Tresna Bali Cooking School

I recently attended the Tresna Cooking School and was very impressed with it. So much information about Balinese food was presented to us that day, from a tour of their abundant garden where Adi harvested spices, roots, leaves and vegetables, to the demonstration of how to husk a coconut, extract the milk and burn the husks to produce coconut charcoal. Inside, the kitchen was purpose built to conduct cooking classes and staff were on hand to assist and clean up as we went. The classes were very well thought out and prepared. We got through so much, including very complex spice pastes, in total about 16 recipes. Following the lesson we enjoyed a lunch at a long table, sampling the wonderful food and getting to know the other participants in the class. I'll be back next time I'm in Ubud!

Loved that fact of licking the spices ourselves, the chef Adi was extremly friendly and the hands on experience was great

Prior to attending the course, Tresna provided clear communication on what will be covered, timings, google map’s location code and preparation instructions for the day. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by Adi, Frances and their lovely team of sous-chefs with a refreshing Ginger and Cinnamon cold drink. The workstations were nicely laid out with a chopping knife, board, apron and towel and a sticky name tag. The class sizes are intimate - ours was 8 - which meant both Frances and Adi could assist all participants. Before we started cooking, we were invited to pick some of the ingredients from the garden adjacent to the cooking school. Here we learnt how Adi and Frances carefully grow their fruit, vegetables and herbs to ensure that the cooking school, and the surrounding houses in the village have the freshest ingredients. The garden is filled with everything from Durian to jackfruit, ginger, galangal, turmeric, moringa to vanilla pods and their own coconut trees. There were about 4-5 sous chefs - an incredible team who were instrumental behind the scenes to pick and prepare the ingredients which we needed for class - this ensured we had the freshest ingredients, and we were able to cook a number of dishes in a short space of time. They even had time to make us some tempeh and sambal nibbles as we cooked. Once we picked these fresh ingredients, Adi taught us some useful knife skills and how to prepare different vegetables and herbs. In total, we cooked 8 dishes and 2 pastes with a few snack breaks. Along the way, Frances and Adi gave us hand tips on how to adapt recipes for similar ingredients which would be available in our home countries. They were also careful to include each participant in the cooking process, be it either pulling a salad together or preparing a curry. Overall, it was a fantastic experience in traditional Balinese cuisine typically cooked at home and during ceremonies with the freshest ingredients. After class, we feasted on all the food we had made and it truly felt like we were having lunch with our family. At lunch, Frances shared some fascinating stories about her life journey so far, some of which were very moving. Tresna (who also offer non-veg classes) was one of the few who offered vegan classes that we came across that did not use the terms vegan and vegetarian interchangeably which due to our dietary requirements was truly appreciated. We didn't know what to expect going in, other than just a cooking class. We however walked away with incredible memories and a true appreciation for Balinese food and culture. We learnt that Tresna means "love" in Balinese and witnessing what Adi and Frances have created and accomplished so far on their life's work, we can see that they act purely out of love and have the biggest hearts. We would thoroughly recommend joining this class, and we wish Adi and Frances every success in their endeavours.

Adi and Frances deliver an authentic experience, complete with an informative garden tour, hands on prep and cooking, and a spectacular vegan meal. The kitchen is spotless, modern and comfortable. The vibe is warm and soulful. Highly recommend this unique Balinese experience.

Frances and Adi are so kind, informative and fun! My husband and I took the Monday vegan Balinese cooking class and it’s been the best meal we’ve eaten so far in Bali! They shared information about their lives and culture within their village which was so interesting. Highly recommend taking a class with them — it’s unforgettable!

We can’t say enough about this cooking class or the staff or Adi & Frances. Such an enjoyable day learning and laughing. If you want a fun, encouraging, educational class - this is your go to. We will be coming back to Bali specifically to see them again. What an experience! Don’t miss out!

