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Welcome to Ina’s Kitchen and Tours—a place where food meets culture, and every journey feels like coming home.

Jul 3, 2025 - 17:05
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Homepage

Welcome to Ina’s Kitchen and Tours—a place where food meets culture, and every journey feels like coming home.

Whether you're a food lover, an adventurer, a curious traveler, or someone searching for new experiences beyond the typical tourist path, you've landed in the right spot. Our homepage is not just a starting point—it’s an invitation. It’s the beginning of flavorful meals, rich traditions, warm conversations, and unforgettable travels.

Who We Are

At Ina’s Kitchen and Tours, we believe that the best way to experience a culture is through its kitchen and its streets. Founded by Ina Mendoza, a lifelong traveler, home cook, and certified tour guide, our mission is simple: connect people through food and travel in the most personal and authentic way possible.

What started as intimate cooking lessons in Ina’s family kitchen has now grown into a thriving hub for food-focused tours, culinary experiences, and immersive cultural journeys. Whether you're exploring a hidden village market in the Philippines or learning to cook traditional adobo from scratch, our goal is to make every moment feel heartfelt and real.

What You’ll Find Here

Our homepage is your gateway to all the incredible things we offer. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate and discover what makes Ina’s Kitchen and Tours truly special:

1. Culinary Experiences

We offer a variety of hands-on cooking classes and food experiences designed for everyone—from beginners to seasoned home cooks. These are not your average demonstrations. They are personal, engaging, and take place in real kitchens, not industrial labs. You'll chop, stir, taste, and share meals with locals and other guests. Our classes include:

  • Traditional Filipino Dishes (Adobo, Sinigang, Lumpia)

  • Regional Specialties (Pampanga's sisig, Ilocos empanada)

  • Vegan & Modern Twists on Classics

  • Street Food 101

Whether you’re a solo traveler or a family on vacation, we make sure everyone leaves full and smiling.

2. Food and Culture Tours

Think beyond sightseeing. Our tours dive deep into the soul of a destination. We walk through bustling markets, try local delicacies from hole-in-the-wall stalls, and visit farms, kitchens, and homes where food tells stories. Some of our most loved tours include:

  • The Manila Street Food Crawl

  • The Heritage Farm-to-Table Tour in Laguna

  • The Baguio Cultural Cooking Trail

  • The Seafood Safari in Palawan

These tours are designed to be immersive. You won't just taste; you'll learn how dishes are made, meet the people who make them, and hear the stories behind each ingredient.

3. Blog & Recipes

Our blog is a vibrant extension of our tours. It’s where we share stories from the road, profiles of local food heroes, travel tips, and of course—authentic recipes you can try at home. Whether you’re looking to recreate a dish you loved on tour or simply curious about Filipino ingredients, you’ll find inspiration and guidance here.

We regularly feature:

  • Easy-to-follow Filipino recipes

  • Travel spotlights across the Philippines

  • Cultural insights and etiquette guides

  • Guest stories and kitchen adventures

4. Custom Experiences

Looking for something more personal? We offer private tours and cooking classes customized to your interests. Planning a honeymoon, family reunion, or corporate retreat? We'll craft something special, whether it’s a weekend getaway to a culinary farm or a full-day island hopping tour with a cooking demo on the beach.

We also cater to dietary restrictions and preferences—vegan, gluten-free, halal—because food should be inclusive and joyful for everyone.

5. Our Community

At the heart of Ina’s Kitchen and Tours is a growing community of travelers, chefs, home cooks, farmers, artisans, and culture lovers. We’re proud to work with local families, indigenous communities, young chefs, and traditional food keepers across the country.

When you book a tour or take a class with us, you're not just participating in an activity—you’re helping to preserve culinary traditions, support small businesses, and empower communities.

Why Choose Us?

We aren’t the biggest. We don’t offer hundreds of options or cookie-cutter experiences. What we do offer is warmth, authenticity, and attention to detail. Every guest is treated like family. Every tour is curated with love. Every recipe is tested in real kitchens, made with ingredients you can find (or substitute), and taught with stories, not just steps.

Plus, we're passionate about sustainability, responsible tourism, and genuine cultural exchange. We believe travel should make a positive impact—for both the traveler and the places they visit.

Ready to Join Us?

Take a look around the site, browse upcoming tours, read a recipe, or message us directly to start planning your next food adventure. Whether it’s your first time in the Philippines or your tenth, we’re here to make you feel welcome, fed, and full of new memories.

At Ina’s Kitchen and Tours, we don’t just serve food—we serve connection, tradition, and joy.