Santo Domingo Hands On Afro Taino Cooking Class and Dinner

This experience treats Dominican food as living history, not just something to prepare and eat. The stories shared during the activity are backed by documented research rather than presented as folklore or general cultural facts. It also gives equal importance to the people and traditions that kept this culinary knowledge alive, especially the women who passed it from one generation to the next, often without writing it down. The result is a different way to discover Dominican culture: through its ingredients, the stories carried by them and the meal everyone shares at the end.

Come curious and leave with new flavors, new stories and a deeper connection to Dominican culture. Join a five-course cooking experience that explores the Indigenous and African influences found throughout Dominican food. The term Afro-Taíno may sound unfamiliar, but many of the ingredients, flavors and traditions are part of everyday Dominican cooking. You don't need cooking experience or previous knowledge of Afro-Taíno culture. Just come ready to cook, taste something different and learn more about the food and people of the Dominican Republic. The experience is led by Maribel, a Dominican chef who trained professionally in Imola, Italy, before returning home to cook Dominican food. As you prepare the dishes, you will also hear the stories and history behind the ingredients. This cultural part is shared by anthropologist Giulia or another knowledgeable team member. Each dish is based on historical and anthropological research, including work by Marcio Veloz Maggiolo, José Juan Arrom, Sidney W. Mintz, Judith Carney and Jessica B. Harris. After cooking, everyone sits down together to enjoy the five-course meal. This is a shared experience lasting approximately 2–3 hours.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.