The Thai Cook

I've been in Thailand for more than a year and have finally had a chance to learn about Thai cooking. It's possible to learn a little here at the school but here it is more of a fusion food - influences from Burma and India thrown in with whatever vegetables and meats are purchased. Also, most of the students don't really like spicy food (much to my surprise).
So, a friend is starting a cooking school here in Chiang Mai and wanted some guinea pigs. The teachers eagerly agreed to help as much as we could. There were 4 classes of which I went to two. I had a great time and it was so nice to learn how to cook food that doesn't require an oven.

What we made:

Day 1:
Fried Rice (Kao Pat)
Sticky Rice (Kao Neeow)
Papaya Salad (Som Tom)
Grilled Chicken (Gai Yaang)
Minced Chicken Salad (Laab Gai)
Mango and Sticky Rice (Kao Neeow Mamuang) Mmmmmmm!

Day 2:
Black Soy Noodles (Pad See Eew)
Red Curry Paste (from scratch)
Red Curry (Panang)
Fish Cakes and Corn Cakes (Tod Man)
Grilled Chicken Strips with Peanut Butter Sauce (Satay)
Indian Salad and Bread (Salad Kak)
Banana in Coconut Milk (Goui Buat Chi)

After a trip to Wawarot Market to get supplies we relaxed with some Thai style snacks.

We learned a little bit about the different kinds of rice and learned how you could make rice the old way. We just used a modern rice cooker, though.


After relaxing for a bit we moved over to the cooking area. Have you ever cooked sitting down before? It comes in handy when you have to pound so many things - but it's awkward when cutting!

Look at all these veggies - and red chilies - and garlic!

We got a chance to try cook in a more authentic Thai way. This included making our own coconut milk, which we did with the wooden contraption in front...

See the metal piece at the end? It has little grooves that shave out the inside of the coconut. Then you squeeze it and strain the juice to make first coconut cream, then coconut milk.

Here is 3/4 of the crew making fish and corn cakes. My job when not wielding the camera was to wield the strainer.


It was a great time and I would love to take the other two classes. We all got in the mood to cook and therefore had a home made dinner Friday night. However, I can't take any credit for cooking that one - only eating it!