Cooking Programs in Argentina

I recently finished the four-week cooking course with Mente Argentina, and it exceeded my expectations in every way. This course stood out because it felt personal and genuine. The instructors shared technique their love of Argentine food and culture in an engaging manner. I left with more confidence in the kitchen and a real appreciation for Argentine hospitality and friendship. If you want something meaningful, hands-on, and unforgettable, Mente delivers exactly that.

I volunteered at Nakavango in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as part of the IVHQ Wildlife Conservation Project. It truly was one of the highlights of my life. And I’ve had some pretty remarkable experiences so that says a lot. The staff a Nakavango was incredible and extremely knowledgeable. They create the perfect balance of hard work and joyous moments playing with the children at Masuwe School, observing wildlife in the bush, and taking in the sights of one of the seven wonders of the world. We each had our own room, were provided three yummy meals a day with great care to accommodate those who have special diets. Highlights of my stay included morning and evening game drives, sitting around the fire pit under the stars, camping out in the bush, and completing a work task feeling that we had made progress on a project. Yet, the most outstanding aspect of this experience for me, was bonding with my fellow volunteers. Prior to arriving at Nakavango, I thought I’d be the senior member of the crew so I was a bit apprehensive even though I had worked for weeks to get in shape physically so I could contribute equally. Well, I wasn’t the most senior. In fact, we had a wonderful range of ages, nationalities, and personalities. We became a family, caring for and respectful of all. That truly blew me away. And now, we continue to stay in touch. I am so grateful for the IVHQ program at Nakavango. It changed my life!

I volunteered in Bali- Ubud, through IVHQ. Bali was an incredible experience. I made life long friends, taught a class of 6th graders, and got to experience a beautiful new culture. The staff were amazing, and helped out all the volunteers with whatever needs they had. The location was beautiful, we were situated in a village 20 minutes outside the town of Ubud. This allowed us to integrate in a real Balinese community. The people (the volunteers, locals & staff) were second to none. I volunteered for five weeks- by the end of those 5 weeks I was wishing I had 5 more! The only downside to this programme is missing the children you taught and the friends you made after you leave! A member of the IVHQ team was on hand from the minute I booked the trip. She answered any questions I had, and checked in with m to make sure everything was going well during the volunteer programme. Volunteering with IVHQ in Bali was absolutely the best thing I ever done. I thoroughly recommend anyone interested in volunteering abroad to consider IVHQ Bali. You wont regret it.

This was the best experience of my life! I have always wanted to travel and volunteer abroad and IVHQ made this so fun and easy. During the week we were able to volunteer and take in the experiences we wanted while leaving plenty of time to explore the country for the weekend. Highly highly recommend this organization if you want a new way to travel and give back.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewJuly 03, 2018

Hi Deanna. Thanks for such an awesome review! It's fantastic to hear our program offered you one of the best experiences in your life and that we made the process of volunteering easy and fun for you. Thanks for being a great volunteer and please join us on another program soon. ^Claire - IVHQ South Africa Program Manager

Hi, I’m Alp, I’m from Turkey, and I was with Mente Argentina for two weeks to take Spanish courses, tango courses, and cooking classes. Before I left I felt that two weeks was going to be a really long time but now I feel that it isn’t even enough. When I first came here I realized that it’s really important that you know Spanish so that you can really speak with the people. Buenos Aires is just a beautiful city, all of the barrios, all of the places you can go, both touristic and local. I really loved the city and I hope that more people can come to Buenos Aires with Mente Argentina to enjoy the city and this entire experience.

Hi, my name is Madlyn Hatch, I’m from Austin, Texas, and I did the wine program through Mente and took some Spanish classes as well. The wine program is incredible, I learned an incredible amount in just a short amount of time. In only two months I have expanded my knowledge. They arranged all of my classes, my private professor is just wonderful, he has taught me so much. My Spanish classes were just a wonderful experience where I’ve met so many new friends, I’ve really brushed up on my Spanish. It’s just been a really incredible experience just to live in a different country and I couldn’t have done it without Mente’s help.

Hi, my name is Will, I’m from England, I was in Buenos Aires with Mente doing a wine program. I would really recommend coming to Argentina, and if you’re interested in learning about the local culture, studying Spanish, and learning about wine, I’d definitely recommend going with Mente. The thing that I like most about Mente Argentina is their willingness to help you with any problems that you have. They are very friendly and approachable. Regarding the course, I learned so much about the wine from Argentina. The quality of teaching is extremely high, so I would definitely recommend doing a program with Mente.

