Food & Drink
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
from
₹5,490
per adult
Gourmet Desire
Gourmet Desire
5
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Full view
About
Jyoti - the culinary wiz behind Gourmet Desire, for over 15 years, has held exclusive cooking classes in Delhi along with other food and cultural experiences for travellers from around the globe. She is the true OG of food travel experiences in New Delhi, and would love to host you at her home in New Delhi. Jyoti offers unique and curated homely experiences which make memories for life. We understand that 'time is money' and no one has leisure hours to spend in the kitchen therefore the idea is to make a delicious wholesome authentic Indian meal in a jiffy. So come sample the sights, sounds and aromas of Delhi with us!
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
273 reviews
Excellent
243
Very good
25
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Francesca M
5 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Experiencing India not only involves seeing its cities and monuments, but also experiencing its cousins and people.having a cooking class with Jyoti enables you to do that at a reasonable price and in a extremely competent and friendly way. What makes the course special is not just her teaching and knowledge, but also her hospitality and willingness to tailor her class to your desire. We had an amazing time while cooking and learning, as well as while having dinner all together afterwards. I cannot recommend this enough, really, an experience worth trying even if you are not a navigated cook.
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David B
2 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
We booked via Airbnb and this cooking class with Jyoti was the best experience we had in Delhi. Jyoti invited us to her wonderful home, made us feel very welcomed. She gave us very practical tips for authentic Indian dishes. She let us decide what we wanted to cook, we even had a great meal and conversation with her. 10/10 - just go for it, it is worth it.
Written 20 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael D
Darwin, Australia4 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
Jyoti was the most wonderful host. She made us feel welcome in her home. The food we cooked together was fabulous and her explanation of all the ingredients and how to use them together was fabulous. I couldn’t recommend this experience enough. We finished after lunch with a tour of one of the local markets and were able to purchase some of the ingredients that we had learned to use.
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allison C
2 contributions
Jan 2020
I absolutely loved Jyoti. Her knowledge and passion for Indian cuisine made for the perfect evening in Delhi. She had cars to pick us up and show us around. We started in a local market where she gave us a tour. We saw local street food being made, fresh produce, freshly ground spices, etc. After the market tour, we drove to Jyoti's home. I was traveling with friends and there were 8 of us total in her cooking class. She had us in her home for a nice, intimate night of cooking! She explained as she cooked and allowed us to assist her when appropriate. She provided us with tips and a packet of recipes and spices to take home with us. Without a doubt, I would recommend you book with Jyoti! Overall wonderful experience.
Written 5 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E J
Melbourne, Australia3 contributions
Jun 2022 • Friends
Cooking Jyoti was an amazing experiance. She welcomed us into her home and shared her passion for food. We enjoyed visiting the local market. The food we cooked with her was some of the best we had while in India. I could not recommend this experiance enough.
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane
1 contribution
Jan 2020
Our group had a lovely time with Jyoti. We enjoyed visiting the spice market and learned a ton about Indian cooking and food. Jyoti has a great passion for food, travelling and cooking and was very accommodating. We all agreed that the food we cooked with her was some of the best we had while in India. Highly recommend this class!
Written 6 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
6lewisFam
4 contributions
Jan 2023 • Family
A fabulous evening for our family spent with Jyoti learning about and cooking Indian cuisine. We were warmly welcomed into Jyoti’s home and we’re so thankful to her and her son for such an enjoyable evening. Delicious food, fun to learn and great company! A memorable evening for us all.
Written 10 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OnAir420685
3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I had such a great street tour and market shopping tour. I had a very tight schedule but also needed wedding saris (and was leaving the next day!) Jyotri was so fun and able to help me so much. We got a sari and a lenga and I had so many compliments at the wedding. I learned so much about spices and then to top it all off - had delicious food. I wish I had had time for the cooking class
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worldwanderer1990
11 contributions
Jan 2015 • Family
I have taken courses all over South East Asia and this by far was the worst! Where can I begin, it is not a cooking class where you interact but rather watch a lady act like a dictator rather then a cook. Don't take this class if you want to actually have hands on experience, you will spend all of your time just watching Jyoti cook.
Firstly she charges an exorbitant amount of money for you to just watch, she does not provide pick-up or drop-off service which is okay but you have to find your own way there and she does not give any adequate directions, and the cab drivers and tuk-tuks will just drop you off at the the top of the street where you will then have to wander around 500 government buildings to figure out where it is. The other section of the group was terribly late due to getting lost, so 1 hr later we started, so keep in mind even if you are on time it doesnt matter there is no schedule.
