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A Taste of Culture: Taking a Thai Cooking Class

By Fred Edward on January 30, 2024

Our journey through Thailand was so much more than we could have imagined, but one experience truly stood out: our day at the Tingly Thai Cooking School in Bangkok. Every dish we prepared told a story of tradition and culture.

Our enthusiastic instructor led us on a culinary adventure, beginning at the local market where we were surrounded by the colors and aromas of fresh produce. It was here that we truly understood the essence of Thai cuisine.

Back at the school, all of our ingredients were beautifully displayed on plates in front of our workstations. This was the area where our instructor would explain the dishes we were about to prepare, including the iconic Tom Yum soup, Pad Thai noodles, Panang Curry, and Sticky Rice. Each step we learned not just the recipes, but the heart and soul of Thai cooking—fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques.

The real fun began when we fired up the gas burners to start cooking with our woks. With our aprons on, we turned the stoves on high, waited for the water to boil, and started adding each of our ingredients. We followed along with each step, leading up to a beautifully plated dish.

We absolutely loved sitting down after cooking to savor each dish we prepared, one after another. The school orchestrated each step meticulously, from preparing the ingredients, to cooking at the workstations, and finally enjoying each dish at the table.

Our day at the Tingly Thai Cooking School wasn't just about mastering recipes; it was about immersing ourselves in a rich culinary tradition and embracing the vibrant spirit of Thailand. And if you're craving a taste of Thai culture, trust me, there's no better way to do it than with a class at this incredible school.

Thai Cooking Class

Shopping for ingredients at the local market.

Bangkok Street Market

The busy local market just down the street from the Tingly Thai Cooking School.

Longan Fruit

Longan fruit at the local market.

Fresh coconut

Fresh coconut just prior to being shredded. We made fresh coconut milk for our dishes.

Tom Yum Ingredients

Ingredients for our Tom Yum soup.

Tom Yum Soup

Tom Yum soup.

Pad Thai ingredients

Pad Thai ingredients.

Pad Thai

Pad Thai.

Panang Curry Ingredients

Panang curry ingredients.

Thai Cooking Class

Cooking up our Panang curry.

Mangos

Mangos for our dessert.

Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

Mango Sticky Rice dessert.

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Where to stay

The Standard, Bangkok Mahanakhon. Address: 114 Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand

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