Beit Sitti

Beit Sitti, a name that evokes a grandmother's home, is a cook-and-dine experience in Jabal al-Weibdeh, one of Amman's oldest neighbourhoods. It was founded in 2010 by Maria Haddad and her sisters Dina and Tania, and it describes itself as Jordan's premier cook-and-dine experience. Classes take place in a home on Mohammad Ali As-Saadi Street, a short walk from Paris Circle.

The format is simple and personal. Guests cook a full seasonal Arabic meal under the guidance of a hajjeh, the respectful term for an older woman, and the team of cooks includes Um Reem, Um Mohammad, Um Nabil, Um Malek and Um Mahmoud. Each meal covers a main course, a salad, a side dish and a dessert, so you learn several techniques in one session and then sit down together to eat everything you have made. Menus change with the seasons and the ingredients available.

The experience suits couples, families, solo travellers and groups of friends, and it requires no previous cooking skill. It is a good way to understand the dishes you will see on menus around Jordan, and to meet local people in a relaxed, home setting rather than a restaurant. Because the session ends with a full meal, it works well in place of lunch or dinner on a day of sightseeing. Vegetarians and anyone with allergies should mention them when booking.

Classes run any day of the week, and reservations are made through the booking page on the website. Private dining is also offered for groups and special occasions. Book ahead, especially in the spring and autumn travel seasons, and ask about timings when you reserve, as the session includes both cooking and a relaxed sit-down meal.

Beit Sitti is in Jabal al-Weibdeh, close to Darat al Funun, Paris Circle and the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, so it is easy to combine with an afternoon exploring the neighbourhood's galleries and cafés. A taxi from Downtown or Jabal Amman takes only a few minutes. Contact the team by email at [email protected] with any questions before your visit.

If you enjoy the class, look out for the dishes you cooked on menus elsewhere in Jordan; recognising them, and knowing how they are made, makes eating out in Amman, Madaba or Petra far more rewarding.