Tag / Thailand

Thai cooking class
by findingbackroads

Gourmet Cooking Class at Benjarong

Thai cooking class

Sometime last week, I got a random email saying I’ve won a place in a cooking class at Benjarong Thai Restaurant in Dusit Thani Hotel. I’ve been to a cooking class before, at Amita’s Cooking School in Bangkok so I was really looking forward to it. Plus, I really, really love Thai food. 

* Top photo is satay sauce we made at the cooking class in Bangkok

I first visited Benjarong in 2011 – just a day after I got back from a bloggers’ trip in Thailand. I missed the food so much I just needed to have it again. I was stubborn. Also, I was pregnant that time so the craving (I didn’t know I was already pregnant that time). If you have not been to Benjarong Thai Restaurant, it’s highly recommended. It’s definitely more pricey that what you’ll ever have in Bangkok or in any other Thai restaurant here in Dubai but the restaurant offers authentic Thai flavors and have withstood the test of time. They’ve been here for 13 years now. You’ll love even the ambiance as the teak woods will make you feel you’re in Thailand.

Here are some photos during the cooking class:

Benjarong Cooking Class

Now, I couldn’t say much about the cooking class except that there was only 1 stove for a group of 5 or 6. And frankly, this style only works when no one hogs the stove to himself/herself! If only all members consciously give each other a chance to participate even if it means just to make a quick stir for 3 seconds each! (Because attending a cooking class to just stand there and watch is not my idea of a cooking class – of course I could have been more proactive but it was really difficult to interrupt the very eager participant!)

We made three dishes: a glass noodle salad, Thai Green Curry and water chestnut with iced coconut water and coconut milk (now this, you’ve got to order when you go to Benjarong!)

Glass noodle salad

The cooking class lasted for two hours. I’m grateful for the chance, the chef (and her staff) was really nice – Thai people are known for their warm hospitality and humor and she was no exception. But if you’re a cooking enthusiast that would love to do a more interactive cooking class, this may not be for you. I myself would prefer a cooking class where each participant has his/her own stove and ingredients (like the pair cooking experience at SCAFA in JLT here and in the cooking school in Bangkok) and all sit down later on to eat what they made or cross taste (taste what the other members came up). 

It was fun though and I met a very interesting lady who’s into food styling. She showed me her work, meekly saying, “I only keep this in my phone”. The lady needs to seriously start a blog!

Grace in Bangkok palace 2011
by findingbackroads

Blogger Outreach: Travel edition

Grace in Bangkok 2011

Just right after I wrote about blogger outreach a couple of days ago, this landed in my inbox:

“Hello. We’re looking for expat bloggers living in Dubai to blog about our airline client. Our client will fly the selected bloggers to a city in Asia and they will have to blog about their experiences.  Can you send us your blog analytics (showing subscribers and monthly traffic)?”

I’ve been contacted by a PR agency for their client (I won’t drop names), an airline company, who wants to send bloggers to a city in Asia for a blogger’s trip: free trip in exchange of posts, much like what I did when I worked with the Tourism Authority of Thailand in 2011 on a trip to Bangkok and Huahin and my recent trip to Istanbul, sponsored by Turkish Airlines.

You all know that travel and blogging (immersing in culture, taking photos and writing about those experiences) are two of my passions so I was ready to jump on this one but here’s what stopped me.

“Our client is very strict in the selection of bloggers and want the bloggers who have 100,000 followers (subscribers?) and high page view numbers per month.”

I wanted to laugh. What a perfect example of a flawed blogger outreach.

They really didn’t take their time to research, tsk. First of all, there isn’t a blog with 100,000 subscribers here in Dubai. I might be wrong and do correct me if I am or if that is your blog, please don’t throw a violent fit and leave a comment instead! I would like to see a stellar blog I might have missed. 

Second, as I have mentioned in my recent article about blogger outreach, bigger numbers are not always better. What if there exists a blog with high subscriber/page view count BUT in a very different niche? Maybe a blog with sky high traffic but not travel/lifestyle related ? Would they still consider it? 

This client obviously needs a blogger who writes about lifestyle and travel but is concentrating on looking for that high profile blogger regardless of what type of blog? Mind boggling.

Another very important point they have missed in their research (if they at all) is that high profile travel bloggers with those kind of numbers don’t go to blog trips for free. On top of the free accommodation, air tickets and food, most travel bloggers I know (based in the US at least) require a per day fee for their services. 

And rightly so.

