Koh Chang Thai Cooking Schools are another popular way to spend a day off the beach, with a handful of places offering comprehensive instruction in everything from the raw produce, to ingredients, to techniques and presentation.
The Dishes Taught – Koh Chang Thai Cooking Schools
Curry pastes are integral to all Thai curries, so learning how to make them is usually the basis of most classes. Starting with an introduction to the core ingredients of Thai red onions, garlic, chillies, galangal, lemon grass and kaffir, you then move onto the hard graft of grinding them into the paste using the traditonal pestle and mortar. Once you’ve mastered that, it’s time to perfect the actual cooking of a curry itself.
Other dishes taught often include soups like Tom Yam or Tom Kha Gai, while the perennial favourite Pad Thai is usually in the mix somewhere. Mango and sticky rice is a very popular choice as the dessert.
Teaching is not just restricted to these dishes though and the cooking schools may also offer unfamiliar recipes, which help broaden your knowledge of Thai cooking overall.
The Schools – Koh Chang Thai Cooking Schools
There are now 4 cooking schools on Koh Chang – Kati Culinary, Napalai and Baan Suan, all based in the Klong Prao area and Nam Thai Cooking School in Chai Chet.
Classes are small with around 8 to 10 people the maximum, with you each assigned your own individual workstation and gas ring. At Kati Culinary, the cooking classes run during the day 11.00 to 15.30. You can take shorter courses, morning, afternoon or evening at Napalai Cooking School or Nam and courses on reservation at Baan Suan.
Transfer between your resort and the cooking school is included in the price and you get to eat what you prepare!
Napalai Cooking School
Bunny at Napalai runs 3 classes a day in a family friendly relaxed spot in the back of Klong Prao.
With dishes ranging from pork with holy basil to chicken and cashew nut, from curries to Thai salads, all your favourite choices are on offer.
Morning classes run from 09.00 to 13.00, afternoon from 14.00 to 17.00 and evening from 18.00 to 21.30.
Morning Class at 1,500bt per person. Afternoon Class at 1,200bt per person. Evening Class at 2,000bt per person
Kati Culinary
Ning runs class at the highly recommended restaurant in Central Klong Prao.
Cookery school at one of the island’s very best restaurants. 4 dishes normally prepared – say, spring rolls, penang curry, pad Thai and banana dessert. Professional, full of expertise and fun. 11.00 to 15.30 with maximum of 10 persons. Closed Tuesdays. Facebook page here
Class at 1,500bt per person
Nam Thai Cooking School
Nam runs 3 classes a day in Chai Chet
Having moved from the original home near Klong Plu Waterfall, Nam is now based at the southern end of Chai Chet. She has been teaching since 2003 and now offers 3 classes daily at 09.00 to 13.00, 14.00 to 17.00 and 15.00 to 19.00, preparing 6 dishes. Facebook page here
Class at 1,500bt per person
Ban Suan Cooking School
Lek runs bespoke classes at her spot in Klong Prao.
In the small enclave of houses for rent opposite Annika in Klong Prao, Lek runs daily classes over 3 hours – 3 dishes and a curry paste, with choices from a huge list including stir fried shimp with tamarind sauce, khao soi chicken and banana in coconut milk. Call +66 88 613 6838 to make a reservation
Class at 1,300bt per person (add 200bt for certain fish dishes)
UPDATED June 24
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