If you want to take a vegan cooking class in Ubud, THIS is the one to take. We appreciated getting to have a traditional Balinese vegan cooking class. Adi and Frances are kind and knowledgeable instructors who provided an excellent vegan cooking class experience. Their team is impresseively well-choreographed and all are warm and friendly. I loved that all the ingredients used are high-quality and organic. The kitchen is gorgeous and the garden tour was fun too. The knowledge shared about Balinese traditions was invaluable. It helped a lot that they speak excellent English so that we were able to get answers to all kinds of questions. If you're considering taking this class, go directly to YES, you won't be disappointed. =)

We had an amazing time in the cooking class. Adi were gracious, funny and welcoming. Complicated process yet Adi was so compassionate to share his knowledge and experience in making very delicate dish, an authentic Balinese food. Along with my friends, we enjoyed making the spice paste. Learned a lot of techniques in cooking and added more style that I would definitely incorporate and adopt cooking at home. Overall, the Bali culture is great! Lovely people and most especially the food is delicious. Our visit was totally worth it!

We absolutely loved the cooking class with Frances, Adi and the team. They were well-prepared, very knowledgeable and made us feel welcome. We learned a lot and enjoyed one of the best meals we had in Bali. We'd love to go back to learn how to prepare even more traditional dishes. Highly recommended!

Our hosts were so warm and welcoming. We loved exploring the garden and picking herbs whilst hearing about the the history and culture of Bali. We cooked so much food- it can be as hands on as you like. Our group loved doing all the work. Then we are the biggest feast ever whilst chatting with our hosts and group. Such a lovely experience. Best this we did in Bali.

The whole experience...the people, the food, the place but specially all the stories about how they built the place and also the Balinese culture! Just loved it! Can't wait to cook back home! (I'll email them for the recipe ... impossible to remember all spices of the traditional Balinese sauce!... and, make sure I reserve a whole day to prepare my own coconut cream and oil! It was a bit hard to find the place with the GPS as we were riding our motorbikes! Signs would help on the little road!

Wir haben lange recherchiert welche Cookingclass wir besuchen möchten - hier gibt es wirklich riesige Unterschiede in Sachen Qualität und Nachhaltigkeit. Uns ging es in erster Linie darum auch etwas über die balinesischen Lebensmittel zu erfahren die wir verarbeiten und nicht eben „nur“ um das Kochen. Da beinahe alle verarbeiteten Lebensmitteln in Adi's und Frances Garten wachsen, war es besonders toll zu sehen wo das Gemüse bzw. wie Kräuter wachsen und wie es geerntet wird (wo hat man sonst die Möglichkeit?). Dies konnten wir gleich am Anfang im Zuge eines ausführlichen Rundgangs erleben. Besonders waren wir von war Adi's und Frances Offenherzigkeit und deren Gastfreundlichkeit beeindruckt, aber auch von dem vielen Detailwissen zur Insel, der balinesischen Kultur, deren Bräuchen und natürlich von ihren Kochkünsten. Alle unsere Fragen wurden mit viel Geduld ausführlich beantwortet.. Wir können diese Erfahrung jedem ans Herz legen und empfehlen die direkte Buchung auf deren Homepage/ per E-Mail. Beide sprechen hervorragend Englisch. Vielen Dank euch Beiden, wir kommen in jedem Fall wieder. Bis bald 😊 Anne&Lucas

I love the class environment and setup. It’s modern, clean, and well equipped. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The instructor was fun and informative. The decor of the kitchen is beautiful. Overall we enjoyed our experience very well. We got to know a lot of local Balinese spices and ingredients. By walking through the garden, we get to understand how the spices look like and smell like. I appreciate such hands on experience of knowing the ingredients which is essential for me to understand about the food. The cooking school has a lovely modern cottage for rent, and they also do wedding planning for many years in Bali. I think they are really embracing Bali culture and wanting to share it to the world in a beautiful way. I will strongly recommend you to visit their cooking class if you aim to learn some serious Balinese cooking.

My wife and I absolutely loved our experience with Tresna Bali Cooking School! Frances and Adi have a passion for sharing their love of traditional Balinese food. Their property is beautiful and teeming with fresh ingredients that are harvested and used in the cooking class. Frances and Adi’s knowledge of the plants coupled with Adi’s personal stories about growing up cooking made for a special day that can’t be found many places. The kitchen and facilities are clean, well-stocked, and comfortable. We felt like we were in a large home kitchen. The recipes were approachable for the home cook but felt elevated by the freshness and variety of ingredients. Sharing the delicious meal and conversation with Frances and Adi capped off our amazing day. Everything about this cooking class exceeded our expectations. Don’t look anywhere else for a cooking experience in Bali; Tresna Bali Cooking School has it all!