Jyoti never even asked our names till the class was over felt very unwelcomed in the house, which felt like a business rather then a home was not offered any drinks for the first 30 minutes. She had "Help" which she literally treats like slaves! screaming at them every five seconds to do or get something. the poor girl (the help) dropped hot oil on herself and all Jyoti cared about was her cleaning it up not at all if the girl was ok who by the way appeared to live in the closet of the house.
The help which i felt like were slaves did all of the cooking Jyoti just did the flashy parts, and they did the core work behind closed doors so you have no idea how to cook it actually! just popping out every now and then to show you what they did. Which is not what the cooking class should be about. Jyoti does not know how to TEACH only how to SHOW off. Her recipe book is a mess no exact measurments in it and no exact directions. Just rough guides and estimates...so when you go back to cook nothing is written out clearly but rather give or take, so when you are in the class you are trying the whole time to correct the recipe book....its not a recipe book.
She was in a rush for a dinner party and let us know she was cooking for the dinner party too with our meals...so great we are paying for your dinner party food now too.... she was in such a rush she did not even want to show us how to cook dessert and just gave us a box cookie as consolation....not impressed. If she asks you to help she tells you no you are doing it wrong instead of showing you she just pushes you out of the way to cook it herself. She seemed tired and bored of the class and disinterested in the students. She literally would ask questions twice like "where do you work" showing me that she was not paying attention at all.
I don't think we should have to pay the price for a sped up class because she had a dinner party later, if that is case then just don't run the class that day. honestly I could not handle how she treated the help like slaves, it was sad to see the class cut in this country and she shined it brightly in our faces. With comments like "well this doesn't taste as good as i want but that is what happens when you leave it up to the help" or "My mother wont eat butter or vegetables grown underground because that is for the poor" just ridiculous. Overall, I want to go to a cooking class where i learn and cook not where i watch a fraction of it being made and then have is whisked away to the back for the help to actually make it, not really knowing how it is made or a cook book that is half written so i am lost when i go to cook myself or a place that i cannot find. Worst class I have taken. Would not recommend if you are serious about learning to cook Indian food for yourself.
Firstly she charges an exorbitant amount of money for you to just watch, she does not provide pick-up or drop-off service which is okay but you have to find your own way there and she does not give any adequate directions, and the cab drivers and tuk-tuks will just drop you off at the the top of the street where you will then have to wander around 500 government buildings to figure out where it is. The other section of the group was terribly late due to getting lost, so 1 hr later we started, so keep in mind even if you are on time it doesnt matter there is no schedule.
Jyoti never even asked our names till the class was over felt very unwelcomed in the house, which felt like a business rather then a home was not offered any drinks for the first 30 minutes. She had "Help" which she literally treats like slaves! screaming at them every five seconds to do or get something. the poor girl (the help) dropped hot oil on herself and all Jyoti cared about was her cleaning it up not at all if the girl was ok who by the way appeared to live in the closet of the house.
The help which i felt like were slaves did all of the cooking Jyoti just did the flashy parts, and they did the core work behind closed doors so you have no idea how to cook it actually! just popping out every now and then to show you what they did. Which is not what the cooking class should be about. Jyoti does not know how to TEACH only how to SHOW off. Her recipe book is a mess no exact measurments in it and no exact directions. Just rough guides and estimates...so when you go back to cook nothing is written out clearly but rather give or take, so when you are in the class you are trying the whole time to correct the recipe book....its not a recipe book.
She was in a rush for a dinner party and let us know she was cooking for the dinner party too with our meals...so great we are paying for your dinner party food now too.... she was in such a rush she did not even want to show us how to cook dessert and just gave us a box cookie as consolation....not impressed. If she asks you to help she tells you no you are doing it wrong instead of showing you she just pushes you out of the way to cook it herself. She seemed tired and bored of the class and disinterested in the students. She literally would ask questions twice like "where do you work" showing me that she was not paying attention at all.
