From Garden to Feast – the Fire is the Way

It transforms harvest into ritual, and food into story.

Overview

This hands-on cooking experience is an invitation to connect with Flores culture through food – not just by eating it, but by creating it yourself.

Join us in the garden kitchen of Dapur Tara, surrounded by medicinal plants, firewood, and the scent of spices in the air. During the dry season, cooking takes place outdoors under the trees. In the rainy season, we move to our indoor kitchen to ensure comfort and safety.

You’ll harvest ingredients, learn traditional techniques, and prepare your own tribal lunch over an open flame. Our team will guide you through each step – from pounding sambal to wrapping bamboo rice – while sharing stories of ancestral recipes, plant medicine, and culinary rituals.

This is more than a cooking class. It’s a sensory journey, a cultural exchange, and a joyful celebration of slow food and living traditions.

What to Expect – At a Glance

A full-day private experience (6 hours)
Includes hands-on tribal cooking, lunch, herbal arak tasting, and guided ecological garden walk
Set in our hilltop kitchen, 40 minutes from Labuan Bajo
Halal, vegetarian & vegan options available
Perfect for couples, friends, families & private groups
Minimum 8 guests (or minimum charge applies)
Full booking & pricing details below

Your Experience – Step by Step

10:00 – Arrival
You’ll be welcomed with a refreshing herbal drink as you step into the garden kitchen and meet your hosts.

10:00 – 13:00 – Cooking Time
Prepare your own tribal lunch over open fire with our team by your side.
You’ll cook:

Manuk Cuing (Smoked Chicken) or Vegan Alternative (Tofu/Tempe)
Nasi Kolo (Bamboo Rice)
Ikan Kue Asam (Traditional Flores Sour Fish Soup)
Seasonal vegetables, sambals, and fresh fruits

13:00 – 16:00 – The Feast & Rituals
Enjoy the lunch you helped create – served outdoors in our garden or inside the bamboo restaurant depending on the weather. With your meal comes:

A tasting of three infused herbal Moke (arak) varieties
A guided walk through our ecological garden to meet the plants you’ve just cooked with

Location & Access

Dapur Tara is located 35–40 minutes outside Labuan Bajo, in the green hills of Flores. You can reach us by scooter, car or local transport. If needed, we’re happy to connect you with a trusted driver who knows the way.

Booking & Payment Information

Price: 850,000 IDR per person + 10% tax
Minimum booking: 8 persons (minimum charge applies)
Payment: Full payment required at the time of booking
Cancellation: Free changes/refunds up to 3 days before the experience
Accepted methods: Indonesian Bank Transfer, QRIS, Wise, Revolut, or Credit/Debit Card

How to Book

Please contact us via WhatsApp:
+62 813 3722 9724

Send us:

Your name
Date of visit
Number of guests
Food preference: vegetarian or chicken

Once we confirm availability, we’ll send payment instructions and reserve your experience.

Good to Know (FAQ)

Do I need cooking experience?
Not at all! Our team will guide you through each step with care and joy.

What if it rains?
The cooking area is protected. During rainy season, we cook indoors. The garden walk may be cancelled in case of heavy rain, and a refund issued for that part.

Is this a group class?
No – this is a private session. Your booking gives you exclusive access.

Can children join?
Yes – children of all ages are welcome. We’ll gently adapt the experience so everyone in the family can enjoy, learn, and feel part of the process. From stirring rice to tasting fresh sambal, there’s always a role for curious little hands.

What’s the cooking environment like?
During the dry season, we cook outdoors under the trees in our open-air kitchen. In the rainy season, the experience continues in our cozy indoor kitchen, protected from the weather but still connected to the garden surroundings.

Ready to Book?

Message us now via WhatsApp:
+62 813 3722 9724

We look forward to welcoming you into our kitchen –
where the fire burns slow, the food is made with love,
and every dish tells a story from the heart of Flores.