Totally thrilled with the cooking experience with great communicators. Questions and techniques covered well. This is a must if you are interested in cooking authentic Bali food.

This was a very fun and educative workshop. Got very inspired by the garden with all the ingredients that Adi and Frances grow. They have a beautiful place and are very nice people. I loved every minute of it!

Chef Adi is knowledgeble and helpful. I learnt a lot from him. Will join his cooking class again when I visit Bali.

This cooking was the absolute best experience of our vacation. We booked a plant based cooking class. When we arrived we were welcomed so warmly which made us feel right at home. We were the first ones to arrive so we got the chance to take some pictures in the garden. This class was so well organized everything was perfect. Instead of going to a market we got most of the produce out of the garden. The staff were on the road early to get some additional greens. We loved the funny family stories from Frances and Adi which made the experience intimate. We also loved the fact that the group was not too big. It is a hands on cooking class and they really take the time to teach. They can also arrange a pick-up / drop-off service. We stayed in Seminyak so we decided to chill out some more after the cooking class. Our driver Gun stayed with us the whole day. That way we also got to visit the craft market and the Monkey Forest. Thank you Gun! Thank you Adi and Frances and of course, the lovely team who helped make this class into a great experience! Much Love

Our experience at the Tresna Bali Cooking school was top shelf! Adi is so knowledgeable about Balinese cooking methods, flavours and traditions, and Frances is a great hostess. So full of energy and fun. The hands-on learning is such a treat and all of the herbs and spices are picked right from their garden just for us. So fresh! We definitely recommend this experience for all foodies! Les and Winnie Victoria, Canada

My partner and I are both professional cooks in San Francisco. We came to Bali specifically to learn Balinese flavors and traditional dishes. We chose Tresna Bali Cooking School based on recommendation from another chef in Los Angeles. Chef Adi and Frances are very responsive from the day we booked our private class via email. Everything was organized, we know what we're going to cook prior to us getting there. We were picked up at 6 am at our hotel in Ubud. We requested to cook Balinese suckling pig and side dishes that normally come with the pig, that's why the day started super early. We prepped everything together, it was a labor intensive and very hands-on class, which is exactly what we wanted. We did about 10 dishes all together (plus the 60 lb pig). We ended the class by feasting together with the staff. We learned SO MUCH from Chef Adi and Frances, and I have been cooking the dishes here because they are just so delicious and I am craving them. Haven't had the chance to cook the whole pig here in the U.S., but I've been roasting pork loin with the Balinese spices thanks to the recipes that were emailed to us after the class. Thank you Chef Adi and Frances for opening up your beautiful kitchen to us. Thank you for working side by side with us throughout the class and together we created an amazing Balinese suckling pig lunch. It was truly memorable, and probably the highlight of our Bali trip. Thanks again for everything. We will be back soon!

We loved cooking with Adi and being able to experience his “garden to table” approach. So tasty and delicious!! Would recommend this cooking class to everyone for their next trip to Bali.

Six of us spent an amazing morning/afternoon at Frances and Adi’s beautiful cooking school . We chopped, we ground spices , we toured their amazing garden where the most delicious herbs and spices were grown . Oh to have a galangal hedge here in Sydney . The food we prepared and ate was heavenly . I really can’t fault this experience as it was clear that Frances and Adi have a true love of food and people. If you are in Ubud you shouldn’t miss out on this amazing experience.

Mum and I had such a great day with Frances and Chef Adi at Tresna Bali Cooking School. Frances was really easy to communicate with from the get go, extremely accommodating with our request for a Vegetarian Menu and confirmed our dates pretty much immediate. Adi our Chef and teacher was patient throughout the course of the day, explaining the different types of ingredients and what we had to do for each course. Even making up a dish on the spot! We had an incredible menu and a feast to eat at the end of it! Certainly didn't leave hungry that's for sure. What made the day (other than the delicious food) was Adi,, Frances, their constantly smiling staff and beautiful daughter who made us feel so welcome, with many laughs throughout our class. It was great to learn about how they found the property, started the school and their future plans to share such amazing food and the Balinese culture with people. It was very special to be able to spend the day with such warm people and experience and taste traditional ceremonial dishes. Highly recommend Tresna Bali Cooking School for anyone with an interest in the culinary and Balinese food culture. Wish me luck as I try to recreate the 18 ingredient spice paste at home!

