3-Dish Private Malaysian Cooking Class

Categories Private, Cooking Experiences Tag Authentic Malaysia

Design your own menu by personalising 3-dish or 4-dish from my diverse selection of hand-picked Malaysian cuisine. Embark on an exceptional unforgettable culinary adventure.

Private Penang Cooking Class: Discover the Soul of Malaysian Cuisine with Chef Samuel

Penang is known as one of Asia’s best kept Food Heaven for a reason. Penang’s vibrant culinary scene is often described as a tapestry of flavors—a blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, also not to forget unique Baba Nyonya and Eurasian influences woven into every dish. This bespoke private Penang cooking class offers flexibility to choose each dish from a different culture, all in a single class – a 5 hours culinary journey where you hands on not only rolling or cutting, we mean from scratch.

Amid the busy hawker stalls and fragrant food markets, there’s a quieter way to dive deeper into this cultural melting pot: a private Penang cooking class with Chef Samuel. Rather than juggling a crowded group, you’ll step into an intimate setting where each ingredient, technique, and story unfolds at a comfortable pace.

DURATION	4-5 hours
STARTS AT	7 am or 12 pm
FROM	RM 330 per pax (min RM 660 per slot)
TYPE	Private Slot ONLY
FOR	1 – 8 pax

A Glimpse into Penang’s Food Culture

Stroll through the local markets in the early morning, and you’ll hear lively banter in multiple languages, see a rainbow of produce laid out on wooden stalls, and catch the scent of spices floating in the humid air. Penang’s rich heritage is on full display here. Chef Samuel’s approach respects this heritage by emphasizing fresh, regional ingredients and traditional recipes—yet he’ll also show how these age-old dishes can fit seamlessly into modern kitchens around the world.

Cooking with Intention and Curiosity

In many large cooking classes, it’s easy to feel rushed or overlooked. During this private Penang cooking class, you set the tempo. Prefer to experiment with ingredients and adjust spice levels to your preference? Curious about the origin of a particular cooking method? This one-on-one format allows for deeper conversations that go beyond measuring cups and frying pans. Chef Samuel encourages curiosity: ask about the significance of tamarind in local broths, or how to keep sambal just spicy enough without overpowering the dish.

More Than Just Recipes

A true cooking experience isn’t limited to the steps outlined in a recipe. It’s shaped by the stories behind those recipes—the grandmother who first taught the art of layering flavors, the market vendor who wakes up at dawn to source the best produce, the cultural celebrations that center around shared meals. During this private session, Chef Samuel weaves anecdotes about Penang’s history, food customs, and personal memories that have inspired his own culinary journey. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a handful of new cooking techniques and a richer understanding of Penang’s identity.

Embrace the Joy of a Home-Cooked Meal

When the chopping and sizzling wind down, you’ll sit down to a feast you created yourself. This quiet moment—tasting the harmony of spices, sharing the table with loved ones or new friends—captures the essence of Penang’s communal spirit. Rather than dining in a bustling restaurant, the meal feels personal and grounding, reminding you that great food isn’t just about taste; it’s about connection.

An Invitation to Rediscover Penang

If you’re looking for more than a typical tourist activity, this private Penang cooking class offers a thoughtful alternative. It’s an invitation to slow down, savor the process, and appreciate the cultural layers that make Penang a culinary beacon. Under Chef Samuel’s guidance, you’ll gain confidence in the kitchen and walk away with a deeper appreciation for the flavors that put Penang on the global food map.

Whether you’re a seasoned cook hoping to refine your knowledge of Malaysian cuisine or a curious beginner keen to try something new, this experience promises a rare look into the heart—and kitchen of Malaysia.

What We'll Learn

Any 3-dish / 4-dish of your choice*
Personalise your bespoke Malaysian menu in my private Penang cooking class

Also available in vegan / vegetarian option.

What You'll Expect

Market Tour

Gather and learn unique local ingredients
Sightseeing the bustling locals’ lifestyle

A visit to Penang busiest wet market
AYER ITAM for morning session
BATU LANCANG for afternoon session

A Quick Brekkie/Lunchie

Enjoy local hot/iced coffee/snack

Sample authentic Penang hawker food

AT KOPITIAM nearby
Traditional Penang Hawker Coffee Shop / Hawker Centre

Arrive Cooking Studio

Take my car to my Cooking Studio nearby to sea

Take a minute to sit back indulge breathtaking
George Town cityscapes and seaview

Have a Sip

Taste a refreshing local fruit drink – NUTMEG Juice

Lesson Time

Explore significance of each dish as a theme

Learn the FUNDAMENTALS
Discover soul of each Ingredients

Grasp ESSENTIALS of culinary arts
Learn to balance each taste elements

Recreate exceptional finest Malaysian dishes

Time to Cook

You cook while I guide you through

Each Dish STEP BY STEP
Until you’ve hit mastery level

Leave a Memory

We’ll take pictures together with the food you’d just made yourself in my cooking class

'Makan' Together

Let’s Dine! Enjoy what you prepared over meaningful conversations

What I'll Provide

Ingredients
Recipes
Individual Work Station
Pick Up Transportation (Drop off not included)
Drinks

Local Market Visit
Hawker Breakfast or Lunch

How we'll Meet

Georgetown

Inclusive
Pick up at 7:00am / 12:00pm sharp

Area: George Town

Outside Georgetown

Not Included
Self Transport to Market

Area: Batu Ferringhi / Teluk Bahang / Bayan Lepas etc

Do remarks your hotel name during checkout.

