Thai Cooking

Thai Cooking

Thais have always lived close to the land and sea and the methods they deploy in their cooking reflect that. Traditionally the chief ingredients of a Thai diet are rice, fish, vegetables and herbs. Thai cooking is a mix of Asian and European influences that has evolved from centuries of trading routes.

The Chinese came along and introduced the techniques of cooking with hot oil, Portuguese introduced chilies, European merchants brought along various vegetables and curries and spices were provided by the Indians. Over the years Thai cooks have added their own creativity, changing ingredients to locally grown and easier to find produce and adapting the recipes to suit Thai the people.

Cooking Schools
There is a number of cooking classes and schools in Phuket if you have the urge to try your hand at learning some traditional Thai recipes. Impress your friends back home when you dish up ‘Sesame-Crusted Chicken Strips with Sweet and Sour Lemon Dipping Sauce’ or a ‘Gaeng Masaman Nua - Masaman Curry’, that might be pushing it a bit far for some of you, but you get the idea! Some of the larger hotels have cooking classes available where you are taught by the master chef or go for the cheaper option and choose to learn in peoples private homes. There are different methods of teaching, ‘watch and eat’ or ‘hands on practice’. The latter is recommended as you get to prepare and cook the food as the chef guides you, then you get to eat it too! Courses can last for the day or a week depending on how serious you are about it. Below are a couple of recommended traditional cooking schools where you will get a chance to learn some Thai cooking skills in a hands on environment and taste your creation afterwards!

Culinary Workshops at The Boathouse
This is a 2 day course held on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 2:00. The Executive Chef Tamanoon Punchun demonstrates appetizers, salads and main courses. Lunch is included. Graduates get a Boathouse certificate, apron and recipe collection. Tel 076 330015-7 Fax 076 330561 email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pat's Home
is a cooking school at the home of Pat Teinthong, not too far from Phuket Town. Half-day classes include four dishes each session. Tel 076 213 765 Fax 076 223 847