Cooking School, Chiang Mai

This cookery school isn't the cheapest in town but it was excellent value at 800bht becasue the facilities and quality of the teaching were outstanding. The day begins with a trip to the market to make us familiar with the local produce. It was also an opportunity to understand what vegetables people in the west could substitute for traditional ones we couldn't find. Once we were in the kitchen everything was set up for us. There was no chopping or cleaning to do just cooking listening and enjoying!

The tutor was excellent and the level of english (even though he pronounced mushrooms as MUSH-A-LOOMS! which I found very amusing) was more than adequate. More importantly our tutor knew what people had in ktichen's in the west, what we could get from supermarkets and the different terminology for vegetables and appliacnes in different countries. We made a range of dishes of which we ate some on site but took most home. I was very surprised how good the food turned out. We were given a good cook book and some spice to take away with us. We were told that we could contact the school at any time afterward if we got stuck at home which I found a nice touch.

If you're in Chang Mai then this is a premium cookery course that is excellent and a great investment. For months afterwards you'll be cooking good thai food.

There are a number of cookery schools in Chiang Mai, Thai Orchid is one of them. A day course consists of pick up at your hotel then you are whisked away to the local market where you meet the teacher, so talks you through good Thai ingredients and what to look for and then at the school you choose 3 meals from a list to cook. All the prep is done for you, you just listen and follow the advice. The highlight was the flambee and also watching the fruit carving, amazing and so skillful.

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Northern Thailand is well known for its food and there are many cooking schools in Chiang Mai to choose from if you want to impress your friends with yummy Thai food. We chose to do a full day cooking class.

We were picked up from our guesthouse and taken directly to the markets where they buy the produce for the days class and where we were given a lecture on Thai fruit and vegetables. Very informative. Then we were taken to the school and seperated into groups according to what we had chosen to cook. We were able to choose 6 dishes to cook each out of 36 options including, curries, salads, noodles, soups and deserts. Yum!!

After a full day and bursting at the seams from all the food we had eaten we all graduated (complete with certificates and cookbooks) from Thai cooking school.

Even if you're not the budding chef (like me) you will enjoy the experience.

This school, run by Somphon and Elizabeth Nabnian, is a wonderful exposure to Thai cuisine. In the multi-day course you learn a variety of Thai dishes: curries, soups, salads, appetizers, and main courses. The staff is friendly and engaging, explaining the various fresh vegetables and their ethnobotanical uses in the cuisine as well as the techniques, utensils and other aspects to making delicious food. The classes are kept small so you have a lot of attention. All in all, a great introduction to Thai cooking in a beautiful location. This is ideal for families as well, as everyone is very lenient and friendly towards little ones.

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This was such a great find! I discovered this cooking school from fellow travelers on this website, and it was fantastic. The food was excellent and our instructor Tim was fabulous. My three friends and I signed up for a public class, but it ended up being private. They pick you up from your hotel and drop you back off. There are different menus depending on the day that you go. Definitely a must!!

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If your in Chiang Mai and looking for a Thai cooking class experience then I would recommend you give Kaohom at try www.kaohom.com

I had done a couple of classes in Chiang Mai and the one I did with Kanchana the owner and teacher was excellent. Kanchana speaks excellent English and teaches her classes with enthusiasm. I was picked up and returned to my hotel after the class, the school is located about 20 minutes from Chiang Mai in the most pleasant country surroundings. The school is set up the best I have seen in Thailand, I have now done classes in Bangkok, Pattaya, Singapore and Chiang Mai, Kaohom is the best set up by far.

The classes are very much hands and well organised, Kanchana give plenty of tips and welcomes questions during the class. The cost is not the cheapest in Chiang Mai however in my experience well worth the small difference. Kanchana is very passionate about her cooking and reflects is how she teaches her class.

Kanchana can be contacted by email kanchana@kaohom.com or phone +66 5386 2967 mobile +66 19935320

If you love food as much as I do, try taking up a cooking course in Chiang Mai. It's almost de-riguer for us foodies to learn how to cook Pad Thai, Khao Soi, Som Tam and other favourites over here. By going through a cooking course, you are taking a crash course in culture really. You get to go on a trip to the market, interact with the locals, buy the local produce and return to the kitchen to create some magic. The course that is the most popular with foodies would be the one at Four Seasons:

http://www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai/cooking_school/index.html

Thai Farm Cooking is equally good since the ingredients that they used are grown in their own gardens and it's ORGANIC.

http://www.thaifarmcooking.net/home/

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I spent two days at the Kao Hom Cooking School in Chiang Mai, and fortunately for me, I was the only student both days. Since I had signed up several weeks in advance, Tim, the owner/teacher of the school, gave me private lessons for the regular price. She is a classy, friendly lady with excellent skills in the kitchen and an equally excellent command of English. I was picked up at my hotel in town and delivered back at the end of the day. Her lovely country estate was a relief from the traffic and the noises of Chiang Mai. All we had to do was prepare the food and eat it, her quiet, efficient helpers took care of everything else. If you want an experience to remember, I would urge anyone interested in learning more about Thai cooking to take this class. You may not be as lucky as I was (she has large groups on occasion), but I guarantee you will be pleased with the results. I can't wait to make a Thai dinner for my family!