Thailand bloggers trip 2011

A blogger’s trip/media trip/familiarization trip is hard work. The itinerary is almost always rushed and you’re whisked from one place to another. You have to keep up with documenting things: take photographs, listen to the guide despite heavy jet lag and take down notes. 

Then put everything together and blog about your experience, adding client links. Of course, don’t get me wrong, it’s fun and I enjoyed my trips to Thailand and Turkey but it is undeniably tough and exhausting.

All I’m trying to say is that I wish the client and the agency were realistic about this. Do a research, asking the following questions to themselves:

  • What audience do we want to reach out to?

Are you looking for moms who write about family travels, a businessman who reviews business hotels or amenities, or a blogger who blogs about group travel or solo travel? Be specific.

  • What value will we bring to the blogger and their readers?

Decide on what benefits you want to offer the (travel) bloggers and to their readers, and aim for a win-win partnership.

  • What do we want these bloggers to do for us?

Bloggers are receiving pitches from companies just like yours on a regular basis. So be transparent about what you are asking of them. Do you want them to stay at your property and review it? Attend an event in your destination? Or, try out your new spa services? Also, be specific of what type of social media coverage you’re seeking, such as Facebook mentions or live Tweeting at an event.

live tweeting in Istanbul

 ~ Bloggers live tweeting (updating social media channels) in Istanbul ~

But what really stumped me: the demand of high statistics

Not that that it is not important because it is but again, I can’t reiterate this more: bigger is not always better. A blogger who is in touch with his/her audience, has loyal followers are more likely to have more influence that those with a huge number of groupies. 

It’s not about the numbers, it’s about engagement.

So an equally important question would also be: which blogger is active/influential AND highly engaged with their followers in other social platforms other than his/her blog but also on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram? Look at the bigger picture and never underestimate the power of micro-blogging platforms!

*****

There has been a change as to how travelers plan their next vacation. Before, guide books were the primary source of information but these days, there’s a survey that travelers who do their research online, seeking tips and recommendations from websites, blogs and social media channels like Facebook and Twitter are increasing. 

And reaching out to bloggers can be a cost-effective tool {cheaper!} for marketing hotels online or marketing a destination – if implemented appropriately. 

Lastly, another peeve: I wish PR agencies don’t ask bloggers to do work for them.

“My client need a bigger reach and your blog doesn’t have enough followers yet. If you know any other bloggers who might be interested, please send us their details.”

If I don’t meet your criteria as your required blogger, fine – I  know that my blog isn’t all-powerful yet. But to then add insult to injury and expect me to pass the details of my blogger friends, to save you the time? Please go back to the basic, “do your research”.

*****

But, with all that said, I will make an exception because I know travel blogging is a new and hip gig that gets bloggers excited (free trip, baby!) and some of you reading this might be interested. I’m gonna do this just this once!

If you are a blogger based in Dubai and have the blog analytics I mentioned above and interested in working with an airline brand for a media/fam trip to a city in Asia for a few days and blog about it, please get in touch via comments so I can pass on your details to the PR agency! 

by findingbackroads

What I Learned at the Floating Market

floating market thailand

The Floating Market in Thailand is touristy and mostly aimed at tourists but it still had a very authentic feel to it. It was loads of fun and something I could have regretted not doing! There is almost no difference between what you can find in the floating markets and downtown Bangkok, but the experience of buying something from a store that comes to you—rather than a store that you come to is unique.

I also learned a few things on my visit there.

  • Patience among the local people – The canal is narrow and there are no rules who gets to go first or which way is the right way. The wooden boats bump into each other but it’s interesting to see how the water taxi drivers maneuver their boats in the jam. Even when the canal is stuffed with boats and looks like a total zoo, there were no shouting or bad mouthing each other. They just go along with their business transporting people through the canals.

floating market vendor

  • Friendly vendors – they call out customers, yes but I did not feel they were pushy. They always had a smile of their faces and if you decide to buy from another seller beside one seller, they don’t make a fuss.

friendly vendor

  • Cheap eats – At the side of the canal are small open cafeterias offering a lot of cheap food from Thai noodles, cold teas and coconut ice cream! (Photo below is our local guide and coordinator enjoying a bowl of hot noodles for late breakfast) Also, it’s amazing how much you can stretch your money with the fresh produce available. And amazing how the fruits can taste so sweet! I also recommend the very popular Mango with Sticky Rice.

cheap eats

  • Great photo opportunity – Although very touristy, the sights sounds and smells are just fabulous and needs to be captured.

floating market photo opp

Lastly, I am fascinated by these people who live with not much everyday yet manage to flash a smile to everyone. They seem to be happy, contented people always ready to embrace the start of the day, despite the chaos or the heat. That’s something missing in the people I see in richer countries (for example, in Japan).

