Carry On Only: Asia Scenic Thai Cooking School

Cooking schools are such a fun way to meet fellow travellers and learn tidbits of authentic cooking.

We didn't learn about Thai fine dining, but real food cooked by families throughout Thailand.

For many Thai people they:

1. Dream of owning a house with a beautiful garden.

2. Most Thai people grow up with their family all together and learn from their grandma. Cooking being a major part of that learning. You will hear Thai's say you need to cook with "imagination and emotion". Which in essence means you learn by example then doing yourself, and you don't get exact measurements.

3. It is also important to be a good teacher and not just a good cook/chef as that is what helps keep the flavour and tradition alive. As one who loves layers of learning, I think that is a great life lesson. Don't just be good at something but share it in a way that it gets passed on and others excel because of you.

We joined up with people from France, Australia, China and England to create the perfect group for a fun day of learning at a working family farm 25 minutes out of Chiang Mai. The setting was idyllic and our instructor Fon (spelling?) was chatty, high energy, and a great teacher with lots of info to share and a quick wit that was often focused on Brad's age.

The day started with a trip through the local market and talks about rice, noodles, and spices and and something about pickled crabs, which I never quite understood.

Then up to the farm with a tour of the gardens fresh produce and herbs and their varied uses.

Cooking and otherwise.

Like these squash gourds that are drying out in the sun. You boys can only imagine what Brad was convincing me these were for.

No matter how much you may know about cooking there is always a nugget or two to take away and so fun for Anna to have hands on cooking experience with major success!!