Taking a Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok

I'll admit it. I'm not the best cook in the world. I make basic meals for myself, including overcooked hamburgers and underseasoned vegetables. But when I was in Bangkok I decided to challenge myself by participating in a cooking class. Not only did I step out of my comfort zone by cooking, but I was also cooking Thai food, which uses many ingredients and processes I have never used before!

I chose the Baipai Thai Cooking School because I felt like it offered the most for my money. We cooked and then ate dishes and learned some Thai cooking skills, such as making coconut milk and cream. This cooking school also offers a complimentary shuttle to bring you to and from the facility, so it is easy to access. I really trusted the company after reading all their amazing reviews, and their warm welcome and openness during the class made it a really special experience.

The Baipai shuttle picked me up outside the nearest mall and drove me to beautiful outdoor cooking school tucked into a neighborhood. There was a small koi pond and individual cooking stations, as well as a group seating area to watch the instructors cook. It reminded me of a spa with its lush greenery and beautiful wooden features.

My class consisted of a Korean couple on their anniversary trip and four airline employees from the Netherlands who had a two day layover and were looking for something fun to do. We got to know each other and drank lemongrass tea from tiny tin cups (I bought my own set before I left!).

Our instructor, June, brought us all to the garden to learn about the Thai herbs and spices we would be using, including birds eye chiles, culantro, Thai jalapenos, and Chinese celery. We learned all about what dishes they went in, how to cut them, and which parts to use. Next, we went to a gazebo area, where chef Noi, an older Thai woman taught us to shred a coconut to make coconut cream and milk. We got to try it ourselves using the traditional wooden shredders.

From there, we got to cook four dishes: Khao Tang Nar Tang (crispy rice crackers with Thai topping), Tom Khlong Gai (spicy and sour chicken soup), Khao Pad Moo (pork fried rice), and Goong Pad Pong Ka-ree (stir fried prawn with curry powder). Chef Noi and June would walk us step by step through the process of cooking our meals and instruct us in prepping our own materials. Then, she would cook the meal herself, walking us through what she was doing and letting us try what she made to see how it should taste. Next, we went to our own stations and tried it ourselves, with chef Noi and June walking from station to station and helping. I did get corrected quite a few times, and chef Noi took over my station at some points (what can I say!), but I had an absolute blast, and my food came out pretty good! Here are some photos of the dishes:

For the last two dishes, we created them and then all enjoyed a big meal together upstairs. I got to talk with the other participants and learn about their cultures. I was so glad to have such an interesting group of people with me, and this cooking class was by far one of the most fun things I did in Thailand! Plus, they gave me a recipe book so I could make these recipes when I came home.

Here is a breakdown of the costs: