Cooking Classes in Thailand

By Carolyn Ali

To bring back the taste of Thailand long after your trip is over, take a 1- or 2-day cooking class in Chiang Mai and learn how to make fiery curries, tangy tom yam soup, and savory stirfries. In contrast to the pricey classes held at 5-star hotels in Bangkok, those in Chiang Mai are reasonably-priced, family-run, and emphasize fun in a casual atmosphere.

Run by brothers Somphon and Perm Nabnian since 1993, the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School offers classes daily at two different locations with very different teaching methods.

At Somphon’s house, just outside of Chiang Mai, courses are demonstration-style in an air-conditioned, gleaming white, purpose-built kitchen. You watch, and, if you wish, occasionally lend a hand yourself. Students enjoy lunch while sitting on cushions in a breezy open-air pavilion. This option guarantees a very relaxing day in a beautiful setting.

But if you’re looking for more hands-on action, take the course at the school’s restaurant in downtown Chiang Mai. Here, every student gets his or her own burner and cooking station in a cool open-air garden beside the restaurant. You cook while the teacher demonstrates and troubleshoots. While the lessons at the house were extremely enjoyable and relaxing, I preferred the hands-on lessons at the restaurant.

Because each course is completed in a day, you can mix and match venues and menus.

Contact: Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School, 1-3 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand; 011-66-53-206388, fax 011-66-53-206387; cooking@thaicookeryschool.com, nabnian@loxinfo.co.th, www.thaicookeryschool.com.