Such an amazing day for us in Ubud. If you're looking for an experience where you can learn so much about Balinese culture, food and lifestyle this is your chance! Adi and Frances are wonderful and interesting people with so much to give. You could spend all day listening to their stories and the excellant food is an added bonus. You won't regret it! Thank you!!

Words can't capture the overall experience of visiting and cooking with Adi and Frances and their wonderful team of helpers at Tresna Cooking School. You will be transported to a magical place the moment you arrive. Absolutely everything is a feast for all the senses. You will be surrounded by beauty, kindness, love and will likely create the most magical meal of your life! I have taken many cooking classes in Bali and around the world, and this was by far the best... in another stratosphere. Can't wait to go again...and again…

Tresna Bali Cooking School is insanely good and a must do when in Bali. It was mine and my partners first time to Bali and the generosity, warmth and kindness shown was inspiring. Now for the actual cooking school it was fantastic, learning new cooking skills while being inspired by the local Balinese dishes using local organic ingredients. What can I say it was truly a fantastic opportunity to learn about the culture while enjoying yourself in a friendly atmosphere. We actually went to back to the cooking school a week later because we enjoyed ourselves so much. On the return journey we also stayed in the Little Wooden Cottage for 2 nights which is situated on the property. The luxury of the cottage is combined with the authentic exterior and nature surroundings. Additionally to the couple of nights we went out to experience the local wood and silver villages with Adi (Owner) giving us a real taste of the Balinese culture. I cannot recommend this place highly enough, with a couple nights stay in the Little Wooden Cottage to amerce yourself fully in the environment.

Adi & Frances Tresna cooking school is an excellent 'paddock to the plate' culinary experience. Set on river front acreage in a village 5 minutes from Ubud, Adi's passion for growing & cooking Balinese food, & his & Frances' ability to communicate what they do and 'how to' shine through. We have done quite a few cooking courses over our 30 years of visiting Bali, & Tresna cooking school is trumps. Almost all of the herbs & spices are grown on the property, & harvested by Adi & his guests prior to starting the class - more interesting than buying t the market, because you see what the ingredients look like in the raw. Not just lemongrass, ginger, turmeric, kencur & basil, but various herbs & spices you'll not have seen or heard!! See jangu & long pepper in situ, then use them! All Balinese rather than Indonesian recipes, some of which are festival/temple dishes only! & the hosts (& their helpers) are equally special!! Ten out of ten.

If you are in Bali and love to cook good food...Do Not Miss This Experience. Adi and wife, Frances have created the Garden of Eden complete with a state of the art kitchen. From harvesting all your needed herbs and spices fresh from their garden, to chopping all your ingredients, to cooking each dish and then eating everything together...it is a complete success. Adi's pride in his food is evident. From his personalized blended spice base used in most Balinese dishes to his peanut sauce to his hand shredded grilled chicken in fresh coconut cream to his traditional pork satay and fresh sea bass cooked over a fire wrapped in banana leaves. Oh Wait...Corn fritters, sweet and spicy tempe matchsticks and a salad made with organic greens of amaranth, snake beans, cabbage, carrots and baby mung bean sprouts...And NOW...Wait for it...Dessert!!! Coconut Pandan Crepes with fresh cooked coconut and palm sugar syrup. Honestly...I didn't even know this was what coconut was suppose to taste like. Game Changer!!! But where does the SOUL come into it, you ask??? I'll tell you. It's from meeting Frances and Adi. They have carved a s small piece of heaven out of a jungle and they believe 100% in what they do. You will come away from the experience feeling uplifted and just happy to know them. Oh...and you can spend the night there too! They have a beautiful separate and private house on their property with a full modern bath. I wish I had know about this because it would have been wonderful to spend more time with them.