I don't think we should have to pay the price for a sped up class because she had a dinner party later, if that is case then just don't run the class that day. honestly I could not handle how she treated the help like slaves, it was sad to see the class cut in this country and she shined it brightly in our faces. With comments like "well this doesn't taste as good as i want but that is what happens when you leave it up to the help" or "My mother wont eat butter or vegetables grown underground because that is for the poor" just ridiculous. Overall, I want to go to a cooking class where i learn and cook not where i watch a fraction of it being made and then have is whisked away to the back for the help to actually make it, not really knowing how it is made or a cook book that is half written so i am lost when i go to cook myself or a place that i cannot find. Worst class I have taken. Would not recommend if you are serious about learning to cook Indian food for yourself.
Written 18 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi worldwonderer1990,
I’m sorry you were disappointed with the class. I’m also shocked and sad that you came away with such negative thoughts.
To start, it is unfortunate you had trouble finding my home. In a crowded city like Delhi, it can be difficult to find a home, which is why I include my phone number on the confirmation email with a request to speak directly to your driver if he is unfamiliar with the address. As mentioned on our website, we also offer a pick-up and drop service at a small additional cost to help avoid this confusion.
I have fond memories of the class you and your mother participated in, along with another mother/daughter pair. I remember parting on a positive note with all of you - the other pair confirmed their experience was very positive in a recent review here, and you wrote such kind comments in my journal, so I’m trying to understand what went wrong that day. Making sure that my students/guests have a great experience, while learning from each other in the process, is my highest priority.
Had you voiced your dissatisfaction during the class, I would have been happy to adjust what we were doing, or even offered to schedule another class that would have better suited your expectations. If you would still like help with particular measurements or techniques from the cook book, I would love to setup a skype call to help resolve anything that is unclear.
In regard to the incident related to Sunita (the helper who was hurt with the oil) - With all due respect, I think you misunderstood the tone of the Indian language (Hindi) as rudeness. Sunita, along with my other helper, doesn't speak English and talking in Hindi is the only way we can communicate. In a situation like this one, the Hindi tone sometimes comes across with a sharpness that can easily be misunderstood as rude or harsh by an outsider. As soon as this incident occurred, I was extremely concerned and we immediately gave her medical attention. As Sunita was not seriously hurt, she wanted to continue working to make sure your experience was uninterrupted. The workers who assist me take immense pride in being part of the gourmet experience we offer and are well compensated for their efforts. Sunita in particular has worked with me for quite a long time - she is like family to me. I explained your comments to Sunita, and she was particularly offended that you compared her work environment to something resembling slavery!
Being a single woman, these classes are not only my source of livelihood but also my greatest passion. I only do one class a day so I can give my full attention to my students and guests as well as assist them with any information for their India travels, just like an old friend would. Having said that, there are certain costs associated with the class.
The classes are approximately US$ 50 per person for a group of 2-4 people. In my experience, $50 for 3-4 hours of cooking instruction, plus the four course meal, is a tremendous value. On the afternoon you came, I mentioned that I was hosting a dinner later that evening. These occasional events also help me provide for myself. I’m sorry if you felt rushed, but that evening’s event did not cut short the total duration of your visit. It did, however, provide me an opportunity to show and let you experience additional dishes outside of those included in my standard class structure.
Considering most of my students and guests get to know me through this website, it’s quite troubling to know that a review like this is posted here describing myself and the class in such a manner. I wish you had let me know your feelings at the time of our class. But as we are where we are, I’d like to make it up to you by arranging a Skype meeting to go over any questions you have related to the class and the recipes.
Warmest Regards,
Jyoti
Written 20 March 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kevinlab
Perth, Australia34 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
Jyoti cooking class was great.
After emailing her and booking our trip, she organised her driver to pick us up from our hotel (highly recommended) to take us back to her place to get cooking.
The dishes we cooked reminded me of food my Mum used to cook when I was a kid.
We also did the Spice Market and Shopping tour of Dilli Haat markets.
Highly recommend this cooking class.
After emailing her and booking our trip, she organised her driver to pick us up from our hotel (highly recommended) to take us back to her place to get cooking.
The dishes we cooked reminded me of food my Mum used to cook when I was a kid.
We also did the Spice Market and Shopping tour of Dilli Haat markets.
Highly recommend this cooking class.
Written 1 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What would be the cost for my husband and I both? We would like to take a class in the morning, Wednesday,November 18,
Written 28 October 2015
I would suggest you go directly to Gourmet Desire as they will know their availability and can give you pricing at the same time. Have a light breakfast because you eat what you cook and there will be plenty!
Written 29 October 2015
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