If you are planning to visit the floating market, remember that this is indeed a tourist trap and it gets crowded. Go early or else the ability to linger and savor the experience will be diminished by the intense crowd.

Oh and before I forget, the most important thing I realized (yet again) is that I suck at haggling.

*****

A short research on the floating market will give you a lot of information, especially from Tripadvisor including being ripped off when renting boats, overpricing of goods, etc. Be sure to do a research before you go. I went there with a local guide hired by the Tourism Authority of Thailand so we didn’t have to worry about these kind of stuffs.

** This is a part of a series of posts about my blog trip to Thailand. You can find my other Thailand related posts here. **

Photos taken using Canon EOS 550D

by findingbackroads

The floating market in Thailand

** This is a part of a series of posts about my blog trip to Thailand. **

Floating Market Thailand

I’ve covered almost all facets of my travel to Thailand last year but have not written about our trip to the floating market. What is a Thailand trip without mentioning the floating market?

Thailand floating market

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is located at Damnoen Saduak District, Ratchaburi Province, about 105 kms from Bangkok. According to history around 1866 King Rama IV ordered that a 32 kms long canal be dug at Damnoen Saduak. Here’s the canal where we took a boat ride going to the floating market:

Canal to the floating market

While ours was a motor boat, powered by, uhm, motor, we passed by a small wooden boat powered by girl power. A lady manually rowed through the canal carrying tourists!

Thailand floating market

After passing through the narrow canal, we came out to what looked like a flooded neighborhood!

big part of the canal - floating market Thailand

Just before arriving at the floating market, we came to a narrow canal again and saw these on the side. I wonder if the dresses won’t get wet when motor boats drive through roughly?

Dresses for sale at the canal

We arrive at the entrance of the floating market. The fresh fruits already caught my attention.

Thailand floating market

Isn’t it amazing how none of these guavas fell on the water? At least as long as I was watching it.

guavas at the floating market

The canal is narrow and boats come and go in both directions.

Thailand floating market

We went to the floating market in the morning. Aside from fresh produce, there were boat peddlers selling food from grilled meat, vegetable noodles and other staple breakfast stuff. I remember the aroma every time I see the photos.

grilled sausages at the floating market

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is no doubt a tourist trap. In fact, one Google search with the keywords, “thailand floating market tourist trap” and you’ll know it is included in the World’s 12 Worst Tourist Traps.

Grace at floating market

~ Hot and sticky (forgive the shiny face) ~

Indeed there were plenty of tourists (us included) but we arrived by 9am and it was just busy enough to make it feel “markety” but not overcrowded. The food is very cheap, fruits are very fresh and delicious.

Also, it was lovely to see the actual homes of real Thai people living along the canal and their day to day lives. I think our guide asked the motorboat driver to take the less traveled canals and so we’re able to see how the Thai people lived. Women were washing clothes in the water, families were having lunch, the dogs were running in the yard – all everyday life in this area. When I travel, I like to see how the people live in the area I’m visiting.

Tourists tourists

~ Tourists, tourists, tourists everywhere ~

So tourist trap or not, the floating market is a “must do” while visiting Thailand. Just make sure you have a good guide (I recommend ours! I will write about him in the next post) or do a research from the internet so you won’t get ripped off when you use the boats, etc.

All in all a great experience, otherwise how would I still be reminiscing about it after more than a year?

* Photos taken using Canon EOS 550D

by findingbackroads

The Royal Grand Palace, Bangkok

** This is a part of a series of posts about my blog trip to Thailand. **

We were still buzzing with activity on the fourth day of the blogger’s trip to Thailand. Today there’s a hotel transfer, day trips to the Royal Grand Palace in Bangkok and a cruise along Chao Praya river.

The dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city’s most famous landmark is no doubt a tourist trap. Everyone goes there but even if you hate the crowds, you simply must pay a visit.

The royal palace, begun in 1782 when Bangkok was founded as the capital of Thailand, consists of several buildings with highly decorated architectural designs. I love these little statues under a big column because it looks like they are carrying the whole structure.

Each of them even have different facial expressions. I wonder what they’re called.

The above picture is a statue that guards the main entrance of the building.

For just about 150 years, Bangkok’s Grand Palace was not only the home of the King and his court, but also the entire administrative seat of government. Within the crenelated walls were the country’s war ministry, state departments, and even the mint.