No Drop-off Service

To have a more pleasurable experience without rush for transport, we will enjoy eating while Chef Samuel preps for next session. Ask us if you need us to help order Grab. So, even if you don’t have phone data, you’ll be just fine. My wife Jacqueline will help you out with our WIFI internet

Our Guest Reviews

Cédric Lignier
We would give this class a 6 stars review but Google won’t allow us to do that :-) This exceeded expectations and was a really special experience. It was so well organized, professional and well thought through. You can tell this is Chef Samuel's passion and it really shines through in his teaching and attention to detail. We love Malaysian cuisine and its complex flavors and appreciated having Samuel educate us on all of the ingredients, the stories behind the dishes, the techniques and so much more. His place is the ideal setup and is just the right balance of a professional cooking space while feeling intimate in a personal home. Also, my wife has a gluten and dairy intolerance and Samuel was very accommodating. And of course, all of the food was so delicious, it was the best food we've had in our 1 month stay in Malaysia and we've had a lot of delicious food! I look forward to making those dishes at home one day to share with friends and family. Thank you Chef Samuel!
Shannon Friedman
What an awesome day spent with Chef Samuel!! We got to see local markets in action while gathering all the ingredients for the afternoon, once back at Chefs home we were ready to start cooking and get an understanding of the differences between Malaysian, Thai and Indian cooking and curries. We had a great afternoon where cooking was genuinely fun and didn't feel like a chore. Also dishes we had been afraid of or that felt complicated now seem much easier and we are armed and ready to show off our new dishes to family and friends. We would definitely cook with Chef again on our next visit and hope to see you both in Australia one day
Veronika Obermair
This was my second cooking class in South East Asia and I was really amazed of how different it was from my first experience. You have your private chef who teaches you exactly how to prepare the dishes step by step so you will also be able to make them from scratch back home. Samuel's passion and knowledge for the Malaysian cuisine is outstanding. It also gives you a nice introduction in a locals daily life, which was also super interesting. Thanks for everything.
Ana Santos
Great learning experience, exceeded my expectations. Definitely will give it a shot at home and mimic the recipes for the family. Huge professionalism and passion from chef Samuel. Jacquelin is a great host too. Recommended!!
Joey Jordan
I’ve taken several cooking classes throughout Asia from cooking schools to private classes like this. I have to say that this was my favorite private class by a wide margin. The common problem with private classes is that they lack the preparation and available course materials that larger schools offer. Chef Samuel does an EXCELLENT job of both by providing clear recipes and instructions. In addition he provides excellent personal instruction in his comfortable home. I really can’t heap enough praise on him and the professionalism he brings to his work. If I’m back in KL with some free time, I would absolutely book another class with a different menu. Signed a hard to satisfy but very satisfied customer JJ
joeluxizhi
2019-11-01
Great experience with parents. They are fluent in English and Mandarin and are truly food-serious people.
Lcambr
2019-11-06
My husband and I did a private course with Chef Samuel - I'd already done one with friends and enjoyed it so much I wanted to go back! We chose to cook the curry mee, roti canai with dal, nyonya fish stew and curry chicken. The wet market visit is great and very informative - we asked about how to identify the freshest produce and Chef Samuel was happy to talk us through this. We learnt lots - from basic knife skills to how to make and fry a curry paste properly. Lots of professional cooking tips, tips on how to substitute ingredients when back home in the UK and you get the recipes to make notes on and take home. The Roti Canai flipping was fun, although it's going to take a lot of practice to master! Chef Samuel is very friendly and he even demonstrated how to make an extra dish for the kids, which they loved. I'd highly recommend booking this private course and will definitely be making the dishes when we get home!
Andrew M
2019-11-16
This will rank as a real highlight of my trip to Malaysia. Samuel is a young, passionate chef, determined to help those he meets experience the best of the country's cooking. He taught me to cook five dishes, and I've come away with recipes, ideas and confidence. He teaches in his 28th floor apartment, which is an experience in itself as you gaze over the city, and he introduces you to a vibrant, hectic Chinese-style market early in the morning - an experience most travellers/tourists would probably never get...or if they did, they'd feel like voyeurs rather than participants. When it's all over, he delivers you safely back to your hotel, tired and happy. I can't think of a better way of getting inside the culture, and the price is so reasonable. It's an intense session, but very cool - and you get to eat the food you've cooked. I really recommend.
tgallard2017
2019-11-20
My wife and I are an older couple and we completed a cooking class with Chef Samuel two days ago which we enjoyed very much. The cuisine for Chef Samuel changes daily and for our class, we cooked southern Chinese food which was complex, spicy and delicious. While not a private class, we were the only two people on the day and Chef Samuel was attentative to our needs and with his very good English, could answer any of our many questions. His email communications with us before and after our class was fantastic and it included a number of recommendations for locations for different foods in Penang. We learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We would both highly recommend a class with Chef Samuel as an enjoyable and informative experiece that was also good value for the price.
CarlottaC407
2019-12-04
Outstanding private cooking class experience, informative, interactive and fully enjoyable. Chef Samuel has a deep knowledge of Malaysian food culture and a great enthusiasm to share with its guests. Perfectly organized and punctual, you can chose which dish you want to learn from his many delicious recipes.
jenniferrenggli
2020-02-05
This was definitely one of the best things we have done in Malaysia! We have learned so much about different asian cuisine, cooking styles and culture. It was a truly rememberable experience! Samuel is a very passionate, inspiring and yet humble person who will treat you more like you are his guests than customers. Do not miss out on having a private cooking class with him! You won‘t regret it