Is there a way to give 6/5 stars??? Tresna Bali Cooking School is hands down one of my favorite things to do in Bali. I love it so much I've been 3 times! First I went with girlfriends, then brought my entire family, then dropped in with my boyfriend. Going with my boyfriend was huge because he's a chef, but he LOVED IT! I imagine I'll be going for a fourth time soon just so he can go again. Frances and Adi are brilliant and helpful and friendly, the rest of their staff is also wonderful and words can not describe how beautiful the kitchen and garden are. Frances and Adi have turned their passions into something incredibly breathtaking and so much fun! I have dietary restrictions that they accommodate graciously (and are used to after having been three times) so all your worries are taken care of.

One of a kind cooking class! Adi and Frances are fabulous hosts and teachers. First class kitchen and staff. Traditional Balinese meals are cooked using fresh organic vegetables, herbs and spices picked straight from their garden. Would have given 6 stars if that was an option. Thank you, Frances and Adi for a truly memorable experience. It was the highlight of my recent holiday in Ubud!

Professional, delicious, friendly - this class lived up to all expectations. I will definitely return to learn how to cook more amazing Balinese food!

The cooking school is awesome, both Adi and Frances give you a multi sensory tour of their garden, tasting and smelling the different produce which you use later on during the cooking. The cooking itself is so well organised with Adi showing you different method of chopping and guiding you the whole time, explaining the different ingredients and possible ingredients to use if you can’t get them at home. My partner and I actually came back a week later to take part in the cooking school again and also to stay at the Little Wooden Lodge (which is also INCREDIBLE! COMFIEST BED EVER!!) Adi and Frances both showed us around Ubud and Adi took us to the rice fields, the wood and silver villages and gave us all the background and history. There’s nothing better than hearing it from someone other such an extensive knowledge of the area. This couple and their cooking school have left us with memories and skills we won’t forget and we both cannot wait to come back!

The Pure Plant Based Vegetarian Balinese Cooking Class was a great experience and we highly recommend it. We had a really good time and the food was delicious! The house and the garden was outstanding. The cooking class made us inspired and we had a really good and fun time together.

We were very lucky to get into a morning class at short notice at the "Tresna Bali Cooking School", and from the moment we set foot in the kitchen we knew we were in for a real treat. Adi was a "superb" host and Chef and without writing a short novel here we can easily say that this was a cooking experience that we would instantly recommend. The kitchen was purpose built and new, with produce chosen from the garden (of which you get a guided tour of). It was well worth the early morning trip to Ubud (for us from Legian) and if you were already there, then simply it's a must do. With a maximum of 12 (and just 4 people in our class) we received individual attention and instruction. Definitely one of the highlights of our holiday in Bali and we would highly recommend this cook school to either a beginner or a more experienced cook. Jill and Keith Forlong (New Zealand)

I have done many culinary classes in my time, but I must say what Adi and Frances have created is so unique. From the moment we were picked up, through the organic garden tour, to fantastic kitchen space, this place is a must for you if you want to really appreciate Balinese cuisine and want to use all your senses! My two daughters loved the time we spent together. We did not know where the time went. We ate like royalty . The Tresna cooking school is in high demand and we were so lucky Adi and Frances accommodated us on our last day in Bali.

Frances and Adi welcomed us into their home and treated us to the best day of my entire summer! Indonesian food at its best! What fun - picking herbs and veggies from their garden, chopping with great conversation and eating over a wonderful glass of wine! They have become our family in Bali!....the hospitality is second to none. I look forward to returning every year. Thank you Frances and Adi!

Yesterday was hands down one of the best experiences I have had in Bali since coming here for the past 9 years. From the moment you walked into the stunning location, through the doors to the kitchen you knew you’re in for a good morning. The moment we left, we're not only very full but we felt as though we were long lost friends of Adi & Frances, preparing and sharing lunch together as you would with all your friends and families. The produce was fresh from the market and of course hand picked from the yard. The pork looked better then some we get from our local butcher in Australia. The fish was also so fresh, I almost wanted to eat it raw with the amazing paste we created. You get your hands right in there chopping and pounding away creating your fantastic authentic meal! Whilst there beautiful team of the most AMAZING young people as your kitchen hands. I loved this part as they are bringing skills and healthy eating lessons to the next generation of Balinese in the locale area. I would go on but you want to know about the food. Adi helped tailor my meals to not so spicy whilst the rest of the group didn't miss out, then we sat down as a family and ate the wonderful food we created together, listening to Frances share stories of the family's life, culture, creation of the school and adventures.