Thai Kings stopped living in the palace full time around the turn of the twentieth century, but the complex remains the seat of power and spiritual heart of the Thai kingdom.

A strict dress code applies. The Grand Palace with TheTemple of the Emerald Buddha is Thailand’s most sacred site. Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. Men must wear long pants and shirts with sleeves (no tank tops. If you’re wearing sandals or flip-flops you must wear socks (in other words, no bare feet.) Women must be similarly modestly dressed. No see-through clothes, bare shoulders, etc. If you show up at the front gate improperly dressed, there is a booth near the entrance that can provide clothes to cover you up properly (a deposit is required).

Each one of us was screened and the gate guards told me to keep the bolero on to cover my shoulders – the material was thick and it was a hot day. Bad dress choice!

One of the highlights of the Grand Palace is the Boromabiman Hall, built by King Rama VI and every king since has lived here at some time. The building has a lot of western influence and almost resemble that of the palaces in England.

At one corner of the Palace, we saw two guards practicing for the changing of guards ceremony.

Our guide talked non-stop of history, origin and use of the Grand Palace (which I could only recall less than half now). What an interesting place, we even went inside the main hall of worship but were not allowed to take photos.

TIPS WHEN VISITING THE GRAND PALACE

  • Go for a guided tour
  • Go there early
  • Dress modestly
  • Apply sunscreen
  • Bring a bottle of water
  • Take lots of photos!

Here’s a video of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. Enjoy the virtual travel!

Video credit:ShepherdFilm>

by findingbackroads

Thai Cooking: Mango with Sticky Rice

** This is a part of a series of posts about my blog trip to Thailand featuring one of the dishes we prepared at Amita’s Thai Cooking School. **

Last dish of this series is a dessert, of course.

Khao Niew Ma Muang – no need to memorize of master how to say the name properly. If you look at a slices of yellow fruit with sticky rice along it, it’s this very delicious Thai dessert you can find all over town (in Thailand of course).

Mangos in Thailand are an absolute must try. Pair it with sticky rice and you’ve got a sure fire winner as far as your taste buds are concerned.

Recipe: Khao Niaow Ma Muang (Mango with Sticky Rice)

Ingredients

  • 5-6 ripe mangoes peeled and sliced
  • 2 cups sticky rice, soaked overnight and drained
  • 1 cup coconut cream
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • Topping:
  • 6-7 Tbsp. coconut cream
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp of corn starch for thickness

Instructions

  1. Boil 6-7 Tbsp coconut cream, cornstarch and a pinch of salt over low heat. When sticky, set aside.
  2. Wrap the sticky rice in a clean muslin and place in double boiler stream for 25-30 minutes.
  3. Dissolve the sugar in the coconut cream and stir over low heat. Add salt and stir well.
  4. Just when it starts to boil, remove from heat.
  5. * Over boiling will make it oily.
  6. Put the cooked sticky rice in a bowl and gradually blend in the coconut cream.
  7. Stir well, cover and let it stand for 15 minutes.
  8. Top with prepared coconut cream.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)

Cooking time: 60 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 2

**The blue color of the sticky rice came from blue flowers soaked in water and used to cook the sticky rice. No artificial coloring here.

I love mangoes and love sticky rice as well so you can imagine my excitement with this desert that combines the two. Surely this wasn’t too difficult to make at home? Believe me, it is not! One of the pleasures of home cooking is recreating and enjoying that favorite food you had outside.

To those who are living in Dubai – you can find Thai ingredients including kaffir lime leaves, curry paste, etc at the Asian store called Sunflower Supermarket in Karama.

Reference: map of the Thai Supermarket along with other Asian food supermarkets.

* Photo taken using Canon EOS 550D

by findingbackroads

Thai Cooking: Satay (Pork, Chicken or Beef)

** This is a part of a series of posts about my  blog trip to Thailand featuring one of the dishes we prepared at Amita’s Thai Cooking School. **

Satay is a dish of marinated, skewered and grilled meat, served with a sauce. Satay may consist of diced or sliced chicken, goat, mutton, beef, pork, or fish.

Rather than describing one particular dish, the term satay (also known as sate, satae) actually refers to a method of cooking, in which thin strips of marinated meat are threaded onto skewers and grilled. The skewers (bamboo or metal) spread the meat effectively for cooking and make it easy-to-handle, for both grilling and eating.