My name is Katherine, I’m from Chicago, and I did the two-week intensive wine course here in Buenos Aires. I stayed in a homestay with a woman in Recoleta. I had another girl from Mente who was living with me so we got to explore the city together and have a great time. Every night I did wine tastings with Porteños where I learned a lot about Argentinian wines and how to taste wine in general. I also took one-on-one classes with a guy named Jorge where I learned a lot about the science of wine and got to do one-on-one tutoring lessons. The class schedule also gave me a lot of time to explore the city with other international travelers and locals. So I got to know Buenos Aires and have a lot of free time while also taking these really cool classes.

Hi, my name is Brigitte, I’m from Australia, and I’ve just completed a four-month program of learning tango with Mente Argentina. It has really been such an incredible, amazing experience, so I would just like to share a few things as to why I really recommend Mente Argentina. The reason I sought out the program in the first place when I wanted to study tango in Buenos Aires is because I wanted to stay in a private apartment and to organize that as a foreigner in Buenos Aires on your own, it is not an easy thing to do. Through the Mente program they find you accommodation according to what your preferences and needs are and find a perfect place for you. They made sure that my needs were met regarding my living space, and I’m really thankful for that. That enabled me to pursue my tango studies in a good headspace being that I felt comfortable and relaxed in my home environment. I had never studied tango before I came here, I had never danced tango before, so I really had no idea what it was all about. Now, having gone through four months of this process, I would say that it really is an incredible journey of self-discovery. If you feel that you’d like to learn tango, I really don’t think that you can go wrong with Mente Argentina. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about it to really come here and do it and learn at this school because not only is the tango process itself very beautiful and amazing, but all of the teachers at the school are not only dance teachers but also quite exceptional human beings. I am very thankful to both Mente Argentina and the tango school for supporting me on this journey during my four months and I look forward to continuing this journey in the future.

Hi my name is Martina, I am from the Czech Republic and I came to Argentina to do the intensive Sommelier Program with Mente. The program was really excellent, it exceeded all of my expectations, I learned everything that I wanted to learn . I like that you can select the courses that you like, so you can really learn what interests you. So I highly recommend this program for whoever is interested and wants to explore the Argentine wines.

I went to Cusco in June-July, for 5 weeks! I volunteered 3 weeks in a school with kids and 2 weeks in the zoo of the University. Both of programs was so much fun ! Just a little warning : don't accept the food at the school , the kid and the teacher can put some pression but it's important to say NO! I said yes and i've made an indigestion 2 hours after, for 5 days... nice ! Additionally, the staff is really amazing and always there if you need help! My host-family was really cool and we were 13 volunteers in the same house , so its easy to make activity with them during the evening! In perou, I've discover some wonderful people, amazing places, good food and a different culture! My best memories was to visit Plaza del Armas, the Macchu Picchu, rainbow mountain, moray, salt mines and the lake Titicaca during the weekend. The organisation American Inca Trail is a great staff to organize your tour! Finally, Just do it !

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewMay 21, 2018

Hi Florence, It's nice to hear from you! It sounds like you had a wonderful experience across your projects and exploring the wonders of Peru. Thanks for your feedback and for being a wonderful volunteer. We hope you'll join us again in the future. ^Andrea - IVHQ Peru - Cusco Program Manager

Hi everyone, I am Jesse, 24 years old from the Netherlands, and I just spent the last five weeks with Mente doing a combination of the Wine Program & Intensive Spanish Program. I think Mente was a great experience for me. A good thing that I found with Mente was that it is very immersive. I had a lot of Spanish lessons, and also a lot of wine classes. For me, it was a great way to learn about the language and also learn about the culture. I met a lot of locals and different people. Overall, it was very exciting to be here. Big thanks to the staff. Everyone was always very helpful. Every time I had an issue they were there to sort it out. They organize great events all the time. I really had a great time with Mente and I can recommend it to anyone.

I was able to volunteer at a special needs orphanage in Lima, Peru. I helped the Physical Therapist do range-of-motion with the children. It was wonderful to get the kids out of their wheelchairs and help them loosen up and relax. The best was seeing smiles on their faces from just having more stimulation. I traveled on the weekends with the other volunteers. Such an awesome experience making memories with new friends. We went sand boarding in Huacachina, hiking in Huaraz, and exploring in Cusco and Machu Picchu.

