Hualien Cooking Classes

The kitchen is clean and well organized. Sofia, who speaks good English, had laid out the ingredients. She explained everything very well. We prepared the food together and cooked it. It was very interesting and easy. Sofia explained the indigenous foods in detail. She understands a lot about culture! My wife and I enjoyed the experience. We would recommend it to anyone who enjoys cooking and is interested in Taiwanese food.

Thank you so much for the time and effort you put in to make our cooking experience one we will always remember. We learnt so much about making meals not only tasty but also a visual explosion. Such a fun experience and one I highly recommend.

The aboriginal cooking class with Sophia was just amazing! We loved hearing about the history and culture these of people and their food. Sophia brought it to life - everything was so beautifully presented, and the class moved in a very organized fashion. Seeing the result of her gathering and shopping at the local markets was so beautiful, and informative. We spent 2.5 weeks in Taiwan, and this experience was a highlight. And the finished lunch was fantastic - very different from other things we know Taiwan to be famous for. I'd recommend this class to anyone visiting the great town of Hualien!

Sofia showed us how to cook several delicious aboriginal dishes and made us feel like friends at a house gathering. She is a very helpful and articulate person, and we would love to repeat this class with her next time we are in Hualien. Highly recommended!!

We had a brilliant time learning and chatting with our cooking instructors. They were kind and funny, and we learned a lot about the indigenous foods of the Hualien area. Would recommend it to anyone no matter their confidence in the kitchen!

We discussed and used various ingredients and seasonings, most of which were new to me and the other guests. The chef-instructors were engaging and informative and everyone participated in the preparation and cooking — and of course, eating! There were no written materials but most of the ingredients were very local and in some cases from the wild, so recipes would not be useful. The class is a window into indigenous and Taiwanese eating, which I highly recommend. (PS The food was delicious!).

The cooking class was intimate and very fun. Monica and Sofia were very welcoming and also taught you the history of the dishes which makes it more interesting to make! Definitely recommend taking this class.

Our teacher, or should we say host, Sophie was amazing. The class was at her place, perfect for small groups. She prepared a full vegetarian course, taylored to our taste. We tried some vegetables we never even heared about, all extremely fresh, local and seasonal. She taught us cool new ways to prepare some dishes. Definitely an experience we will never forget. And her two cats and a dog are also super cute :)

My daughter and I love to cook and had a fabulous time learning how to make traditional dishes using extremely fresh local ingredients. We had plum juice from our host’s grandfather’s plum tree and fish her brother caught from the river. Everything was delicious! We prepared a 7 course meal very quickly. You should know that there are adorable furry friends there as well. Two cats and a dog who were very friendly and entertaining.

We really appreciated learning more about Hualien, aboriginal cooking in Taiwan, and eating delicious food. Thank you!

Sofia did a great job! We took the afternoon/evening class and had a really good time. The class took place at a cool new place in Hualien. She explained all the ingredients and gave a lot of background information about the different tribes of Taiwan. Very interesting and entertaining too! We would definitely recommend this class to anyone who wants to have a unique experience during their time in Taiwan. Sofia even helped us organize an astonishing tour through the Taroko Gorge for the day after. Thanks so much again for everything! :)

This was one of the highlights of our time in Taiwan! Sofia and Monica were so friendly, and talked us through all of the ingredients and methods. The food was delicious, and the company was also fantastic. We also learnt so much about Taiwanese Aboriginal culture!

This cooking experience was definitely a highlight of my trip to Taiwan! Sofia is incredibly knowledgeable on all things food and introduced me not just to new ingredients, but to some cool knife skills as well. She is well-travelled and intersperses the cooking class with more candid anecdotes of her travels. I can't recommend this experience more and am sure that the recipes you learn in the class will become go-to staples in your own home kitchen. Come hungry!

Had such a great time cooking local and indigenous dishes. Sofia is such a great chef, with with a lot of personality! Really was a genuine Taiwanese experience that i wont forget Even with basic cooking experience, I was able to make some awesome dishes! An awesome way to learn about the local culture and traditions

Using local ingredients, Sofia tailors her classes based on what she can find from the aboriginal market and her mother's garden on morning of the class. Sofia gave us an amazing insight into Amis and Bunun ingredients and techniques including using Prickly Ash, Macaw pepper, Lover's tears and the center of a routen stalk. To make the most of the experience, I would encourage you to give yourself enough time to unwind, have a chat after lunch, and meet local friends or fellow travellers in this kitchen/ co-working space.