Recipe: Satay

Ingredients

  • 150 grams of meat fillet or loin, thinly sliced into 8-9 strips
  • 1/2 tsp roasted cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp roasted coriander seeds
  • pinch of salt *
  • 1/2 Tbsp. garlic, finely chopped*
  • pinch of turmeric powder*
  • 1 tsp palm sugar*
  • 1/2 tsp curry powder*
  • 1/4 cup coconut cream
  • 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 8-9 skewer sticks
  • For brushing: 2 Tbsp coconut milk (1 Tbsp coconut cream + 1 Tbsp water)

Instructions

  1. Use a granite mortar and pestle to grind the coriander and cumin seeds.
  2. Pound together all ingredients marked with “*”.
  3. Pour mixed ingredients in a bowl with coconut cream.
  4. Add the meat strips and vegetable oil and marinate overnight or for at least 3 hours.
  5. Thread meat strips in satay sticks.
  6. Grill satay on charcoal stove over low heat turning them regularly and brushing them with the remaining marinate sauce and coconut milk.
  7. When satay is cooked, serve with spicy peanut sauce.

Preparation time: 20 minute(s)

Cooking time: 15 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 2

Recipe: Spicy Peanut Sauce for Satay

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Grind or crush the peanuts to a fairly fine paste and set aside.
  2. Pour coconut cream into pan and over medium heat, add massaman curry paste and stir from time to time until the sauce has become smooth.
  3. Combine them with the remaining ingredients. If the sauce is too thick, add a little water.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 5 minute(s)

To those who are living in Dubai – you can find Thai ingredients including kaffir lime leaves, curry paste, etc at the Asian store called Sunflower Supermarket in Karama.

Reference: map of the Thai Supermarket along with other Asian food supermarkets.

* Photo taken using Canon EOS 550D

by findingbackroads

Thai Cooking: Thai Green Curry

** This is a part of a series of posts about my  blog trip to Thailand featuring one of the dishes we prepared at Amita’s Thai Cooking School. **

Khang Keaw Wan Gai or green curry chicken in coconut milk to those who do not know Thai language (including myself) is a traditional dish in Thailand, one of the most popular too not just in Thailand but around the world.

Here’s the curry recipe in a hurry – you can practically make it within 30 minutes from preparing the ingredients to landing in your dining table!

Recipe: Gaeng Kiaw Wan (Thai Green Curry)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup skinless chicken breast, sliced to bite sizes
  • 2 Tbsp green curry paste
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1/4 cup pea eggplants (or regular eggplants, sliced)
  • 2 green or red chillies, seeds removed, sliced lengthwise
  • 1 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 3 kaffir lime leaves, torn in half (kaffir leaves powder can also be used)
  • 2 tsp palm sugar
  • 1/2 cup holy basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

  1. In wok, heat oil over low heat.
  2. Add green curry paste an stir constantly for 1 minute.
  3. Add the coconut milk little by little and stir gently.
  4. Add the chicken and stir until cooked.
  5. Pour in the rest of the coconut milk and stir constantly until the bubbles come up.
  6. Season with fish sauce and palm sugar. Stir occasionally and simmer for 5 minutes.
  7. Add pea eggplants and chilies.
  8. Garnish with holy basil leaves before serving.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)

Cooking time: 15 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 2

You can omit some of the ingredients, except for, in my opinion, NOT the kaffir lime leaves as it makes this dish stand out, come alive in your palates! The kaffir lime’s tangy taste brings out the best in all the ingredients and gives this dish that extra oomph.

To those who are living in Dubai – you can find Thai ingredients including kaffir lime leaves, curry paste, etc at the Asian store called Sunflower Supermarket in Karama.

Reference: map of the Thai Supermarket along with other Asian food supermarkets.

* Photo taken using Canon EOS 550D

by findingbackroads

Thai Cooking: Green Papaya Salad

** This is a part of a series of posts about my  blog trip to Thailand featuring one of the dishes we prepared at Amita’s Thai Cooking School. **


Known locally as “Som Tum” is popular in most areas in Thailand, among the locals and visitors alike. When you taste it you’ll know why. It’s very easy to make and fits perfectly when the weather is hot, as a salad or vegetable side dish.

