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TAKE THE FLAVOURS OF CARTAGENA HOME WITH YOU!

What better way to remember your amazing holiday in Cartagena de Indias, than by dipping into your home kitchen and whipping up a Colombian treat? Cooking classes with Cartagena Connections are relaxed, informal, fun and informative. Oh! And TASTY! 
We have a huge range of options offered by a number of different restaurants throughout Cartagena and for different budgets and requirements. And if you don't find something that interests you from the ones we have listed below, contact us and let's see what else we can come up with. Cooking and/or cocktail classes make a great group bonding experience too; perfect for corporate events, wedding and bachelor parties etc

Minimum class size: We need at least 2 people to run the following cooking classes. If you are just one person, you will have to join another confirmed class or pay for 2 people. 

CARIBBEAN FLAVOURS COOKING CLASS [CL01]

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DURATION: 2-3 HOURS
TIME: 10.30am 
PRICE: 250,000 PP
ABOUT: 


Taking place in a beautiful dedicated cooking studio in the neighbourhood of Getsemani, these workshops, led by the lovely Cartagena-born chef María Angélica, consist of preparing (and eating) a delicious 3 course meal (day) or (in the evening) specialist workshops dedicated to mastering particular dishes (ceviches, rice & noodles, arepas or vegetarian). These are hands-on classes, perfect for everyone from novices to cooking enthusiasts. You'll get instruction in knife skills and cheffing techniques that will enhance your culinary repertoire together with introducing typical flavours and recipes from the region.

The class includes:
-apron
- welcome drink (non-alcoholic)
- glass of wine with meal

Menu 1 (Monday, Wednesday & Friday)
Seabass Ceviche with banana emulsion and lemongrass
Mote de queso (specialty local soup made from yam and cheese)
Posta Negra Cartagenera (Black spiced top-side beef) accompanied by coconut rice, plantains in temptation (another local specialty) and avocado ahí
Tree tomato in syrup dessert

Menu 2 (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday)
Shrimp and conch cocktail
Crab Carimañolas (typical local snack of stuffed and fried yuca dumplings)
Red Snapper, coconut rice and plantain tostones
Enyucado dessert (gluten-free cassava and coconut cake)

If you have allergies or preferences, please let us know and we can request alterations to this menu. 

Doesn't include: extra drinks and eats you may want to purchase, transport to the restaurant. 

Private Classes:
It is also possible to book private classes and a different menu can be chosen for your group if you choose The price is 1,200,000 pesos for 1-8 people, or for groups larger than 8 you will pay the same per person price as the group classes (200,000 pesos pp)

For bookings email: info@cartagenaconnections.com
​Be careful to request this specific cooking class by using the code Cooking class CL01
20% deposit is required to reserve your booking.

IMPORTANT: At time of booking, please let us know if there are any food restrictions or allergies. 


CARIBBEAN FLAVOURS MARKET VISIT + COOKING CLASS [CL02]

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DURATION: 2 HOURS
TIME: 8.00am
PRICE: 375,000 PP
ABOUT: 


Available only in conjunction with the Caribbean Flavours Cooking Class, this option enables you to experience the sensorial overload that is the Mercado Bazurto accompanied by Chef María Angélica.  You will meet at her restaurant in Getsemani and then go together to purchase ingredients, learn about the market and meet locals. After exploring the labyrinth you will then return to the restaurant to enjoy the cooking class (as described above). 

To book this option, you will need to email us requesting  CL02 (cooking class and market visit). 
​20% deposit is required to reserve your booking.

SPECIALIST EXPERIENCEs [CL03]

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DURATION: 2-3 HOURS
TIME: 5PM
PRICE: 250,000 PP
ABOUT: 

​The night-time classes at this dedicated Getsemani cooking studio focus on a particular theme, allowing you to master specialties such as Ceviche, Assorted local rice and noodle dishes, Arepas and vegetarian dishes. Each night features a different specialty as follows:

CEVICHE (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
Fresh, light and perfect for the hot summer climate of Cartagena, ceviche is exactly what you want to be eating. This experience will give you all you need to be able to prepare your own amazing ceviches.. and then you get to gobble them down. This is another of the workshops that takes place in the Getsemani cooking studio and features fantastic views from the second floor location.

