Smile Koh Mak Thai Cooking School

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About Smile Koh Mak Thai Cooking School

Immersing oneself in Thai food and culture is a delightful experience, especially when guided by the capable hands of Chef Long. The journey begins with an exploration of Thai food, from the ingredients to the techniques, and the cultural history behind the delicious dishes. It's like having Thai food deconstructed and made accessible for home cooks, with a solid dose of special history sauce. Chef Long, or Ms. Leng as she is fondly known, is an excellent teacher and storyteller. Her students have nothing but positive things to say about her. After her class, one can easily recreate dishes like Pad Thai and green curry at home, and even venture into making papaya salad and Tom Yam soup.

The experience is often described as one of the best in Thailand. Leng's introduction to the Thai kitchen is fantastic, and her warm and welcoming personality makes the experience even more enjoyable. She goes the extra mile for her students, even making special mango sticky-rice birthday cakes for special occasions.

Attending a class with Leng is a must when visiting Koh Mak. The experience is enlightening, even for seasoned chefs who have cooked Thai food before. The four-hour class flies by, ending with a feast of Thai dishes. If there's more than one person in the class, each one cooks something different, providing a full spectrum of Thai dishes. Leng also provides a recipe book at the end of the class, which is very useful for future reference. She is always ready to answer questions and explain about herbs or spices.

The class is well-organized, with fast and effective communication. Students are picked up from their resorts and driven to the cooking school. The course consists of the preparation of four dishes, with detailed instructions and explanations about the herbs and spices used. Leng also explains the origins of the ingredients, which is very enriching. All ingredients are fresh, including homemade coconut cream and milk, herbs from Leng’s garden, and fresh meat and shrimps. Leng emphasizes the use of organic and healthy ingredients, such as whole grain sticky rice instead of white rice. Students prepare their own curry paste (green and red), and are amazed at how easy and delicious it is compared to ready-made curries. The dishes prepared include a soup with lemongrass and fresh shrimps, fried squid, pad thai (fried noodles), and sticky rice with mango for dessert. All dishes are fantastic in taste.

Taking a break from the beach to attend Leng's cooking class is a decision well made. The class is a fun and educational experience, with several dishes cooked from scratch, including making one's own curry paste. Many of the ingredients come from the garden right in front of the class, and all the seafood is freshly caught. The feast at the end is incredible, and the satisfaction of having made it oneself is unparalleled. For anyone who enjoys cooking and wants a non-beach activity, this is a must-do when visiting Koh Mak.

The cooking class offers excellent value for money, with a fantastic setting, knowledgeable and friendly teacher, and a taxi service to and from the accommodation. The morning session includes making dishes like pad Thai, Tom kha gai, Tom yam gung, red curry, green curry, panaeng curry, and stir-fried crispy chicken with cashew nuts. Leng is an excellent teacher who explains not just what to do, but also why it's done, helping students understand and enjoy the course more. The class leaves students with lots of ideas and excitement to continue cooking delicious Thai food at home.

The cooking school provides a great opportunity to learn about Thai cooking. The afternoon spent preparing dishes like Pad Thai, curries, and soups in a beautiful environment with Leng is a wonderful experience. The activity includes pick-up from the hotel and a full evening of good food. The recipes work well even when tried at home, making it a truly enriching experience. Leng's dedication and passion for Thai cooking make this experience a memorable one.