Chiang Mai, Thailand: Baan Thai Cookery School (November 2013)

One of the first questions asked when you return home after traveling abroad is, “how was the food?” We all have to eat no matter our ethnicity, religion and income. Our plan on this trip was not to have much of a plan and just see what strikes our fancy as we travel from place to place. There were a few things though that I had on my to-do list that included diving the Great Barrier Reef, visiting a beach town in Cambodia, experience a lantern festival and learn how to cook. Looking back I wish I would have done a cooking class in each country, but that can be another trip. If you’re looking to travel domestically or internationally, I highly recommend taking a cooking course where you learn to prepare indigenous food. It’s definitely something I will add to future travel itineraries.

The Baan Thai Cookery School in Chiang Mai offers one of the best cooking courses in the area, and is recommended by Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor (travel bibles). We arrived at the school around 10am, ready and hungry! The first task of the class was to pick our menu consisting of five dishes. Then our group strolled over to the local market to pick out our ingredients. We had spent a lot of time around various markets as we traveled, but this market was fresh and plentiful. As we walked around, we learned about different spices and herbs used with Thai cooking as we collected our ingredients.

We returned to the kitchen ready to cook with baskets filled with fresh produce. The best part of this school is the prep work, or should I say lack thereof. Everything was pre-cut and proportioned making this class fun and easy for chefs of all levels. We would make a dish, sit with our group to enjoy and then divide up again for the next dish. It was a great way to learn to cook and appreciate Thai cuisine.

After preparing and consuming bowls of homemade pad thai, curries, soups and dessert we were stuffed. It was time for a long walk and a longer nap. The class was wonderful, and I can't emphasize enough the importance of taking the time to learn about local foods along your travels, whether preparing or just eating. Take a step out of your culinary comfort zone. Even if you’re the type of person who burns cornflakes, try to take on a wok or taste a dish that’s new to you. If all else fails, you can always grab a slice of pizza pretty much anywhere in the world.