Your class includes a welcome drink and glass of wine. 

Prepare 4 types of ceviche. The ceviches you will prepare are:

@ ceviche of corvina  with banana and lemongrass emulsion, avocado, pickled red onion and sweet peppers.
@ ceviche of green mango with corozo fruit, hibiscus and crunchy calamari  
@ cocktail of shrimp and conch with salsa and avocado
@ ceviche vegetarian of fresh coconut, corn and edible flowers (vegan)

a ceviche demonstration of 30 minutes is also available to be booked for your event. María Angélica can arrive to your chosen venue and give a basic demsontration that includes a small portion per participant and a cocktail. Contact us if you are interested in this and we can get a quote together.  

RICES & FIDEÚA (Monday)
The classic rice and noodle dishes that fill you up and are great for when you need to feed a crowd. These are dishes that you will return to time and time again, well after your vacations have ended, because they are so satisfying and so easy to incorporate into your home-kitchen.

Your class includes a welcome drink and glass of wine with your meal.

You will prepare:
Paella - a fun, Caribbean interpretation of the Spanish classic
Fideúa Lunático - a specialty noodle dish that is one of the café's biggest hits
Lobster Rice "Caldosa" - Seafood rice served with lobster broth

AREPAS (Saturday)
Give us this day, our daily arepa! There are at least 50 types of different arepas enjoyed across Colombia and Venezuela and locals simply could not live without them. Learn to master 5 different arepas (from savoury to sweet) and impress all your Colombian friends for all time. 

You will make:
Arepa de huevo
Arepa filled with shredded meat and avocado
Arepa Negra with seafood
Vegetarian arepa of beetroot and avocado tartare 
Sweet anise arepa

Your class includes a welcome drink and a glass of wine with your meal 

VEGETARIAN + VEGAN (Wednesday)
Menu is determined weekly, please email if you are interested in this workshop so we can let you know the plates you would prepare.

To reserve any of these nightly workshops, quote code CL03 in your email to info@cartagenaconnections.com and let us know which day and which specialist menu you'd like to choose.
​Please let us know any dietary restrictions or preferences at time of booking and we can confirm if these can be catered for. 

Private cooking experiences are also available for your group, if your group is more than 8 people the usual 250,000 pesos pp will apply. 

Please reserve your evening workshop by sending us an email to info@cartagenaconnections.com quoting code CL03 Specialty Workshop and let us know which day and which specialty you want to choose. Advance bookings are encouraged to avoid disappointment, but if you have a last minute booking try sending us a WhatsApp and we will see if we can squeeze you in. 
​20% deposit is required to reserve your booking.
​
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Learn to make famous fideúa as part of the Rice & Fideúa Workshop
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Be the most popular person in town after you learn to master the Colombian classic snack: Arepas

TRADITIONAL CARTAGENA COOKING CLASS [OLL01]

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DURATION: 3-4 HOURS +
TIME: 10.30AM
PRICE: 350,000 pp
ABOUT: 


Hosted by the enchanting Carolina, this class is focused on sharing the most traditional and beloved recipes from Cartagena and showcasing local ingredients. The duration has been noted as 3 -4 hours, but it is very common for those who choose this class to stay enjoying themselves with superhost Caro well into the evening. Caro is an expert in connecting visitors with the emotion, history and tradition behind every dish and helping you develop a greater understanding for Cartagena culture. The other benefit of this class is the beautiful space the class is housed in. Big huge ceilings, full of light and chicness. Here are a list of potential menu items.. The menu will be based on ingredients of the day but we can we can also easily cater for vegetarians and other food preferences, so let us know.

Starter
Fish Ceviche
Mango Ceviche
Shrimp Cocktail
Mote de Queso (it is a white, thick soup/stew made out of yams (ñame) and local farmer's cheese, like a creole fondue!) V
Patacones con Queso (deep fried, crunchy and garlicky plantains with local farmer's cheese) V

Main Dishes
Yellow sticky rice with chicken, pork and meat, wrapped in Bijao leaves (traditional Cartagena rice called Pastel, similar to a tamale)
Seafood stew cooked in tomato sauce and coconut milk (cazuela de mariscos)
Posta Cartagenera (pot roast) slow cooked in sweet panela sauce with coconut rice and patacones)
Gnocci made out of yucca in blue cheese sauce (not a traditional dish, but a fantastic fusion of traditional ingredients and french flair).

