Istanbul Vegan Cooking Class Review: Mom & Daughter Edition

So, you’re thinking of signing up for the Istanbul Vegan Cooking Class with Local Mom and Daughter? I totally get it! Is there seriously a better way to explore a culture than through its food? And if you happen to eat plant-based like I do, then it’s, like, absolutely crucial to find folks who truly understand how to make amazing, flavorful grub without animal products. I took this particular class a few months back, and I wanted to share my whole experience—the good, the yummy, and maybe, just a little bit, the things that could have been better. Is that fair?

First Impressions: Meeting the Family and Setting the Stage

From the get-go, the communication was top-notch. Actually, that really put me at ease, especially when I am rocking up in a brand new city. Basically, the directions to their place were super clear, and I got a really warm welcome as soon as I arrived. It’s almost like walking into a relative’s home – cozy, inviting, and, like, smelling of something delicious cooking. The “mom and daughter” team were just the sweetest – super friendly and, honestly, genuinely excited to share their food knowledge. So, the class started with introductions and a bit about Turkish culinary history, with an angle, of course, on how vegan food fits into that landscape. That bit was quite eye-opening! Who knew that, like, Turkish cuisine actually has so many naturally vegan dishes? That’s awesome, right?

Hands-On Fun: Preparing the Feast

The actual cooking part was seriously a blast. I will tell you what though, I am no masterchef, and it was hands on which did fill me with some dread, but the team made it really easy to follow, and it was so nice being able to fully participate. Everything was really well-organized, and all the ingredients were super fresh – that made a big difference. I think we whipped up mercimek koftesi (red lentil patties), kısır (a bulgur salad), and sarma (stuffed vine leaves), and a few more. Pretty delicious if you ask me. So, it was also more than just following a recipe. The mom shared a ton of, you know, those family secret tips and tricks. Little tweaks and adjustments that really make the dish. Did I write them all down? Definitely.

The Taste Test: Savoring Our Creations

And finally, the moment we had all been working so very hard for; time to eat! What is better than enjoying the fruits of your own labour? Setting down with everyone to taste what we’d made, that was probably my most liked bit of the whole experience. All the salads tasted so very different. They used very basic stuff to give different flavors, so it really opened my eyes to how I could recreate stuff when I returned home too it’s almost like it had multiple stages. And of course, we drank traditional Turkish tea along with it, just to keep it all nice and genuine. You know, eating together in a relaxed, homey setting? Seriously priceless. So, the food itself was amazing. Fresh, flavourful, and you really feel that, like, love had gone into the preparing. Now that’s how you get full points.

Going Vegan in Istanbul: Is it Easy?

Ok, so you’re out on your own and fancy keeping the plant based vibe going… how difficult can it be to find suitable grub? You would not be disappointed I am sure. There were all types of outlets where it was straight forward. To me it’s almost as simple as walking in somewhere in central London! It’s not just in restaurants too, you find options at markets as well. One piece of advice – learn a few phrases that may help in shops! I mean I tried and the stall owners were very helpful. If they don’t offer anything, the language definitely got them thinking!

Final Verdict: Is This Cooking Class Worth It?

I feel a recommendation coming on… so, yeah, the Istanbul Vegan Cooking Class with Local Mom and Daughter? It’s totally worth it. You may ask why, right? This is not a sales pitch don’t worry, let me give you the low down. Very first of all, you get proper hands on, in fact very little gets done without your participation and input. Secondly, you actually go away and can create similar meals, there is literally no point if you are going to create things which rely on niche stuff, so I thought it was excellent to recreate dishes easily with easy to find stuff. What’s the point if not? What seals it however, is the welcome. A genuinely amazing team who have such pride in showing people their stuff. A solid 10/10 from me and very much a must!