Cooking Classes: A great way to learn a country's culture (even for this curmudgeon)

I’m going to be honest, I dislike cooking classes. In fact, I loathe them. If you don't know what one is, they are experiences offered on Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Get Your Guide, etc. by local hosts to those interested in learning how to prepare a local cuisine. I’m no fan. I should be because it's an experience. But, I don’t enjoy cooking. I’m an introvert that doesn't enjoy social interaction with strangers. Bah humbug!!! My wife on the other hand LOVES cooking classes. She would do one in each city if she could. She enjoys them probably for the reasons I dislike them. She’s an extrovert. She likes the social aspect. And, she kind of likes cooking.

Lindsey's daughter, Morgan, and her boyfriend, Kevin, met us in Turkey a few months into the European leg of our trip. There was no escaping a cooking glass this time. It was inevitable that a cooking class was in my future. Morgan is a chef. Kevin doesn't like idle time and is always up for an activity. And, as you now know, Lindsey loves cooking classes. I was outnumbered.

We spent our first five days together in Istanbul before flying to Cappadocia. Cappadocia is a must visit for anyone traveling to Turkey. Located in central Turkey, it's a land of unique rock formations and caves carved into soft volcanic rock by early inhabitants to avoid religious persecution by the Christians. Taking an early, hot air balloon ride is the best way to experience this unique landscape. It's truly one of the world's best travel experiences.

Our other experience in Cappadocia was a cooking class. I couldn't hold them off any longer. The tribe had spoken. We were doing this. Our cooking class was a 30-minute or so taxi ride from our hotel (arranged by the cooking class). When we arrived, the host family was already outside waiting for us. As we got out of the taxi, they immediately made us feel welcome. Introductions were made and we joined them inside their home.

Their home was warm and cozy. We were invited to sit down in comfy chairs and were presented with local snacks (nuts, fruits, etc.). More importantly, we spent an hour getting to know each other. This was the most valuable part of the experience. Months removed from this experience, we don't remember what we prepared or how to prepare it. However, we did learn about their culture, religion, history and the role played by each member of the family.

After stuffing our faces with snacks and having serious doubts about having room for dinner, we transitioned into the kitchen to begin cooking. It was a beautiful kitchen. It was spacious and designed with a chef in-mind. We all gathered around the table ready to do what was asked of us.

Fortunately, for me, our participation was limited. The father led the class. We took our turns in preparing a dish. As we prepared, he provided background on the what and the why of what we were doing. We chopped, sliced and stirred. We got our hands dirty, but not too dirty. The perfect amount of involvement for my limited attention span. The heavy lifting was done by the family.

Once dinner was ready, we came back to the dining room where the table had already been set. While the family didn't join us for dinner, the sons (the next generation of the cooking class business) made sure the food kept coming while providing an explanation of what was being served. They took care of us throughout the meal.

After dinner, the entire family rejoined us at the table. They made sure that we enjoyed the dinner (which we all enthusiastically nodded our heads, yes). We purchased a few cookbooks with the intent of making these dishes when we returned home. That's yet to happen.

Then they were done with us. The family had already summoned the taxi who was now waiting for us outside. We said our goodbyes, shared how much we enjoyed the meal, tipped them to reinforce how much we liked it and then were off to Cappadocia.

Looking back, as usually is the case, I really enjoyed this experience. A cooking class is less about the cooking and more about meeting new people and learning new cultures. Although we may come from different countries and worship different gods, our similarities are greater than our differences.

So, next time when Lindsey wants to sign-up for a cooking class, I’ll still probably resist at first. I can't say that our experience in Turkey has cured me from my aversion towards cooking classes. But, I'm getting closer.