Thai Cooking Classes

The Thai Cooking School at The Oriental Hotel
Tel: (662) 437-6211, 437-2918
This legendary hotel on the bank of the Chao Phraya opened its own Thai cooking school on the other side of the river a few years back. The four-day cooking course, conducted in English, is mainly a “watch and learn” experience, with emphasis on demonstration by the chef-lecturers followed by some hands-on participation by students. Classes start off with some background on Thai cooking, followed by different cooking techniques and fruit and vegetable carving. Recipes are a blend of the traditional and the imaginative. Menu preparation and selection is included in the course, as well as how to order at Thai restaurants. Classes take place from 9 in the morning to noon, followed by lunch. Tuition is charged per class.

Benjarong Cooking Class at the Dusit Thani
At the corner of Silom and Rama IV Tel: (662) 236-6400, 236-7238
The Dusit Thani’s Benjarong Royal Thai Cuisine is one of the most sophisticated Thai restaurants in Bangkok. Its head chef runs the Benjarong Cooking Class every Saturday morning, from 9.30-12.30. Recipes are drawn from the restaurant’s menu and include snacks and appetizers, soup and salad, main dishes and desserts. Benjarong Cooking Class offers a very hands-on experience, and the instruction emphasizes practicality and inventiveness. The complete course comprises 12 classes, and graduates will receive a certificate as well as recipe book in English.

Nipa Restaurant at the Landmark Hotel
Sukhumvit Road, between Sois 4&6 Tel: (662)254-0404
The restaurant offers a 7-day course designed to teach beginners all the basics of Thai cooking and enable them to prepare curries, soups, salads and other dishes that make up a Thai meal. The restaurant’s chefs lecture on ingredients and recipes, and then let students participate in the cooking and tasting. Nipa is famous for its authentic food, which has not been toned down to suit milder palates, and the course offers plenty of hands-on experience. Students will receive a recipe book in English or Japanese. Fruit and vegetable carving sessions can be arranged separately.

UFM Baking & Cooking School
Sukhumvit 33, Bangkok Tel: (662) 259-0620-3
UFM offers 10-day Thai cooking courses every other month. Classes take place from 8.30-noon daily, and recipes are a mix of the simple and the sophisticated, regional specialties and national favorites. Students will receive a companion book in English. Next course will start on May 10. Five-day vegetable carving courses are available on alternate months, the next one scheduled for April 19-23.

Modern Women Institute
Opposite Samsen train station, Bangkok Tel: (662) 279-2831, 279-2834
The Institute offers classes on Thai, Chinese and European cooking and bakery. The 9-day Thai cooking course, which is run on an ongoing basis, teaches all the basic techniques of a Thai kitchen. Fees are based on the number of recipes a student chooses. Vegetable and fruit carving lessons are available separately.

Culinary Workshops at the Boathouse
Patak Road, Kata Beach, Phuket Tel: (66-76) 330-015-7 Fax: (66-76) 330-561
Bangkok office: (662) 439-2312, 439-4740-4
The Boathouse’s Thai cooking classes, led by the resort’s executive chef, take place every Saturday and Sunday morning. Classes are very hands-on, with attendance limited to 10 persons to ensure participation by all. Recipes have been chosen for adaptability to Western kitchens. Classes are conducted in fluent English.

Chiang Mai Cookery School
Moon Muang Road, Chiang Mai Tel: (6653) 206-388 Fax: (66-53) 206-387
The school offers one- two- or three-day cooking classes in English. Recipes include Northern specialties, and students will get hands-on experience with kitchen tools. Classes include Northern-style lunch, where students will learn the etiquette of eating at the unique khantoke table.