My time in Madagascar was amazing! Could not have asked for a better 3 months. All the staff are all open and welcoming and the people are just the coolest! Im glad i did the 3 months because i cant imagine doing anything shorter. The huts on camp are really nice along with the living area and the beach right below. But yea either way would highly recommend!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewDecember 04, 2017

Hi Nathan, We are stoked to hear that you had an amazing 3 months in Madagascar! Thanks for sharing and for recommending IVHQ.<br/>Claire - IVHQ Madagascar Program Manager

Even if I dont speak their language the time I spent with the kids in Rio de janeiro was amazing. The smiles on their faces showed how much they apreciated what we did. I truly enjoyed the time playing soccer/football with them. Before I volunteered in Brazil I went to Colombia (Cartagena and Bogota) with IVHQ. I wanted to help these kids, but I didnt expect that they have an impact on me. I learned that there is always a reason to be happy no matter how hard life is. This time gave me so much that I took the chance to volunteer with IVHQ for the third time. If you are open minded, volunteering is the best way to travel. Living in the volunteer house felt like beeing part of a family. The work with the kids gives more experiences about culture and life than sightseeing can ever give. Brazil and also Colombia were amazing. Thank you IVHQ, I had the time of my life!

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewNovember 22, 2016

Hi Leon, What a wonderful review! Smiles are universal and we are thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time connecting with the children at your placements in Colombia and Brazil. Thanks for being an awesome volunteer and we would love to have you join us again in the future.

Hi I am Amelie and I am from Montreal, Canada. I did the Tango Program with Mente Argentina and I really enjoyed the private lessons. I felt I learned a lot from my teachers, and they were also very cute. When I go back to Montreal I will continue to practice Tango. I really liked the accommodation, it was a very big apartment, big bedroom and I got along with my roommates. I enjoyed going out to Milongas and discovering Buenos Aires. I always liked big cities, and I find that Buenos Aires is a lot like Montreal but with a Spanish twist. I totally recommend coming here.

Hi, I am Stephani, I came to Buenos Aires for 3 weeks with Mente Argentina. I did the Wine course for two weeks and had the one to one lessons of Spanish. I loved the wine course; it was in this tiny cute school which is in a nice neighborhood. They took really good care of me. The wine tasting classes were really fun, we tried wines from all over Mendoza and the Salta region. Then I got private lessons where I got to know about the wines, the grapes all that jazz. I lived in Palermo in a private apartment, which was really nice. A lot of light, I enjoyed my stay a lot. I suggest everyone to come with Mente Argentina.

Hello everyone, my name is Goose, I am from Holland and I did a cooking program with Mente which was great. Great teachers, great lessons, especially Mercedes, she was a great cook and teacher. She told me a lot of things in her house. I went to a Boca Game and it was super cool! Buenos Aires is great, thank you Mente for all the great times here, they were very professional and helpful and friendly! Can’t wait to be back.

My name is Jerry and I was in Buenos Aires for five months in addition of two months studying Spanish. I came here with very little of the language and that was what I wanted, part of the challenge. Fortunately with Mente I had great help into getting acquainted with the city, like organizing the program and making the whole process a lot easier. I cannot imagine doing that without someone here helping me, it would have been ridiculous. I recommend to everyone to having the opportunity to learn what I learned here in a very economical price compared to the United States or anywhere else in the world. It was a great experience; Buenos Aires is a beautiful place.

Hi, I am Brad from Denver, Colorado and I did the Intensive Spanish Program and the Cooking Program, at the Culinary School and also in one-on-one lessons with a chef. She was fantastic, she gave me all the classic recipes from Argentinian cuisine, from empanadas to pastas to steaks to desserts, everything. All the ingredients were always ready for us, they gave us lots of helpful tips on how to tweak the recipes a little bit. We had so much fun together, not only cooking, but I also made a lot of long term friends and we interchanged tips between ourselves and we made delicious food. The Spanish program was also great, I took some classes back in the States, but here, the classes were better. They were small, but we learned a lot of Spanish because they were about 4 hours. You earn a lot and they always helped you in any questions, and I got a huge improvement in just one month. Overall I had a great experience with Mente and all the activities they provided us, at night or during the weekends were so much fun and just a great way to see the city, so definitely do that.