Best Cooking Classes For Travelers In Southeast Asia
Traveling in Southeast Asia? A local restaurant will never forget serving you.
Local cuisines are bound to leave you speechless. Just imagine sinking your teeth into Southeast Asian delicacies. Well, lets take it a step further.
What if I told you right now, you could learn to cook these dishes in person? From being a first time cooker to a dull “chock an egg” two-der, there’s a cooking workshop waiting to enhance every single person’s experience of East Asia.
Allow me to guide you to the most exceptional culinary teachings throughout Asia and shed light on why each one is special in the context of my experience. After reading this article, you will not only understand southern Asia better but also decide on the greatest place to start your journey the next time you visit.
Why Cooking Classes Are a Must for Travelers
As a food lover like me, perhaps I can think that it’s part of the travel experience.
The food provides an incredible connection to the country you’re visiting. For instance, when enjoying a bowl of pho in Vietnam or a plate of pad Thai in Thailand, you are not just enjoying a delicacy but experiencing culture, tradition, and so much more.
One of the best ways to engage with the culture of a place is by taking a cooking class.
At this point, you are not just a viewer, you are part of the experience. Instead of passively observing, you actively participate in the food preparation. This is an experience unlike any other; it allows you to be part of the community, and the knowledge acquired becomes a keepsake long after leaving.
Everything about the process is interesting, so is the result when it comes to partaking in these cooking classes. The recipes are easy to understand, and the steps to execute are direct and uncomplicated making them reproducible.
Thailand: Discovering the Flavors of the Land of Smiles
Let's go on a culinary tour to Thailand, where the food has a reputation for being one of the hallmarks of Southeast Asia. From balancing sweet, sour, salty, and spicy, Thai food is as complex as it is delicious.
There is no better place to learn it all than Thailand.
If you wander around Bangkok, you simply must check out Baipai Thai Cooking School.
This isn't your typical Thai cooking class; it’s a culinary experience.
The journey begins with a visit to a local market, where you will be amazed by the colorful vegetables, herbs, and spices that contribute to the uniqueness of Thai cuisine. You will be taught how to prepare some of Thailand's most loved dishes, including Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Tom Yum Soup.
What makes Baipai Thai stand apart is how interactive the class is.
In most classes, students learn only through lectures, but here, you will be actively participating in every part of the process to make the Thai dish of your choice.
Along with the cooks, you’ll be instructed by the chefs to the level of expertise expected from bomb Thai cooks.
What truly amazed me was the friendliness of the people in the room. I didn't expect so many people would go out of their way to make a class this enjoyable, instead of simply providing instructions like other classes.
Another wonderful choice for a cooking school in Thailand is Siam Rice Thai Cooking School regarding its location in Chiang Mai.
This class is dedicated to Northern Thai cuisine, which is unlike what you will find in the south. Though the dishes may be milder, they are still just as wonderful.
This class also features a market tour, but with a twist. Not only will you shop for the needed ingredients, but you’ll also hear about the cultural relevance of the foods that you will be preparing. You will appreciate Thai food and how it integrates with the daily activities of the country after you complete the class.
Vietnam: A Journey Through Bold, Fresh Flavors
Our next stop on the culinary journey is Vietnam. For those who have tried Vietnamese food, you know that the food is not only fragrant, but it is fresh and full of flavor as well.
The Vietnamese put a lot of emphasis on balance when it comes to sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Moreover, each dish features a healthy serving of herbs and greens.
If you find yourself in Hoi An, a town known for its cuisine, make sure to join a class at Red Bridge Cooking School.
The experience begins with a scenic boat trip towards the school, located at a beautiful riverside, and includes a visit to the market where you learn about the herbs and spices in Vietnamese cuisine. The cooking class is very practical with Vietnamese spring rolls and Hoi An’s white rose dumplings on the menu.
These delicacies can easily be recreated by participants after they have mastered the class.
The same goes for people traveling to Hanoi. The Hanoi Cooking Centre is a place one must go to.
Fresh herbs and sizzling ingredients filled the air and I immediately fell in love.
This lesson is delicious for people who want to dive deeper into Pho and Bun Cha, as the lesson is focused on those dishes. A thing I really appreciated at Hanoi Cooking Centre was the attention given to the origin of the dishes. Each lesson is designed to not just be “culinary” but rather explore the approach behind every dish.
Indonesia: A Spice Lover’s Dream
Let’s travel to Indonesia, a place with amazing spices and food traditions.
If you have ever eaten Indonesian food, you understand it is very bold, flavorful, and complex. Bali, for instance, has some outstanding cooking schools where you can unlock the mysteries of Balinese cooking.
Bumbu Bali, which is found in Nusa Dua, is a location I strongly advise.
Spice and other ingredients that are used in Balinese cuisine will be on full show at the local market tour that is part of the class.
The skills you will pick up during the lesson will let you appreciate the level of complexity involved in making Babi Guling, Balinese roast pork, and Sate Lilit, minced meat skewers.
In Bali you can also look for Paon Bali Cooking Class in Ubud. The school is situated in a village that resembles a Balinese setting, so you get to see how the locals live and eat.
It serves as a traditional immersive experience that combines both modern and cultural aspects. Students get to truly appreciate and Pakon Bali is catered by caring locals who provide a sustainable environment enabling tourists to learn how to prepare Balinese meals.
Cambodia: A Taste of Khmer Tradition
Cambodia may lack the appeal and notoriety other countries possess but it offers enticing possibilities.
Khmer meals should not go unnattended for to be enjoyed are classics such as Amok (a coconutbased curry) and stir fried Lok Lak beef.
At its core Khmer meals have a rich history concealed within which should rather win favor than hinder.
In Siem Reap, the Cooking Class with Market Tour is highly recommended. You will begin with a trip to the local market which has a special place in Cambodian food.
Then you will move to the kitchen to learn how to prepare the various traditional dishes in the Cambodian cuisine. The chefs will take excellent care of you and send you home with full stomach and recipes to try.
A wonderful consideration in Phnom Penh is Frizz Restaurant & Cooking School.
They offer classes that are centered around authentic Khmer cuisines so you can learn how to cook classics like Amok and Khmer Barbeque. What I love about Frizz is the fact that they don’t just leave you with new recipe ideas. The instructors explain the role of different foods in Cambodian culture and traditions.
How to Choose the Right Cooking Class for You
Deciding on which cooking class to take can be quite the challenge, especially with amazing selections throughout Southeast Asia. It largely depends on the type of experience that you would like to have.
Are you more inclined towards spending an entire day on hands-on cooking, or with a specific dish to perfect for the duration of the course? Here’s what I recommend:
Consider location: As with any other class, pick one which is close to your accommodation or a part of town you would like to visit more
Class size: Clearly, smaller classes will have more individualized instruction which is tailored to your needs.
Focus of the class: Do you want to go deeper into a specific cuisine like Thai or Balinese or would you rather sample from a variety of different foods.
My Opinion
The best cooking classes for travelers in Southeast Asia focus less on learning the mechanics of cooking, and more on supporting ones appreciation of culture, people and history in the region.
From stirring curry in Thailand, folding spring rolls in Vietnam to roasting pork in Bali, each cooking class allows one to appreciate Southeast Asia through a different lens.
When planning your next travel, consider signing up for a cooking class at the destination of your choice. It provides a unique, enjoyable, and delectable way to experience new cultures.
Learning how to cook local dishes means that you will be able to relive memories of Southeast Asia for a long time after returning home.
