Valencia Paella & Tapas Home Cooking Class with Local Chef Jose

Chef Jose Rodriguez first and foremost is a beautiful soul. From the minute he greets you to when you depart, you are immersed in a journey full of historic perspectives of Spain, insight into the culture of Valencia, and presented with impeccably prepared Spanish food and Spirits. This former Michelin two star executive chef invites you into his home for a truly memorable experience that is unique, authentic, and thoroughly enjoyable. It was easy going, fun, and an informative experience; like being with a lifelong friend for a long enjoyable afternoon respite. This is an extraordinary value proposition and one of our favorite experiences during our 17-day Spain sojourn. Treat yourself to a special adventure. The Spain Crew

I booked this cooking experience as a surprise for my husband, who loves to cook, and we both thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Jose is an excellent host and chef, and we spent hours talking, cooking and laughing with him while learning about the history of Valencia and Spain in general, as well as learning to cook paella. Overall, it was an experience we won't forget, and we highly recommend it for anyone wanting a few hours of truly authentic Valencia. Thank you Jose!

If you come across this activity, do not hesitate to book it. Jose's attention to detail and amazing and innovative culinary skills, in combination with his thoughtful storytelling, will keep you so engaged you will not even notice that time has passed. All of the dishes from the cooking class were expertly assembled and presented. And the paella was one of the best of my trip, truly authentic. This activity was the last on my itinerary for my trip in Valencia, and it definitely left a long-lasting impact. We learned a lot about Valencia's history and even left with wonderful recipes to try out by ourselves. Thanks again, Jose!

I had the pleasure of attending Jose’s paella cooking class and it was an incredible experience. He took the time to explain each step with authentic techniques and how to utilise the right ingredients, making sure we understood not just how to cook paella, but why the little details matter. Jose’s passion and patience shone through the whole class, and his warm approach made us feel comfortable and engaged. The class was hands-on, fun, and full of tips that you’d never get from a recipe alone. Learning from someone so dedicated to preserving tradition made the experience truly worthwhile. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highly recommended — Jose is an excellent teacher and this class is a must-do for anyone wanting an authentic taste of Spain.

Jose welcomed us into his home and provided us with our favorite excursion so far on our trip to Spain! The food was amazing and his manner of explaining each step was informative and entertaining. He wove in history of all regions of spain and related this to each food we were experiencing. We highly recommend this unique cooking experience! Thank you Jose!

This experience was the highlight of our trip for our entire family. We so appreciate everything that Jose did to make this a lifetime memory. We truly enjoyed cooking the wonderful dishes and leaning about the culture of Valencia. It was one of the best meals we have ever had. Most importantly, Jose took the time to involve everyone and made us feel like family. We cannot thank him enough and hope to visit again someday.

We went on vacation to Spain with our two teenage children and since we all enjoy cooking and eating fantastic food, we wanted to learn to make the Paella that Valencia is famous for. Having done an experience in a home in Peru many years ago, we saw this opportunity to do Paella in a chef's home and after researching, it seemed like the perfect day for our family. Chef Jose was in communication with us before the experience, asking for our preferences and making sure to note any allergies or intolerances (we have none), and to ask our preferred level of involvement in the cooking process...whether we wanted to actually cook the food or if we just wanted a "chef's table" type of experience (we chose to do the cooking). The various tapas were delicious, and Chef Jose gave us the history of the region and the history behind all of the foods we were eating. Everything he prepared was traditional....but with a modern twist that was clearly prepared by a professional chef. The one completely traditional dish that we prepared was the paella...and it was the best paella I've ever had. Chef Jose was generous in everything...the portions were huge, the drinks flowed, and we had everything we needed. We left with a booklet of recipes that we are excited to try out at home. I know some people get nervous at the thought of going to someone's home that they don't know, but we were completely comfortable the entire time...the neighborhood was safe and we felt safe during the walk to the apartment and while we were in the apartment. We'd 100% recommend Chef Jose's paella class to any of our friends and family, and we'd probably even do it as a repeat for ourselves if we ever go back to Valencia! Thanks for a great day, Jose!