Meet
Putu
Putu, a warm and talented home chef, offers travelers an authentic, immersive Balinese cooking experience in Ubud, in her traditional family compound. Growing up alongside her grandparents, who are rice farmers, Putu learned the art of cooking from an early age, helping her grandmother prepare daily meals. Over the years, her passion for cooking has blossomed into both a career and a personal passion. Putu specializes in fresh, creative Balinese dishes presented with artistry, often garnished with delicately carved fruit and vegetables. At home, she takes on the sacred responsibility of preparing temple offerings, from small gifts to grand fruit towers, which she carries during temple ceremonies. She also makes homemade jamu, a traditional health tonic made from turmeric.
Putu’s family compound is a lively place where visitors will meet her grandparents, her husband Pasta, and their three children. The compound includes an orchard with jackfruit, cacao, durian, coffee, and bananas, as well as a variety of animals, including pigs, ducks, chickens, and a cow. During visits, Putu and her family offer a guided tour of the compound, sharing insights into their daily life and the significance of their family temple. Guests will also enjoy delicious meals made with rice grown by her grandparents, adding to the authenticity of the experience.
What to expect
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
Cooking experience:
(1-30 guests)
Join Putu in her home kitchen in Ubud for a private, hands-on Balinese cooking class where you’ll prepare five authentic dishes together. As you chop, grind, and grill, Putu will share stories behind her family recipes, the vibrant spices she uses, and the healing properties of traditional Balinese ingredients, most of which come straight from her own farm. Her kitchen may be simple, with just a two-burner cooktop, but you’ll be amazed by the ease and grace with which she brings complex flavors to life.
Beyond cooking, Putu offers warm insights into Balinese Hinduism and everyday local life, all with a great sense of humor that makes the experience both meaningful and fun. This intimate cooking class lasts about 1.5 hours and ends with a shared meal of everything you’ve prepared. When in season, you’ll also savor organic fruits picked straight from the family’s trees - fresh, flavorful, and truly farm-to-table. It’s perfect for food lovers and curious travelers looking for a deeper, hands-on connection to Balinese culture and cuisine.
Market visit:
(1-30 guests)
After your 7am pickup from your Ubud hotel, head to the bustling Pejeng market to experience local life in full swing. Join Putu as she guides you through the vibrant stalls, pointing out seasonal fruits, vegetables, and spices while gathering a few fresh ingredients for your cooking class. You’ll spend about 30 minutes exploring the market, soaking in the sights, scents, and sounds - it's a fantastic opportunity for photos, so be sure to bring your camera. From there, you'll continue on to Putu’s home to begin your hands-on Balinese cooking experience.
Notes:
1. Prices include round-trip transport from Ubud only. Please be sure to include your hotel name on the reservation form so your host can arrange for your pick-up.
2. If you are staying outside of Ubud there will be an additional charge for transportation. Please contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com for details. Putu can accommodate a vegetarian diet in her cooking class if informed in advance.
Languages spoken:
English
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
Putu's home is in a lovely, quiet setting. When I arrived the table was set, the food prepped for cooking, and the children greeted me with shy looks and an occasional smile. Putu she explained the what, how, why of the cooking process. It amazed me that she could prepare 6 dishes on two burners with great fluidity to her work. Each dish turned out perfectly and looks beautiful - not to mention, everything was delicious!
Wendy, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
This was one of the best experiences for us in Ubu in Bali. The pickup was absolutely perfect. Took us to their house showed us around the house which is absolutely stunning. a great way to understand what a traditional Balinese house is like from the inside. the cooking area was specifically set It was just perfect. It was clean. It was tidy. Ingredients were fresh from the garden and explanations were very very good. It was organisedso well all the utensils everything we used was just perfect. The direction was perfect. The setup was perfect and finally the food just tasted incredible because it was so fresh and freshly cooked and we really really enjoyed it. Totally was the highlight of our trip to Bali. We were so excited we didn’tknow what to expect and this turned out to be far far far better than our expectation. warm people, beautiful family home and great food and great dishes. We enjoyed it sitting there and enjoyed other things they served us like some crackers, coconut water and we loved the snake fruit. lots of other things as well but just a really good idea of how fresh Balinese cooking is and thank you Putu for giving me and my family the best time. Putu was so warm and made a real effort to learn our names. Her cousin and don who helped were also friendly and warm.
-
paris
July 20, 2026
My fiance and I had an amazing time cooking with Putu! We were so full by the end and so happy. She was very kind to us and even showed us around her property. Highly recommend going on this tour. Its perfect for anyone interested in learning about Balinese food.
-
Marjori
July 18, 2026
This was an excellent experience! My partner and I really enjoyed being welcomed into
Putu’s home and learning from her. Everything tasted AMAZING and I left feeling like I could
replicate the recipes at home. I definitely recommend booking, you will really enjoy it!
-
Melanie
July 17, 2026
Our entire family incredibly enjoyed Putu's expert workshop. Everything was perfectly prepared using products from her own garden. Putu is very attuned to everyone's energy and assigns small tasks at a time, ensuring you feel completely at ease while still making progress in Balinese cooking. Additionally, she shares a great deal: about the ingredients, Balinese culture, and her outlook on life. In short: the workshop was simply delightful in every sense of the word!
-
elke
July 16, 2026
Amazing experience, Putu was very welcoming and friendly, teaching us about Balinese life and cooking. She explained every part of the cooking process thoroughly and we all got involved. An amazing host, showing us around her home and fresh coconuts and beverages provided. All 4 members of the family able to get stuck in. Amazing sanitation maintained. Strongly recommend to learn about Balinese cooking from Putu!!
-
Viral
July 15, 2026
Read More