Recipe: Som Tum (Thai Green Papaya Salad)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup grated green papaya
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 4 cherry tomatoes
  • 2 Tbsp. dried shrimps (optional – omitted due to my allergies)
  • 1/4 cup long beans, cut 1 1/4 inches
  • 1 pc chili
  • Dressing:
  • 1 Tbsp lime juice
  • 1 Tbsp palm sugar
  • 1 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 Tbsp tamarind paste

Instructions

  1. Combine all dressing ingredients together and set aside.
  2. Pound garlic, red chili and dried shrimps in mortar.
  3. Add grated papaya, cherry tomatoes and long beans and pound very slightly.
  4. Pour dressing in and toss well.
  5. Remove from mortar and transfer to serving plate. Top with toasted, coarsely ground peanuts.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)

Cooking time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 2

I fell in love with this dish during my stay in Thailand that the first thing I searched for in the grocery store when I came back to Dubai was papaya! Thankfully, there are plenty of unripe papayas here!

To those who are living in Dubai – you can find Thai ingredients including kaffir lime leaves, curry paste, etc at the Asian store called Sunflower Supermarket in Karama.

Reference: map of the Thai Supermarket along with other Asian food supermarkets.

* Photo taken using Canon EOS 550D

by findingbackroads

Learning to cook Thai at Amita’s

** This is a part of a series of posts about my blog trip to Thailand. **

Having the opportunity to eat authentic Thai food in Thailand was one of the things I was most looking forward to when I was offered to go to Thailand for a familiarization trip early this year. I love their food, I always have. I read our itinerary: Thai cooking classes! Learning to cook authentic Thai food! in Thailand, no less!

Our tour guide took us to the Chao Prahya River where we boarded a boat going to Amita Thai Cooking School. The cooking class is popular for being hands on, taught in a charming school/home by Tam and her husband (they lived in LA for several years).

Tam and me

~ me and the lovely Ms. Tam ~

A van picked us up at the hotel, to the dock where we traveled by boat, saw Temple of Dawn, Thai way of life along the Chao Prahya river, and then arrived at the school.

Chao Prahya River Bangkok

The Temple of Dawn, as seen from the river.

Temple of Dawn

When we got off the boat, Ms. Tam She ushered us into her lovely home and garden and served us this refreshing lemongrass mint cold tea.

lemongrass juice

It even came with a straw made out of lemongrass stalk! It was a refreshing drink on a hot and humid day in Bangkok.

Our welcome drink was accompanied by tempura style vegetables, no, plants – suntan flowers, some leaves I don’t know and a white and blue flower. It was delicious.

garden flowers tempura

Ms. Tam’s lessons are held in an antique canal-side home in Thonburi, making it the homiest of Bangkok’s Thai cookery schools. First, we listened to Tam’s lecture of what we would be cooking that day.

listening to tam

The dishes we were about to prepare: Thai green curry, papaya salad, satay and a mango dessert. I can’t wait!

IMG_1115

She explained the four delicious dishes before leading us through her nursery herb garden to pick first-handedly fresh Thai ingredients for our dishes.

Tam's garden

Tam’s delightful garden is literally overflowing with herbs and other plants. Jasmine plant:

jasmine plant

Tam tore leaves off small shrubs or pulling roots out of the ground, showing us those herbs which we otherwise buy as dried in jars outside Thailand.

After the garden tour, it was time to get our hands dirty…

Ingredients for Thai green curry

~ ingredients for Thai green curry ~

Preparing green papaya salad with one of Tam’s staff (we are assigned one each). I can’t believe how easy it was to make this tangy appetizer/salad. Just pound and mix away everything and it’s done!

Cooking at Amita's Cooking School

Here’s the green curry and the papaya salad:

green curry and salad

It was a memorable day, we got on a boat, saw amazing sights, cooked, ate, laughed, toured the wonderful spice garden, walked around their charming Thai home, four hours of time spent with truly gracious people at Amita’s.

And of course, gobbling that authentic Thai food which I couldn’t believe I was able to cook myself!

blogger team at tams

** Recipes of the four dishes will be posted from tomorrow. **

Each Cooking Class at Amita Thai Cooking School has been designed as a half day course in the morning from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, there are thai cooking class every day of the week (except on Wednesday which is closed). If you first need more information or have questions on our Thai cooking class, please contact us: info@amitathaicooking.com

Net price per person: 3,000 Baht

Included in price:

  • 3 hour hands-on cooking experience of 4 dishes
  • Visit our herbs and spices garden for an introduction to the essence of Thai cooking
  • Lunch
  • Welcome herbal drink
  • Recipe of the day
  • Transfer by car from your place of stay in Bangkok to Maharaj Pier
  • Boat transfer from Maharaj Pier to Amita Thai Cooking Class
  • Return transfer by car to your place of stay in Bangkok

* Photos taken using Canon EOS 550D and Canon PowerShot SD960IS