Caribbean cooking classes in the Caribbean
- Autor: Michelle Fernández
- Category: Gastronomy
- 15/11/2025
From the southern Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, the heart of Afro-Caribbean culture, where the cuisine, music and lifestyle reflect this heritage. Its beautiful beaches and friendly people make it an unforgettable destination to visit, but without a doubt, the flavours and aromas of the food are the most delicious experience you will ever remember. The cuisine of Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean is characterised by a fusion of African and Jamaican influences, with dishes such as rice and beans, patí, Caribbean sancocho and rondón, using ingredients such as coconut, seafood and plantains. Other popular dishes include chicken with rice and coconut milk and Caribbean ceviche.
Coconut milk appears in many dishes, along with ginger, curry, allspice, cinnamon, chilli and other strong spices brought to the Caribbean by spice traders. This means that tradition is reflected in every dish that is served and passed down from generation to generation. Cooking is a family activity for Afro-descendant people, as it brings them together on Sunday afternoons or special holidays, when everyone gathers to prepare the dishes they will enjoy, making it a unique experience.
If you would like to include this activity in your visit to the Caribbean, we have Carleen Lewis, an Afro-Caribbean woman from the area who will welcome you into her home and share with you the magic of Caribbean cuisine with cooking classes full of flavour, culture and tradition. She will give you a warm welcome in the best South Caribbean style, and you will feel that family atmosphere. She will explain the type of food and its origin, and the importance of each person having their task in the kitchen, which is why everyone is given an activity and everyone participates. From washing the ingredients to cutting, chopping and watching over the cooking, everything is done together to share. As part of showcasing the culture, you are given the option of dressing in traditional African clothing, representing the culture and how the grandmothers used to do it.
Throughout the process, Carleen will guide you and explain each step, telling her story and creating a very welcoming evening, sharing the flavours and colours offered by all those organic ingredients that are specially chosen to make the food delicious. The most common dish cooked is rice and beans, which, after cooking together, can be enjoyed at the table.
You definitely have to enjoy this experience if you visit the Caribbean. Apart from its beaches and nature, you can experience the culture and try these typical Afro-Caribbean foods in a different way, living the daily life of the families.
