Wood Oven Cooking in Sifnos – Outside, Around the Fire

A hands-on, outdoor cooking experience in a traditional wood-fired oven.

This wood oven cooking experience in Sifnos takes place outside, next to a traditional wood-fired oven. It looks and feels like home cooking. We prepare the dishes while the oven is being prepared too, we talk about the old ways and the new, and we see why this tradition is still alive on the island.

On Sundays, our traditional dish is baked in a wood oven. Our Easter lamb is cooked in a wood oven too. During this experience I share the stories behind these dishes, explain the differences in the procedure compared to a modern oven, and show you how we still use this way of cooking today. While the food is slowly baking, we make salads and dips, taste local treats and enjoy the pace of outdoor cooking.

It is a hands-on activity. Everybody is expected to do something. You will not only watch; you will help with mixing, seasoning and preparing the food that goes into the oven, and you will sit down to eat the results of our efforts together.

What we cook in the wood oven

The recipes we prepare are the kind of food we normally eat at home. They are simple, everyday dishes that work well in a wood-fired oven and can be cooked within the time of the session.

At the end, you receive the recipes on paper, with clear instructions and notes from our time together, so you can repeat them in your own kitchen, even if you do not have a wood oven at home.

Foodstuffs are fresh and local. I buy them the same day from the market or get them from friends’ gardens. Most groceries come from small Greek producers. Within this context, you are welcome to tell me if there is something you really like and would like to learn more about, as long as it fits in the time we have and in the capacity of the wood oven.

Outdoor setting & what to expect

The whole procedure takes place outside the house, next to the wood oven. We spend our time in the courtyard, not inside a closed kitchen.

This means you will probably see and hear what we see in a typical Sifnos yard: small insects flying around, some island wildlife, and a few cats passing by or relaxing nearby. They are not on the table with us, but they are around.

Because of this, the wood oven cooking experience is not suitable for guests who are seriously allergic to insects or cats, or who feel very uncomfortable in an outdoor setting with small creatures around. If you have mild sensitivities and still wish to join, it is a good idea to bring anything you usually use for your allergies.

Dietary preferences & food restrictions

Because we cook from scratch and work with what is fresh on the day, it is important that you let me know in advance about:

Food allergies
Eating disorders
Foods you dislike or prefer to avoid

Vegetarians, vegans and dairy-free guests are welcome and can usually be included in the menu, especially in the salads, dips and side dishes we prepare while the main dish is baking.

Many traditional wood oven dishes involve bread, pies or pasta, so this experience is not suitable for guests who must avoid gluten completely.

Practical details

Location: Outdoor courtyard with a traditional wood-fired oven in Sifnos
Type of experience: Hands-on, outdoor home cooking with a local host
Duration: 3–4 hours, including the time we spend eating lunch together
Group size: 2–10 persons
Setting: Fully outdoors, near the oven, with island cats and small insects around
Host: Experienced English-speaking local host
Transfers: Transfers to and from the house can be included on request with an extra cost.

To ask about dates, starting times or to plan something special (for example a focus on vegetables, a certain dish you love, or a more relaxed pace for a multigenerational group), please send me a request with your preferred dates, the number of people and any dietary notes.

Where does the wood oven cooking experience take place?

The wood oven cooking experience takes place outside, in a traditional courtyard in Sifnos, next to a real wood-fired oven. We do not cook in a restaurant kitchen or a professional school. You come to an outdoor space where we light the oven, prepare the food together and sit down to eat in the same yard.
Is this a formal cooking class?

No. It is a hands-on, home-style activity. I explain what we are doing and why, but the feeling is more like cooking with friends and family outside on a Sunday. We prepare the dishes together, talk about everyday life on the island and local food traditions, and share a long lunch when the food comes out of the oven.
What kind of recipes do we cook in the wood oven?

We cook simple, everyday Greek dishes that work well in a wood-fired oven and that can be prepared and baked within 3–4 hours. They are the kind of food we make for our families in Sifnos, not a “show menu”. I choose recipes that show how we still use the oven for Sunday meals and Easter lamb, and that you can adapt later to your own kitchen at home.
Can you accommodate vegetarians, vegans or other dietary needs?

Vegetarians, vegans and dairy-free guests are welcome, especially in the salads, dips and side dishes we prepare while the main dish is baking. Please tell me in advance about any allergies, eating disorders or ingredients you wish to avoid so that I can plan the menu. Because many traditional wood oven dishes contain bread, pastry or pasta, this experience is not suitable for guests who must avoid gluten completely.
Is the experience suitable for people with allergies to insects or cats?

If you have a serious allergy to insects or cats, this experience is not recommended. We cook and eat outside, and it is normal to have small insects and a few cats in the area. They are not on the table or on the food, but they are present in the yard. If your sensitivity is mild and you would still like to join, please bring whatever you normally use for your allergies.
How long does the wood oven cooking experience last and how many people can join?

The wood oven cooking experience usually lasts 3–4 hours, including the time we spend eating lunch together. Because the food needs time to cook properly in the wood oven, we use this time to prepare salads, dips and other small dishes and to talk about local food culture. The group size is from 2 to 10 persons, so there is space for everyone to participate comfortably.
How can I book the wood oven cooking experience in Sifnos?

To book, please send me a request through the contact page with your preferred date, the number of people in your group and any dietary information or allergies I should know about. I will answer personally with availability, the exact meeting point and all practical details so that we can confirm the best time for you.