Book Lover's Dream

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I am sad that I am determined to travel light. There are tons of great used book stores in Chaing Mai, the best I have ever seen. They have everything under the sun and wish they were in Arlington. I am trying to resist though and have limited myself to four books although I did sell three back. Pretty good actually.

The other day I decided to take a Thai cooking class. I had read about them but wasn't particularly interested until my brother and his wife took one in Phuket that included a market tour. One of my favorite parts of travelling in foreign countries is going to the grocery stores and food markets. The idea of having a tour of one with someone explaining things and answering all my questions was something I couldn't pass up. In Chaing Mai, I tried to find a half day course, but if I did that I wouldn't get the market tour so I had to commit to a full day. It was only about $25 and I would even get a certificate of completion (see this year is a sabbatical.)

The market tour was first and it was great. I learned the difference between coconut cream and milk and between durian and jack fruit (not really a fruit.) I was pointed out shrimp paste, fish paste, and cow and pork blood, all things I said I wouldn't eat and found out I have been eating them since I got here. There were more platters of roasted and seasoned insects. The guide pointed out some beetles the size of apricots and told me they tasted like peanuts. I took her word for it.

The cooking school itself was great. It was a couple pavillions in a woody area and was quite pretty. There was plenty of room to work (although we neither had to chop things up or clean anything) and each person had their own stove. We started out with chicken in green curry where we made the green curry paste. It is hit or miss with me when it comes to green curry and making it myself allowed me to adjust ingredients so I could figure out what I liked and didn't like (I like a little sugar and lots of fish sauce apparently). We then moved on to chicken and cashew salad, fish souffle (in red curry), fried fish cakes with cucumber sauce (the fishcakes are great but the cucumber sauce is out of this world), and shrimp and lemongrass soup soup (another one I don't usually like but was able to adjust the seasonings to my own tastes. Then we ate all of it for lunch. After lunch came coconut custard with steamed pumpkin, fried spring rolls, and phad thai. I learned about the power of fish sauce and oyster sauce, that cocomut in a recipie doesn't mean I will taste coconut (I don't like coconut), and I now know how to make phad thai! After this experience, I really don't know why other countries with great cuisine don't offer one day introductory cooking courses. It was great idea.

I will add pictures later, this cafe does not have USB access.

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Photos

Fish Cakes with the awesome Cucumber sauce
Of all the foods I learned about today the cucumber sauce is the one I most want to be able to make at home.

Tom Yam with shrimp
A dish I normally am not a fan of but apparently when I make it, all turns out well.

I even made the tomato rosett
Alright I had help with the tomato flower, they're damn hard to peel

Bamboo worms
No I didn't make them or eat them. The next day in a market a little boy dropped his bag of banmboo worms and he had the same reaction a 3-year old would have to dropping an ice cream cone. His mom bought him more though

Hotel visitor
Good thing I love geckos. As long as he doesn't crawl in my mouth while I am asleep, I am happy to share

Comments

[Mark P.]

McDonald's will show you how to make traditional American fast food - and they pay you! Does that count?

[Bob]

cooking
Upon your return we will expect you to prepare these dishes for us!!!

[Angela]

Been a while.
I haven't been back since April. And so, I thought I would catch up on my reading...and the visuals. So far, this food blog entry was my favorite, I think it appeals to my passion for eating, but I can't say for sure :) Although the worms are another story. I do keep the oyster sauce, fish sauce, and shrimp paste on hand at my house...you'll have to stop by in MA and show me some authentic thai skills!