The gastronomy of a country is always a delicious way to learn and experience the local culture. Anyone heading to Asia looking for things to do in Thailand will love the Thai cooking class at The Oriental Thai Cooking School at the star-studded Mandarin Oriental hotel.
Many aromas, diverse flavors, ancient techniques and an almost infinite list of ingredients are (not at all) basic characteristics of Thai cuisine.
A Thailand It is undoubtedly a paradise for those who are good with a fork and appreciate good cuisine. Creativity and exoticism make Thai cuisine one of the richest in the East, perhaps in the world. I wasn't sure what to do next. Thailand while planning my trip across the country, but one of them was that I would try a lot of local dishes and take a course related to local cuisine. No sooner said than done.
I chose The Oriental Thai Cooking School, one of the oldest and most renowned schools located inside the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok hotel. Led by the friendly chef Narain KiattiyotcharenMore the school is open daily with different classes and dishes every day.
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How it works
A The Oriental Thai Cooking School is located in the annex of the main hotel buildings. I arrived at the reception and was accompanied to the pier where beautiful and exclusive boats leave for an area on the other side of the Chao Phrayaque River. There are also several facilities such as The Oriental SPA, the Sala Rim Naam restaurant, as well as sports courts and a gym.
Thai cooking classes start promptly at 9 am and go until 00 pm. The language is English, so don't worry about the local language. If you speak basic English, it will be enough to enjoy and understand (almost) everything.
When booking (it is essential to book in advance to guarantee a place, as the number of places is limited) they ask you some questions such as if you have dietary restrictions, allergies, etc.
When we arrived in the classroom where the classes take place, we received a folder kit with note-taking papers, the printed recipes, along with all the class material and a beautiful embroidered apron that we use when we start cooking and can take home as a souvenir. #pampering
The experience starts with the chef introducing himself and explaining the cooking class step by step. We learned to make four courses, a typical and exquisite menu that includes a starter, main dish, side dish and dessert. In the classroom, the chef talks about the ingredients and how to prepare each dish. While the chef/teacher will introduce the spices and foods he tells us a lot about the culture and history of the country. It is a very interesting and rich learning combination. We are talking about an activity of one of the best hotels in the city that is part of one of the best luxury hotel chains in the world, so we are surprised all the time. One of the highlights of the menu is the precise selection of classic and sophisticated dishes that have a twist à la Mandarin Oriental.
I learned, cooked and ate the following delicacies:
- Entrada fria: Maa Haw – a kind of canapé based on pineapple with a mix of ground pork with various spices and radishes;
- Sofa: Tom Si Krong Proong – soup with herbs and pork ribs with pepper sauce;
- Prato Principal: Phad Thai – a type of yakissoba Thai version that anyone who goes to Thailand will not return without having tried it;
- Dessert: Thubthim Grawb – dumplings with nuts with flavored coconut syrup (This dessert was created to impress the kings. To make it we color the white nuts with beetroot, so they look like ruby stones, and we use a scented candle to give a kind of thermal shock -smelling in the liquid part of the dessert. Do you understand the level?! lol).
We can say that the class takes place in 3 stages. First, we listen to the chef's explanations, then we get our hands dirty on the three islands equipped with a stove, boards and other accessories and finally, when everything is ready, we are welcomed at one of the hotel's restaurants, Sala Rim Naam for lunch. In between preparations, we also harvest organic ingredients from the small spice garden outside the kitchen. FRESH!
Colorful dessert touch made with flowers
Imagine that between one step and another, without you seeing it, someone from the hotel/school staff goes to your place on the bench to clean, organize your papers and put the written recipe for the current dish on top, in addition to filling your glass of water. Customer service and care are exceptional.
Chef's Curiosities and Words
“Tasting is believing” – Tasting is believing – I tasted practically all the ingredients from garlic to peppers. The chef says it's important to know each ingredient. I agree and love this theory.
“The smaller the cutter” – The smaller, the fluffier – Many ingredients are cut down to the smallest detail. Effect to guarantee a beautiful aesthetic of the dishes.
“We balace flavors” – Balance of flavors – When we eat the dishes, we spend a few minutes savoring and trying to describe the flavors and tastes. They bet on balance and the chef says that a good dish for Thai contains something spicy, sweet, sour and bitter. Extremely difficult mix to create with harmony, but they are experts at it.
“We love Fish Sauce” – They love fish sauce – Imagine that to make this the anchovies stay for more than two years in a covered ceramic barrel, then the liquid is filtered more than 3 times etc and such. It is a complicated and special process like that of wine. Ah, it's worth saying that this is a super rich ingredient in protein, calcium and sodium. #living and learning
“Size matters” – The strongest peppers are the smallest. Size matters, yes! LOL
This was without a doubt one of the best things I did in Bangkok. and you are thinking what to do in bangkok and/or looking for a cooking class in Thailand?
I made a mini-video for you to watch and imagine yourself there. Press play!
Prices:
It is worth checking the prices, available dates and the menu on the hotel's website. To give you an idea of the values and options:
Hands-on cooking & Thai almoço – Baht 3,733 (this was the course I took)
Hands-on cooking & Go to the local market & Lunch – Bath 4,160 (in this one you still shop at a local market before starting the class)
Private Class – Baht 5,864 (minimum of 2 people and the class takes place in the afternoon)
• Value for money: When I traveled to Thailand (December 16/January 2017) 1.000 Bath corresponded to approximately 100 reais.
Practical info:
The Oriental Thai Cooking School
48 East Avenue
Bangkok 10500
Thailand,
Phone: +66 (2) 659 9000
Email: [email protected] e [email protected]
Website: mandarinoriental.com/bangkok
Instagram: @mo_bangkok
Facebook: /MandarinOrientalBangkok
Luis Felipe Di Mare fez a aula a invite do Mandarin Oriental Bangkok e da XMART.
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