibi
Boris S,Oct 19, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We (three adults and 3 years old kid) had amazing half day experience with Bibi and her husband, that included guided tour in food and fish market, detailed meal preparation with explanation and storytelling, and eventually eating the meal! Everything was more than perfect, we learned a lot and had overall local expect that could never be achieved without local experts like Bibi and her family. Thanks for everything! Highly recommended!
Bibi was an excellent host and so...
Gordon W,Jun 29, 2018
- Review from Viator
5.00Bibi was an excellent host and so informed. The food was great and it was interesting to see how it was prepared. The time flew by and I would certainly return.
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