From falafels in Cairo to meat pies in New Zealand to Phud Thai in Chiang Mai, every region of the world offers unique tastes for the intrepid traveler. Adventures in eating is one of the very best parts about traveling; why not take the table one step further and enroll in a cooking course?
If you’re one of the many people who travel to Chiang Mai each year for the express purpose of learning to cook Thai cuisine, we recommend the Baan Hongnual Cookery School. Here you can get your stir-fry on and learn to create authentic Thai dishes in an open-air teak building with all the modern conveniences of a gourmet kitchen. And chickens.
Depending on the day, you will make a combination of several delicious Thai dishes which may include green coconut curry, red pork curry, fried fish cakes, Phud Thai, spring rolls, stir-fried chicken with cashews, Tom Yum soup, fried banana or papaya salad.
Before the spring rolling gets going however, you will first visit one of the many open-air markets that provide food for many families and a feast for all your senses: huge bags full of tiny red peppers, spiky and smelly durian fruit, freshly pressed coconut milk, whole deep-fried chickens, jellied mushrooms, giant bunches of tiny bananas, dried fish snacks, fresh flower leis of purple and pink and yellow, and about a billion other necessities of life.
A trained chef then walks you through the cooking steps of each dish before you try them on your own, soaking up lessons on the levels of curry, the importance of fresh-picked herbs and the healthy aspects of Thai cuisine along the way.
Of course, the best part of any cooking school is trying out your taste creations, and by the time sit down for your multi-course meal, you will be you proud and sure of your ability to create authentic Thai cuisine. You’ve got the skills, a take-home recipe book, tons of chefs’ secrets and some dried shrimp- and that’s everything you need.
Baan Hongnual Cookery School
Full and half-day cooking courses are available for $20-$30 US
Tel: (66-53) 423335
Email: hongnual@yahoo.com