Forget Souvenirs—This Mallorca Cooking Class Was the Highlight of Our Trip
Our Spanish cooking class
We didn’t bring home a single souvenir from our day trip to Palma de Mallorca—and we didn’t miss them one bit.
Instead, we came home with something we couldn’t pack: connection, flavor, and the sweetest memories from one of our favorite activities in Spain - a cooking experience with a wonderful Spanish chef.
During our stay at the Marriott Vacation Club Son Antem resort on the island, Dave and I signed up for the Spanish cooking class in Palma. The class didn’t start until 6:00 p.m., so we headed into town early to explore.
Strolling through Palma before the class
Palma’s downtown is full of charm - cobblestone streets lined with cozy cafés, boutiques, and churches. We stepped into one church just to pause and soak in the quiet.
Chef Mily
That evening, we found ourselves at Omare Palma de Mallorca, a bright, open culinary space with a welcoming bar overlooking the cooking area. We were greeted by Chef Mily and her assistant and translator Mila, who instantly made us feel like friends invited into their home kitchen. Glasses of cava were poured, a charcuterie board with local delicacies like thinly-sliced Jamón and sharp Manchego appeared and the night began to unfold.
Delicious charcuterie board with Pan con Tomate ingredients
Alongside the charcuterie board, we were introduced to one of the simplest yet most memorable bites of the night: Pan con Tomate. It’s nothing more than rustic bread, rubbed with fresh garlic and a ripe tomato, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. That’s it—but somehow, it captures the soul of Spanish cooking. No frills, just the freshest ingredients and bold flavor.
During the class, learned to make Spanish tortilla, ceviche, sausages, and a colorful paella that felt like art in a pan. But the showstopper? The sausage flambée.
When it came time to cook the sausages, Chef Mily handed Dave the pan and a bottle of alcohol, encouraging him to light them on fire. With a small spark and a lot of laughter, the pan ignited in a flash of flame, drawing cheers from the group. It was equal parts culinary technique and dramatic flair—and Dave fully leaned into the moment.
For a brief second, he was the star of the kitchen. It broke the ice between everyone, sparking stories of travel adventures and misadventures. This fiery moment pulled us all closer together.
Making Ceviche
Paella ingredients
Our cooking group included travelers from Vancouver, Austria, Costa Rica, and Slovenia. One couple from Canada told us they always take a cooking class wherever they go—it’s how they learn about a place and its people. By the end of the night, we knew we’d be borrowing that ritual for future trips.
Music played in the background—“Best Spanish Music” according to the playlist, and even a Manu Chao song I love. It all felt so alive.
Our classmates
Chef Mily put the final touches on the paella
Fresh paella
Near the end, we gathered around a long dining table, raised our glasses, and shared the paella we’d helped create. It was one guest’s birthday, so we sang to him, laughed, and lingered a little longer than planned.
Birthday celebration!
And that’s the thing: experiences like this feed so much more than your appetite. They give you stories. They create rituals. They connect you to a place in a way no souvenir ever could.
Since that night, Dave and I have decided to make cooking classes part of every trip we take. It’s an invitation to slow down, to be curious, and to meet people over something we all understand—good food, shared at the table.
If you ever find yourself in Mallorca, I can’t recommend Omare enough. (You can find them on Instagram @omarepalma and book the experience on TripAdvisor.)
Have you ever taken a cooking class while traveling?
I'd love to know where, and what you made—it might just inspire our next stop.
You might also enjoy these articles:
