Jeding Bali Cooking Class — Local services in Bali

While I think there were a lot of positives of this experience (going to the market, having some burning questions answered, seeing how Balinese people live on a compound), I was left disappointed at the end of the day.

The reviews on Google and TripAdvisor don't share the full story. You DO NOT prepare and cook everything yourself. I did not feel like I knew how to put together the dishes at the end of the course. In addition, the instructor seemed to be constantly hurrying us and seemed impatient at times (like when making the offerings he multiple times took the item from my partner and did it himself). It seems like he assumed that we didn't know how to cook at all.

In addition, this tour is not unique. As we were leaving the spice stand another tour group approached the same stand. When we wanted to buy stuff from the market, we felt pressure to pay the price the shop keeper (communicated to us through the class instructor) said and didn't feel comfortable bargaining. The instructor repeated himself multiple times about the same information.

Now let's discuss the food. Overall, the dishes to be created were mostly vegetarian with two involving tuna. I have no idea where other people are coming from, but having eaten truly amazing food in Chicago, I will say that the food was MEDIOCRE AT BEST. My partner liked the yellow rice a lot and I enjoyed the vegetable salad; however, the rest of the dishes tasted very similar due to the overwhelming ginger and pepper flavor. The tuna dishes were inedible-- the tuna satay was quickly burned on the grill and said to be "done" and the steamed tuna was dry and had no flavor. In addition, when we requested non spicy food, the instructor did not listen to our request.

Now that you know the full story about this cooking class, maybe you will leave more satisfied than us, but I doubt you will love the food.

To top it off, the instructor practically DEMANDED us to leave a review on tripadvisor when we said we dont use it (which wasnt true obviously but I didnt feel comfortable leaving an honest review while on his compound), he suggested leaving a review on FB.

No wonder there are so many 5 star reviews... when we mentioned our concerns, he didnt really listen (or perhaps he didnt understand). He said how they did classes every day with the same dishes (probably trying to excuse my comments about the...

A Marvellous Culinary Sojourn in Bali

To partake in the Jeding Bali Cooking Class is to embark upon a most delectable adventure—one that delights the senses, enriches the mind, and, most importantly, satisfies the soul. Under the expert guidance of our gracious hosts, and with the excellent company of Tru Travel, I found myself immersed in the artistry of Balinese cuisine, each moment a symphony of scent, taste, and tradition.

From the moment we stepped into the kitchen, the air was alive with the fragrance of lemongrass and coconut, the gentle sizzle of fresh ingredients in the pan whispering promises of culinary delight. With patient instruction and warm encouragement, we learned the delicate balance of spices, the careful choreography of mortar and pestle, and the sheer joy of creating something with one’s own hands.

The experience was not merely one of learning, but of connection—connection to the culture, to the food, and to the people who so generously shared their knowledge. There was laughter, there was camaraderie, and, at the end, a feast fit for kings, prepared by our own humble hands.

I left with a heart full of gratitude and a mind brimming with new skills, eager to recreate the magic in my own kitchen. To any traveler who delights in food, in culture, and in the sheer pleasure of discovery—this experience is not to be missed.

Bravo, Jeding Bali Cooking Class and to i nyoman sutaba! And thank you, Tru Travel, for making it...

Inyoman provided not just a cooking class but an overall Balinese educatonal cultural learning experience. My husband and daughter and I attended his class today and enjoyed it immensely. He started by taking us to a traditional Balinese market where we learned about a variety of local spices, fruit, and vegetables, many that we would be using in our cooking class today. We then went to a rice paddy near his home where he explained the varieties of rice and how the rice is grown and harvested. Inyoman then took us to his home where he explained the traditional layout of a Balinese home/compound where he has a very professional kitchen and dining room that’s able to accommodate a large group of up to 25. There were only 6 of us today and it was a lovely group from England, Australia and the US. He taught us how to make a Balinese offering and how to give it in ‘prayer.’ With his guidance, we made several delicious traditional Balinese dishes ( and he also sent us home with a pamphlet with those recipes so we can recreate the dishes at home. Thank you too to his wife, mother and neighbor who helped out. We would highly recommend this class. It really couldn’t...