A cooking class is in Barcelona.

An American student is there.

His name is Mason Kauffman.

He flipped a pan to finish a Spanish tortilla.

He was very nervous.

His teacher is 63 years old.

Her name is Sonia Castel.

She hit the counter with her hand.

The other students counted down.

The flip worked.

The group cheered.

Kauffman said he was very nervous.

Castel hugged each student after their turn.

She joked and asked for a kiss on the cheek.

She said it was payment for the lesson.

A group runs the class.

Its name is Grandmas Cooking Barcelona.

It gives classes to tourists and school groups.

Local grandmas and grandpas teach the classes.

The group wants to share Spanish and Catalan food.

This food is hard to find in the city's restaurants now.

Veronica Baena started the group.

She said the program gives a purpose to older people.

Some of them may feel lonely.

She said it is a food experience.

But most of all, it helps older people.

It helps them feel strong.

It helps them connect with the city again.

Baena started the program in 2017.

She saw some grandparents at her son's school.

They had little to do in their lives.

Now 20 older women and one man are in the program.

They teach at civic centers and social service groups.

One teacher is 75 years old.

Her name is Nuria Isanda.

She said her recipes are rare in restaurants now.

More and more tourists go to these restaurants.

She said the classes can make grandmas feel valued.

They can feel useful too.

Isanda showed students how to make zucchini ribbons on skewers.

They used vinaigrette.

The grandmas shared tips.

One tip was to crack eggs on the counter, not on the bowl edge.

They said do not waste food.

They save vegetable scraps for stock.

Castel worked in hospital admissions.

Now she is retired.

She said the program helps her feel more connected.

She feels more alive too.

She said sharing food is a social act.

She said Grandmas gives her something very special.