kvf

My wife and I would like to take a one day class on Thai cooking- any recommendations?

Cilla_Tey

I have only done the Oriental Hotel's cooking programme. Highly recommended but pricey. Details of the menu and rates at this site.

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/510000260.asp

Craig

I have not done one but would like to in February:
BaiPai
Basil (Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit)
Blue Elephant
???
Any comments on your experiences will be welcomed.

Kathie

I've heard that the Oriental's cooking schools are a week long (or at least multi-day). Cilla might be able to say whether that is true.

I've heard very good reports about the Blue Elephant. If I was going to do a cooking school in Bangkok, that is likely the one I would choose. Somehow, we never quite have time... maybe next year.

Guenmai had good things to say about Basil, but Bob had terrible things to say about Basil. It sounds like one of those places that you catch on a good day or a bad day (as are so many places in SE Asia...)

Cilla_Tey

They have a 4 day programme/package (good value which includes accommodation, RR transfers, breakfasts, one dinner) or you can just pick any day. Er, it's USD$120 for about 4 hours.
Came across this the other day
http://www.asiatravel.com/thailand/m...s/cooking.html

Guenmai

I'll stick with Basil in the Sheraton Grande Sukumvit. There is a one-on-one cooking class with the chef there. I took it in August 2006 and liked the course and the food that I cooked a lot. The chef was very accomodating since I don't eat meat/poultry, but will eat fish/seafood. I've also eaten in the restaurant and liked the food a lot. And yes, as Kathie mentioned, Bob unfortunately didn't have a memorable meal there. Hawaiiantraveler,however, stayed at that hotel, ate at Basil, and according to his trip report, liked the food a lot,too. So, different strokes for different folks.It's not cheap though and especially with the decline of the dollar. When I first ate at the restaurant there in either Dec 2005 or Jan 2006, I was getting between 40.89 and 41 baht to the dollar. In August 2006 I got around 36.77. If you pull up my trip report, August 2006, I have reported on it and on what I cooked in cooking class and the info on how to get in contact with Basil.In my December 2005 trip report, I've written about what I ordered at the restaurant. Happy Travels!

CapitolHill

We were in Bangkok two weeks ago and spent a day at a local/non-hotel cooking school where we enjoyed the small class and comraderie. The Silom Cooking School is not for everyone though. It is conducted in a "typical" Thai outdoor kitchen and prep work is done sitting or kneeling on tatami mats. Remember, outdoor kitchen means no air conditioning, though fans kept the air moving around pretty well. We did it with three other folks: an American 60 something from Eugene, OR and two great guys from Dublin. We loved the casual and informal atmosphere. Also loved the trip to an open market about a 7-8 minute stroll away to buy ingredients. Here's the web site in case anyone wants to look into it. Cost was 1000 Baht/person, which included a pick up and return to hotels in the Silom area. Like the better-known schools the proposed menu changes daily. We did the Monday menu, which included making our own green curry and coconut milk.
http://www.bangkokthaicooking.com/

travelduo

We did the school at Basil and it was fantastic!!!!!!!!! my wife has no clue how to even turn the stove on( i do ALL the cooking at home) and even she had a blast. even tho she broke a bowl!! the chef was great to!

Guenmai

Travelduo...did you recently do the Basil course? Was it the female chef who was there? She's the head chef who was off in Indonesia for a while doing a culinary project or something, but is now back. She was great. I cooked,laughed,and ate a lot and she even wrapped all of the leftover food for me to take back to the apartment where I stay. And she even brought out my favorite...sticky rice and mango..although it wasn't even on the list to cook. She brought out an order of it, wrapped it to go for me, and didn't even charge me for it. I will definitely be taking her course again next week. Happy Travels!

travelduo

yes that was her!!!!!!! she brought out extra stuff for my wife also because she is so picky. but after the class was over she changed my wifes mind about a lot of the food!!!!!! her name is sutthaporn chulavachana.

Guenmai

Yep, that's her...fabulous person and chef. She sent her daughter here to the states for a year to be educated and to become fluent in English. She said that the dream of many Thai chefs is to open a restaurant in the States, but that it's VERY expensive to do so.
Last December, I met the male chef who was her temporary replacement...a really charming guy. I was lunching at the restaurant and he came over to my table and chatted. We talked a very long time. I asked about him when I was there in August 2006 and was told by the chef that we know that he had packed up and moved to the States and opened his restaurant! Happy Travels!

lskohn

Sitting in ORD about to leave for BKK (checking business email of course!)...I am scheduled to take Blue Elephant's course while we're there, so I will include that in my report sometime around New Year's Day.

Thanks everyone for all the tips!

Lisa