What better way to enjoy the famous Thai cuisine, than by learning to cook it yourself. And where better to learn how to cook it? That’s right. The magnificent country of Thailand, located in South East Asia has for years been a magnet for tourists looking for culture, sun, fun and much more. One of the growing trends for tourists whilst in Thailand is to learn how to cook Thai food and there are
a number schools, scattered across the country that provide courses for beginners and experts alike so that you can impress your friends when you get back to the UK.
a number schools, scattered across the country that provide courses for beginners and experts alike so that you can impress your friends when you get back to the UK.
With many courses, accommodation can be included at a supplement while flights to Bangkok from London start at £590pp including taxes.
Starting in the mesmerising capital of Bangkok, the sights and sounds of this colourful city will draw you in. For the top notch cooking course, head to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The Oriental Thai Cooking School has taught several thousand wannabe chefs since it first opened fifteen years ago.
From ingredient preparation to the finishes touches, class participants will get hands on with all aspects of the cooking courses. Four dishes are studied each day and each day is different from another. On Mondays for the Summer months, for example, you can try your hand at making Lemongrass Fritter Salad, Stir-fried Pork, Spiced Gourami Soup and Mock Ark Shells. Each class runs between 9am-1pm and is followed by lunch.
Prices start at 4,000THB (approx. £84) per person per class with discounts for those who want to get involved in all classes available. A number of packages are also available that include the course, accommodation, spa treatment and airport transfers.
For those on more of a budget, the Silom Thai Cooking School, located just off Silom Road offers a range of courses, all of which start with a local market tour to buy the fresh ingredients required for the course. Courses start at 1,000THB (approx. £21) per person with a selection of four dishes per course. With morning, afternoon and evening classes available, you’ll be able to fit the course in around your own schedule.
If you are planning on travelling around, Chiang Mai is certainly a place you will want to visit, and if you didn’t get the chance to enjoy a cookery course in Bangkok, make sure you stop in at the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School. The school offers homestay courses as well as day cooking courses. Beginners course include the finer details such as vegetable carving and making Thai curry pastes whilst the more advanced courses offer detailed instruction in creating dishes with the finest ingredients. The one day beginners course starts at 1,450THB (approx. £30) per person and includes transport from Chiang Mai, all food and materials and a cookbook by Chef Sompon.