Dessert
Enyucao (typical dessert made with yucca)
White chocolate, coconut milk and passion fruit "soup".

Drinks
You will learn to make your own cocktail for example, a mojito, and can keep making these for most of the class ie "unlimited" .
​Wine and other drinks are available to be purchased separately. 
​
To reserve, please send an email quoting option OLL01 and letting us know your preferred day and how many people want to do the class. ​20% deposit is required to reserve your booking.

CARTAGENA COOKING CLASS + MARKET EXPERIENCE [OLL02]

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DURATION: 7 HOURS +
TIME: 7.30am pick up from hotel
PRICE: 450,000 pp
ABOUT:


The full Cartagena Cooking class (as explained above) together with a visit to Mercado Bazurto with your host Carolina is a full-day option for those who really want to immerse themselves in the gastronomy and culture of Cartagena. Explore the market, choose ingredients and return to prepare your 3-4 course feast with cocktails. 

​To reserve, please send an email quoting option OLL01 and letting us know your preferred day and how many people want to do the class. ​20% deposit is required to reserve your booking.

MarKET TOUR + BRUNCH [OLL03]

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DURATION: 3 HOURS
TIME: 7.30am pick up from hotel
PRICE: 250,000 pp
ABOUT:


​Explore the market with the charismatic Carolina, then return to her charming restaurant for a restorative feast. This option includes hotel pick up, full market tour and then full brunch of bread and pastries, tropical fruits, eggs and various other brunch items. A fantastic way to start the day and experience the market in a more "civilized" fashion!

Note: although you will help to prepare the table and perhaps cut some of the fruits, this option does not include an actual cooking class with instructions. 


SKY KITCHEN COOKING CLASSES SK01

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DURATION: 3 hours
TIME: 11am-2.30pm (Lunch) or 4pm- 7.30pm (Dinner)
PRICE: 230,000 pesos pp
ABOUT:


Cartagena's first dedicated cooking school, Sky Kitchen is a beautifully restored house in the center of Cartagena with 3 types of cooking classes and one cocktail making class available. The kitchen has been designed especially for cooking classes, so everything is spacious  and built to purpose. The classes will have the host demonstrate each plate and then each participant prepares their own version which they will then later get to eat. 

The menu options are:

1. Colombian Menu (4 dishes from throughout Colombia)
1st course: Arepitas rellenas
  Thick corn arepas with chicken and/or vegetable stuffing

2nd course: Patacones rellenos
  plantain baskets filled with shrimp and/or tomato-onion salsa

3rd course: Fish in Bijao
  Amazonian way of cooking a fish in a  big leaf

4th course: Pie de Coco con Piña
  Coconut pinapple pie

​2. Cartagena Menu (classics enjoyed in both Caribbean and Pacific coasts)
1st course: Boronía
  Spread of eggplant and ripe plantain

2nd course: Sopa de Patacones
  Vegetable soup with green plantain fritters and chicken

3rd course: Posta Cartagenera
  Traditional beef roast with coconut rice

4th course: Enyucado
  Cake of cassava, coconut, and cheese

3. Peru Menu
1st course: Causa Rellena
  Mashed potatoes with lime and mild chili paste
  stuffed with chicken and avocado

2nd course: Ceviche (Ceviche variation for 2nd time visitors)
  Cured fish with corn and sweet potatoes

3rd course: Lomo Saltado
  Sauteed beef, onion and tomatoes
  with rice and yellow potato fries

4th course: Picarones
  Fried pumpkin-sweet potato dough with molasses

Most of the above menus can be modified to be vegetarian or vegan. Let us know any food restrictions when booking and we will confirm. 

If you're interested in these cooking classes or have more questions just quote code SK01 when emailing us about cooking classes, and also let us know how many in your group, which date and whether you'd prefer lunch or dinner. 

Special menus can be requested by prior arrangement and will be priced and quoted separately. 