If you are a lover of food and want to discover the true taste of authentic Balinese food then do yourself a favour and book one of these cooking classes. It's not just a cooking class, it's a Balinese experience. From the moment you walk through the front gate you will feel at home with these warm and wonderful hosts, Frances and Adi. We are foodies and have been to Bali many times, this was without doubt the most memorable. The complex flavours using freshly collected herbs and spices from their beautiful garden enhanced the whole experience. You won't regret it!

What a fabulous day! Frances & Adi have poured their hearts into creating an amazing culinary experience we will never forget. From the tour of their beautiful garden to cooking up the most delicious Balinese dishes in their gorgeous kitchen, it's evident Frances and Adi's passion and love for what they do shines through. The kitchen they have designed & built needs to be seen to be believed! It truly deserves to be in a magazine! We had so much fun laughing, chopping, pounding and grinding our way to a mouth watering & authentic Balinese feast. Sitting down to enjoy our meal with Frances and Adi was a highlight and we learned so much about their fascinating and unique Balinese culture. If you have the opportunity to spend a day with this delightful & inspiring couple in a magical setting don't pass it up! Thank you Frances and Adi for sharing your love of cooking & culture with us, we loved every minute!

I truly had the most incredible experience at Tresna Bali Cooking School, it 100% made my trip to Ubud! I'm a chef and cooking instructor in Los Angeles, and so am a pretty tough critic- but I literally couldn't find a single thing that I would change about my experience. The food, the environment, and the teaching style all were simply flawless- especially considering I sprung the inquiry on them two days before I came and asked them for a completely off the menu vegetarian class just a week after they opened! They not only accommodated, but exceeded my wildest cooking expectations with a menu and ingredients that blew my mind. My one goal for my Bali trip was to learn how to cook traditional Balinese food (harder to find the real deal than you would think!), and they delivered this in spades. The entire property is gorgeous- from the jackfruit and coconut trees to the fragrant garden to the modern, beautiful, and HUGE cooking space with state of the art equipment and epic views. It is safe to say that the meal we cooked was one of the top 5 most flavorful and fresh meals I have ever had. I learned more than I ever could have hoped for, and have continued to cook the recipes back home and made all my friends' swoon. Adi is a truly gifted teacher and chef, and Frances' energy and culinary/design/organizational prowess was the perfect yin to his yang. Getting to know them and hearing about their incredible journey to open the school just made it all mean even more. The entire team treated me like family from the moment I walked in the door, and by the end of our class I truly felt like I was. I will DEFINITELY be back soon!

We - one keen cook and one not so keen cook - had an amazing morning and lunch at Tresna. Our class was a small group of four and we were guided through making six different dishes - covering several great salads, fish, pork, chicken, and dessert. Be prepared to do a fair bit of chopping as you are taught how to make several spice pastes - mainly from plants harvested from their own garden - that are the key to all the dishes. This is a family business in a unique location and Adi and Frances went out of their way to make everything work for us. They were also happy to fit the menu around any dietary restrictions or requests. This really was the best meal we ate on Bali by a long long way, something which was made all the better by us making it.

I was really looking forward to booking a cooking class in Bali and stumbling across Tresna Cooking School was pure luck! The class beyond exceeded my expectations and it was easily the highlight of my 2 week girls trip! Frances and Adi are beautiful people, making us feel very welcome and we left feeling truly inspired. The meals we cooked were mouth watering and after a few weeks hunting out the best foodie spots in Bali I can say with honesty that the meals we prepared at Tresna were unbeatable, the flavour was amazing and after working our way through tasting the main dishes we had cooked we couldn't stop eating one Dadar Gulung after another (Coconut Pandan Crepes) - there is always room for dessert!!