Thai Cooking Class

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 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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. Prices for both courses are: one day 800 baht (about $22), two days 1,600 baht, three days 2,300 baht, four days 3,000 baht.

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.