CEVICHE COOKING CLASSES [OLL04]

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DURATION: 1 HOUR or 2.5 HOURS
TIME: 11am or 5pm
PRICE: 100,000 or 200,000 pp
ABOUT:


Fresh, clean and mega satisfying, the South American continent has been repping ceviche for centuries and now the rest of the world is catching up. The traditional Colombian Caribbean versions used fruit juices to preserve and "cook" their fish, which have developed through international influences to a wide variety of different versions. This cooking class has two options, a 1 hour version and a 2-3 hour version. The mini version includes a brief preparation and smaller-sized ceviche. The full class also includes making patacones and arepas to accompany your large ceviche. Once again your host for this experience will be the delightful Carolina. Book this cooking class using code OLL04 and letting us know whether you want the mini 1 hour version or the full class. 

PROYECTO CARIBE COOKING CLASS [PC01]

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DURATION: 3 HOURS
TIME: 10am
PRICE: 500,000 pp
ABOUT:


​Caribbean Colombian Cooking classes inspired by the biodiversity of the region and its mix of cultures hosted by Proyecto Caribe, the dynamic duo behind Celele restaurant. During the classes, participants will have the opportunity to interact with the chef and learn about the ingredients and traditional recipes from the Colombian Caribbean. These clases are priced on the higher spectrum compared to other classes available in Cartagena with the difference reflected in the ingredients used, the time with internationally-recognised chefs and the fine-dining standard of the meals prepared. 

The experience includes:
Welcome cocktail
Introduction to Colombian Caribbean kitchen
Cooking class where you will learn to prepare 3 courses
Lunch (3 courses + 2 drinks)
Souvenir from the class
Certificate of participation

If you are interested in this option, please send us an email quoting PC01 and let us know if you have any food allergies or preferences.


SWEET TREATS COOKING CLASS [OLL05]

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DURATION: 1.5 HOURS
TIME: Flexible
PRICE: 150,000 pp
ABOUT:
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Learn recipes that are among some of the most ancient in the world, passed down from former African slaves through the generations to their descendants in Palenque and Cartagena. Under the guidance of host Carolina, master local favourites such as cocadas, bolitas de tamarindo and enyucado then gobble them up (or take some home as gifts/for later). To book this, email us with the code OLL05 and be sure to tell us your preferred start time. 

 CHILDREN'S COOKING CLASS [OLL06]

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DURATION: 2 HOURS
TIME: 9/10am
PRICE: 200,000 pp
ABOUT:
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This cooking class has been developed especially for the littlest members of the family and makes a fantastic kid-friendly activity whilst you are in Cartagena. This is a full cooking class where 3 courses will be prepared with various options. Menu is created with consideration of dietary requirements and preferences (this is the one cooking class where menu items will probably not be based in Colombian traditional recipes). It is a very interactive, hands-on class that will keep children of most ages engaged, hopefully inspiring or further encouraging a passion for the culinary arts. 
This is a children-focused class.. adults who want to come along as helpers to their child/children are welcome by arrangement. Please let us know the ages of the participants and any food preferences by emailing us and quoting reference code OLL06. Also let us know which time you prefer to start (between 9am and 10am start time).

FRUIT TASTING EXPERIENCE [OLL07]

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DURATION: Flexible
TIME: Flexible
PRICE: 90,000 pp ( groups of 6 or more only)
ABOUT:
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Booked as a group experience, this is a fantastic way to sample a wide variety of tropical fruits, learn about their properties and have a fun food-based experience. Colombia is blessed with one of the most diverse varieties of fruits in the world.. if you can't name everything in the photo above.. this might be the option for you and your group. Makes a great activity for weddings, corporate events etc For more info send us an email quoting code OLL07

LIMONADA DE COCO WORKSHOP [OLL08]

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DURATION: 1.5 HOURS
TIME: Flexible
PRICE: 90,000 pp
ABOUT:
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You put the lime in the coconut, you drank 'em bot' up. Pretty much that's it. And it's delicious! To learn how to make this beloved and decadent drink, book this coconut lemonade workshop with host Carolina and get ready to enjoy the best drink you've never tasted. Use code OLL08 and tell us which time of day you'd prefer as the start time. 



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