Prepare Osa with Teta Marjeta

Come hungry, leave with recipes. This Gjirokaster cooking class brings you into Teta Marjeta’s home to prepare Osa, Qifqi, and Hasude with fresh local ingredients, then sit down to eat what you made. I like the personal setting and the chance to cook dishes strongly tied to Gjirokaster, rather than making a generic Albanian meal. I also like that drinks, food, and recipe cards are included.

The small group, limited to 10 people, should keep the class friendly and manageable. The main thing to consider is that the experience takes place in a private home, so it is best for you if you enjoy an informal class rather than a polished restaurant-style demonstration. The 2.5-hour session also leaves little room for a slow, leisurely meal if the cooking runs long.

• Three Gjirokaster specialties: Prepare Osa, Qifqi, and Hasude, dishes with a clear connection to the city.
• A home kitchen setting: Walk from Çerçiz Topulli Square to Teta Marjeta’s home for a more personal meal.
• Drinks included: Start with raki or a soft drink, then pair the meal with wine, raki, or another soft drink.
• A useful souvenir: Take home recipe cards so you can try the dishes again.
• Small group size: The class accepts no more than 10 people.
• Friendly local support: Besi has helped with translation and was praised for being welcoming and helpful.

Meeting in Çerçiz Topulli Square

Your experience begins at Sheshi Çerçiz Topulli 5, the central meeting point in Gjirokaster. You meet the host there, then walk together to Marjeta’s home. The walk is part of the transition from sightseeing to home cooking, though the supplied details do not give an exact walking time.

That meeting arrangement is useful. You do not need to find a private address on your own, and the activity ends back at the same square. If you are exploring Gjirokaster before the class, allow enough time to reach the meeting point without rushing.

The experience is offered in English. Besi has been involved as a translator and received especially warm praise for helping the group feel welcome. Since the class includes cooking, eating, and conversation, clear communication matters. You will want to understand what you are preparing, not just watch someone else do it.

The group limit is 10 people. That is not a one-on-one lesson, but it is small enough to feel more personal than a large food tour. A small group can also make shared kitchen work easier, though your hands-on time may depend on how many people attend and how the tasks are divided.

A Glass of Raki Before the Cooking Begins

At Marjeta’s home, the class starts with a drink and conversation. You might choose raki made by her husband or one of the soft drinks she prepares. This opening gives everyone time to settle in and meet the group before the work begins.

Raki is a traditional Albanian spirit, so it fits the setting. The drinking age for this experience is 18. If you do not drink alcohol, a soft drink is available, and the meal can also be paired with wine, raki, or a soft drink later.

The home setting is central to the appeal. You are not simply being shown a recipe in a commercial kitchen. You are welcomed into Marjeta’s home, where the class takes place in a friendly atmosphere and, according to the experience description, on a pleasant veranda. One particularly useful detail is that the ingredients are fresh and local, giving the class a stronger sense of place.

I would not expect a formal chef’s lecture or a carefully staged cooking show. The charm is in the direct contact with Marjeta, the guide, and the other people in the group. If you enjoy relaxed conversation with your meal, this is a strong match. If you prefer strict instruction and precise professional demonstrations, the informal style may feel less structured.

Making Qifqi, Gjirokaster’s Rice Specialty

The first dish in the sample menu is Qifqi, a traditional Gjirokaster food made mainly with rice. It is described as a specialty found only in Gjirokaster, which makes it one of the most useful reasons to choose this class over a broad Albanian cooking lesson.

Qifqi gives the meal a local focus from the start. You are learning a dish connected to the city itself, not just a famous food from somewhere else in the country. The class teaches you to prepare it as part of the group’s work, so you should come ready to take part rather than simply observe.

The supplied information does not list every ingredient or cooking step, so you should not expect a detailed technical preview before arriving. That is part of why the recipe card matters. You can focus on the class while Marjeta and the guide explain the process, then use the written recipe when you cook at home.

A seasonal salad prepared by Marjeta accompanies the meal. It is not one of the three main cooking projects, but it adds a fresh side to the menu and means you are not waiting for every part of lunch or dinner to be made from scratch.

Preparing Osa, the Main Dish

Osa is the main course. It is described as a kind of pasta combined with chicken, and it is one of Marjeta’s special recipes. The dish gives the class a more substantial centerpiece after the Qifqi.

I like the balance of the menu. Qifqi introduces a local rice dish, Osa provides the main savory course, and Hasude finishes the meal with something sweet. You get three different preparations in one short session, rather than spending the full class on only one recipe.

The class is designed to teach you the dishes from scratch using local ingredients. That does not mean you should expect to master every cooking technique in 150 minutes. You will be working within a compact schedule, and the pace may be fairly active, especially with a full group. Still, the chance to prepare all three foods gives you a useful introduction to home cooking in Gjirokaster.

The experience description does not specify dietary substitutions or allergy arrangements. If you have food restrictions, check with the provider before booking rather than assuming the chicken, pasta, rice, or other ingredients can be changed.

Finishing with Hasude and a Seasonal Salad

Hasude is the dessert. It completes the three-part menu and gives you a sweet recipe to take home along with the savory dishes.

