Cooking Up Isla Magic

A small-group Filipino cooking experience in Siquijor - rooted in home, shaped by tradition, and shared beyond it.

Learn to cook with heart, laugh with grandma, play games, and share a family-style meal in my home in Siquijor - where Filipino food, island stories, and warm hospitality come together.

Sari Siqui is temporarily on pause while we're away from Siquijor (August 2026). We're still happy to accept advance bookings for upcoming classes.

Our Story 🌴

Sari Siqui began with a simple idea - that food connects people. It’s about gathering around the table, learning hands-on, and passing on recipes the way they were meant to be shared - with laughter, warmth, and a little bit of love in every stir. What started as simple meals, cooked and shared with others, slowly grew into something more - a space where strangers become friends, and where cooking becomes a way of connecting.Here on Siquijor, an island long known for its healers and mysticism, I’ve come to see that food and cooking has its own kind of magic. There’s something quietly restorative about chopping, stirring, and tasting together - how a shared meal can ground you, open you up, and remind you that nourishment and spending time with good people is also a form of care.

We’re homecooks - women who learned in our own kitchens, from the hands of our mothers and lolas. We cook by feel, by memory, and by warmth. In our classes, you’ll meet me, Gaby, along with Nanay Beverly - an incredible grandmother who has been cooking for decades. Together, we bring different perspectives: my modern take with her traditional ways. What comes out is a blend of tradition, storytelling, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.

Our work here was recently featured on The Atom Araullo Specials, a major Philippine documentary series known for exploring culture and community. Their team traveled to the island to understand its traditions, and we were chosen to represent Siquijor through food.Along the way, our stories have extended beyond our kitchen - from speaking to students at Siquijor State College, to national television, and even the Healing Festival at Mount Bandilaan, one of the island’s most meaningful gatherings.It’s moments like these that remind us this isn’t just a class, but a way of keeping stories, flavors, and connections alive.

At Sari Siqui, it’s never just cooking - it’s the feeling of home, and maybe a little bit of healing, that you carry with you.

Featured on national TV and part of the Healing Festival at Mount Bandilaan.

We are incredibly honored to be chosen for a national documentary on Siquijor: The Atom Araullo Specials - a show hosted by one of the country’s most respected and award-winning journalist, Atom Araullo, and broadcasts across the Philippines.Months later, we were invited by the Department of Tourism and the Tour Guides Association of Siquijor to be part of the Healing Festival at Mount Bandilaan, a meaningful cultural gathering that brings together faith healers, devotees, and communities in shared practices of faith, wellness, reflection, and connection with nature.

Here’s the feature, filmed right in our kitchen.

Cook, taste, and experience this yourself. Only four seats available - booking fast!

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What You'll Experience 🍚

**Nanay – Means “mother,” also used for motherly or older women.
***Kuya – Means "older brother," used for any older male as sign of respect.

Class Basics⚡️

Vegetarian/vegan option available. Let us know about any allergies or dietary restrictions so we can prepare accordingly.
*Open to accommodate slightly larger groups - it’s cozy, but full of heart. Message us to inquire.
** Group of 4? Get 10% off! (Cannot be combined with the Early Bird Rate.)

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We keep things intentionally small and personally handled, so replies may not always be immediate. 🌺

What Our Guests Are Saying 🌺

"That was honestly one of the best cooking learning experiences I have had. Your joy for cooking is very addictive. Keep it up : )"

- Felix, Backpacker from Germany 🇩🇪

"Gaby is a ray of sunshine with a passion for bringing people together for great conversation over delicious food. The half day session was an absolute treat from start to finish, perfectly curated with thoughtful personalized touches and easy to follow recipes which were sent to us electronically at the end of the session. Gaby was supported by two of her female neighbours who brought a world of wisdom and made you feel like you were cooking with a local family. The food was delicious and fresh and Gaby was readily accommodating for dietary needs and preferences. It was so much more than a cooking class, it was a true local immersion and gave me a little slice of feeling at home in Siquijor."

- Bridget, Vacationer from Australia 🇦🇺

"This cooking class with Gaby was an unforgettable experience, it was very well prepared, hands-on and the company made it complete. Gaby is a warmhearted person who makes you feel at home!! Thank you so much for sharing your passion for food and Filipino culture ❤️ we definitely recommend you to go!"

- Jolien & Alex, Backpackers from Belgium & Bolivia 🇧🇪🇧🇴

"I can’t recommend this cooking class enough! It was the perfect blend of traditional and modern methods and it was so fun to hear the old ways of cooking. It was so much fun to listen to Ate and Nanay talk about their lives on this island and give insights into the true life of the locals here. The food was also delicious!"

- Aiya, Backpacker from New Zealand 🇳🇿

"...Thank you so much for these touching moments of sharing together. This cooking class goes far beyond simply cooking, it’s a true cultural exchange in a peaceful atmosphere. It will remain one of my best memories of this trip to the Philippines!"

- Alex, Honeymooner from France 💍🇫🇷

"...This was so much more than a cooking class. Gaby met us out on the road and welcomed us like long lost friends. She is delightful and makes you feel like her home is your home. The program is very well organized and her team is sweet and knowledgable Siquijudnons. In addition to cooking amazing dishes, we spent five hours in engaging conversation, ranging from everything from Island life to dogs to plans for the future. If you have part of a day to spend with Gaby and her team, I highly recommend it. This was one of the highlights of our stay on Siquijor."

- Kelley, Vacationer from Canada 🇨🇦

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