Try a cooking class in Chiang Mai

“We’re welcomed with a drink, put on our aprons, and after a short introduction from Alley, we get straight to work on our individual dishes. Time flies by, laughter fills the air, and I’m relieved to discover that I’m not the only one who’s unsure how to light a gas stove. Yes — I’d never done that before. I quickly learn that Thai cooking requires incredibly high heat, and before I know it, I’m stirring, flipping, and frying like never before. Still, I have to admit I feel a genuine sense of pride when I sit down to eat my pad thai. And it tastes just as good as the one from my local spot. By the time I take the last bite of my mango sticky rice, I’m full — and very happy there aren’t any more dishes waiting.”

“We started our tour with a quick trip to the market where our guide and chef for the day showed us around. She walked us through the market, showing us all the local Thai produce. The smell of the fresh herbs was fantastic and was a great reminder of how healthy and good homemade food is. Coming from the Philippines, I was fairly familiar with the local produce as these were items that we would use at home, however, it was interesting to see other people’s reactions to Thai coriander, local yellow ginger, kafir lime and other ingredients that can only be found in this region.”