Ammilos Cooking Experience: Cozy Cooking Classes in Thessaloniki

Coming up: Greek cooking workshops, a professional kitchen, warm welcomes, big smiles, unexpected hugs, and flavor-packed cooking classes in Thessaloniki.

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Dolmadakia.

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Moussaka.

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Fried feta.

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Ravani from Vería, with dried coconut.

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… and other unusual and authentic (and tasty!) Greek flavors. 

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Meet Maria Kaivetzi

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Welcome to Ammilos.

Ammilos is Maria Kaivetzi’s kitchen, just outside Thessaloniki.

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Maria was born and raised in the city.

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During her 40+ years in Thessaloniki, she’s been many things:

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A cook, a cooking instructor, a mum, and a lifelong local. 

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… but she’s also one of the friendliest people you’ve ever met. And she introduces Greece’s guests to big Greek flavors, big Greek welcomes, and big servings of Greek hospitality.

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And, now, Maria’s working with Upiria’s easy-to-use app to bring even more guests* to Greece.

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(*and hopefully, you’ll be one of them)

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How do Maria’s cooking classes work?

You and the other guests arrive in the kitchen.

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You meet Maria.

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You sit at a big countertop—where you’re gonna cook, eat, chat, and learn about Greek culture and flavors.

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You get some snacks (olives and other Greek classics) and a shot of tsipouro (which, in case you haven’t heard of it, is sort of like raki—but we reckon it’s better). 

Next, you slip into your apron and put on your gloves.

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Then: Maria talks you through what you’re gonna cook (and she’ll give you advice as you’re cooking it). 

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You’ll be making: 

• Fried feta, with honey and sesame
• Greek salad, with fresh vegetables and feta
• Traditional moussaka (made the original way—retro!) 
• Dolmadakia (rolled vine leaves stuffed with fragrant rice), with yogurt
• Ravani (an iconic desert from the old city of Veria), with sticky syrup and dried coconut

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These are iconic old-school recipes, and you’re cooking them the old-school way. The way grandmas make them; that’s how you’ll be making them.

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Before you get your pots and pans ready, here are three important things to know about the classes:

1. YOU’RE doing the cooking. Maria will guide you, but she makes sure you’re the chef. Cos you have more fun when it’s your hands doing the cooking (and your brain doing the thinking)
2. You use Greek products. Lots of the ingredients are organic, traditional, and locally-sourced—and often bought from people Maria knows!
3. ‍The cooking workshops are in a professional-level kitchen: so you get plenty of space, plenty of equipment, and a clean, organized environment. Other people use this exact kitchen for seminars, tutorials, and professional cooking workshops.

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The classes last four hours—and when you’re done, you get to munch on all the stuff you’ve made (while chatting, drinking, and trying each other’s dishes). And before you go home, you get a souvenir, and a booklet of recipes!

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How do the cooking classes feel?

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In a word: cozy.

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Yeah, you cook and make and learn and eat.

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But what you’re really getting is classic Greek hospitality:

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Maria (who leads ALL the classes) is friendly and welcoming, and loves turning guests into friends. 

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While you’re cooking, you’ll:

• Laugh and have fun
• Learn about local food…
• … and learn about its history! 
• Chat with Maria and the other guests
• Ask questions about the food you’re making
• Learn about how (and what) Greek people eat

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Overall, it’s laid-back fun— and you’ll feel like you’ve joined Maria’s family for a few hours. Spoiler alert: don’t be surprised if you leave your cooking class with hugs.

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Yeah, you make 5 dishes. But, more than that, you’ll be making friends and memories. Previous guests have come from all over the world: Mexico, Norway, Kazakhstan, America, France, and plenty more places.

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How many guests can take these cooking classes in Thessaloniki?

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Usually between 2 and 20 (though it’s sometimes possible to take slightly-bigger groups).

In which languages can I take classes?

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The vast majority of guests take classes in English and Greek. 

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If you want a class in a different language, Maria can find an interpreter (but you’ll have to let us know in advance—and you’ll have to pay a little extra).

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How can I book a cooking class in Thessaloniki?

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On this page right now! 

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Click on the sidebar to your right, book a cooking experience, and get your hands and mouth around Maria’s kitchen. 

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As we say in Greece: kalos irthate!