The full sample menu is:

• Starter: Qifqi
• Main: Osa
• Dessert: Hasude
• Side: Seasonal salad prepared by Marjeta

This is a modest but well-shaped meal. You are not just sampling a plate of food. You prepare the starter, main dish, and dessert, then sit down to taste the results together. That shared meal is where the class shifts from instruction to social time.

The menu also helps you understand how local cooking can be presented in a home setting. Qifqi and Osa are the main reasons to book for regional food, while Hasude gives you a final recipe that may be simple enough to attempt at home. The recipe cards are especially useful here because the class moves quickly and you may not remember every measurement afterward.

Eating Together on the Veranda

After the cooking, you sit with the group, Marjeta, and your guide to eat. The experience includes all food and beverages, so there should be no surprise charge for the meal or the listed drinks.

You can pair the food with a complimentary glass of wine, raki, or a soft drink. Earlier, you may have started with raki or a soft drink, so the drinks help turn the cooking class into a complete social meal rather than a quick lesson followed by a separate restaurant visit.

A review of the experience praised the cute veranda, local ingredients, wine, and the welcoming attitude of Marjeta and Besi. Those details point to the real strength of the class: it combines food with hospitality. You are not only learning what goes into the dishes. You are spending time in a local home, with the host sharing food connected to her own cooking.

The meal may be the most memorable part for you if you enjoy meeting people. It also gives you a chance to compare the dishes you helped prepare with the way they taste when served together. Do not book this expecting a silent, highly technical lesson. The conversation is part of the experience.

What the $66.09 Price Includes

The cost is $66.09 per person. For a 2.5-hour class, that is a reasonable price if you value the full package: instruction, ingredients, the meal, drinks, and recipes to use later.

You are paying for more than a cooking demonstration. The fee includes a guided walk from the square to the home, hands-on preparation of three dishes, a seasonal salad, drinks, and time at the table afterward. You also receive recipe cards, which give the experience value beyond your time in Gjirokaster.

The price makes less sense if your main goal is simply to eat cheaply. You could likely find a less expensive meal elsewhere, but that would not include the cooking lesson or the home visit. I would compare this with the cost of a standard restaurant meal plus a separate food activity. Seen that way, the included food and drinks make the price easier to justify.

The class is booked, on average, 37 days ahead. That suggests you should plan early, particularly if you are visiting Gjirokaster on fixed dates or want to join a small group. Confirmation arrives when you book, and the mobile ticket makes it easier to keep the booking on your phone.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted or refunded, based on the local start time.

Who Will Enjoy This Class Most?

I would recommend this experience to you if you like food with a clear regional identity. Qifqi is especially important because it is tied directly to Gjirokaster, while Osa and Hasude add variety to the lesson.

It also suits you if you prefer personal contact over a large organized tour. Marjeta opens her home, and the group size is capped at 10. The warm response to Marjeta, Besi, and the rest of the team suggests that the human side of the class is one of its best features.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the soft drink option, but anyone taking part in alcoholic drinks must be at least 18. The experience should also work for couples, solo visitors, and friends who want an evening activity that feels different from another restaurant meal.

You may want to skip it if you need strict control over ingredients, have serious food allergies, or dislike informal home settings. The available information does not promise substitutions, a private class, or a detailed plan for dietary needs. It is also not the best choice if you want a long, slow dinner, since the total experience lasts about two and a half hours.

Practical Tips Before You Go

Plan to arrive at Çerçiz Topulli Square with a little time to spare. The host leads the group from the square to Marjeta’s home, and the activity returns to the same meeting point afterward.

Keep your mobile ticket easy to access. The experience is offered in English, and the group can include up to 10 people. Since the average booking time is 37 days in advance, early planning is sensible during a busy visit.

Come prepared to participate. You will be making Qifqi, Osa, and Hasude, so this is not just a tasting. At the same time, remember that the information does not list exact cooking tasks, equipment, or a full ingredient list. If those details matter to you, ask the provider before the class.

If you drink, bring proof of age if needed. The minimum drinking age is 18, though soft drinks are available. The class includes a seasonal salad and beverages, so you do not need to arrange a separate meal immediately afterward.

Should You Book Prepare Osa with Teta Marjeta?

Book this class if you want a small, home-based food experience with dishes that belong to Gjirokaster. The combination of Qifqi, Osa, and Hasude gives you a broader taste of local cooking than a single-dish lesson, and the recipe cards let you continue the experience at home.

The strongest reasons to book are the personal setting, the included meal and drinks, and the warm support from Marjeta and Besi. At $66.09, the value is good for you if you want instruction and hospitality together.

Skip it if you need a formal culinary workshop, guaranteed dietary adaptations, or a private group. For most curious eaters, though, this is a friendly way to spend 2.5 hours and learn why Gjirokaster’s food deserves a place in your trip.

FAQ

Where does the cooking class begin?

It begins at Sheshi Çerçiz Topulli 5 in Gjirokastër, Albania. You meet the host there and walk to Marjeta’s home.

How long does Prepare Osa with Teta Marjeta last?

The experience lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What dishes will I prepare?

You will prepare Qifqi as a starter, Osa as the main dish, and Hasude for dessert. A seasonal salad prepared by Marjeta is also served.

Are food and drinks included?

Yes. All food is included, along with beverages. You can have raki, wine, or a soft drink, and afternoon tea is also listed among the inclusions.

Is the class offered in English?

Yes, the experience is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.