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October 15, 2004

Chiang Mai Pad Thai

One of the best things about Thailand, other than jungle trekking, sex shows and cheap clothing, is its affinity for damn good food! Somehow the Thai have mastered the art of spicy but not too spicy. Their food is colorful, flavorful and cheap! A nice green curry wtih tiger prawns and steamed rice will run you about a buck and a half US! I've only had Thai food this good in Atlanta at my favorite Asian resturant. Since it looks like I'm going to have to support a curry addiction Amanda and I signed up for a Thai cooking class at Pad Thai Cookery School. The school is a family run business from their home with a professional setup in an open air kitchen. Each student gets their own wok and gets to choose several dishes that they cook individually. It goes without saying that we were absolutely stuffed by the end of the day!

Our teachers picked us up from the hostel about 9am and headed for the locals market just down the street. If our teacher hadn't shown us the way we'd probably have missed it on our own. The whole thing was nestled in a small side street full of veggies, various curry pastes and tons of tropical fruit. We learned what herbs went with what dish and what you could substitute if you can't find Thai ginger back in the States, not that I remember too much at this point. Luckily we got a fantastic cookbook with the course full of all those little tid bits of necessary info.

We got to the school around 10:30 and started to cook straight away. Our appetizers were our breakfast. Amanda made glass noodle salad while I tried my hand at frying up a few spring rolls! Can anyone say "Spring Roll Party?!! (Jerry, I found the perfect spring roll and only I can make 'em! Hoo hoo ahahhah) After the appetizers were consumed at a rapid pace we moved on to our mains. Amanda and I chose different dishes so we might be able to share methods later. For side dishes Amanda chose fried rice while I cooked up a dish of the famous Pad Thai. (Professional lookin' ain't it?) I need not mention how excellent of a cook I am after just looking at that pad thai. I make myself hungry.

Next up on the chopping block were red and green curries. Normally, I'd cook the red curry with coconut cream and coconut milk (there is a difference you know!) but since I was also cooking a creamy green curry my teach said we'd vary things up.

While I was slaving away over my curries Amanda was heating things up on her own. She was working on a cashew chicken dish that I thought might take her eyebrows off followed by a fantastic panang curry. (Yes, another curry) Amanda has a special touch in the kitchen that I think comes from her affinity for excellent food. Her panang curry was the best dish of the day by far.

Back on my side of the kitchen I stashed my green curry in a terra cotta warmer before getting together with everybody for a big lunch or 3rd breakfast depending on how you look at it. With Amanda's dishes added to the mix we had a broad selection of Thai food.

I'm not sure if our teachers thought foreigners have two rectums or what but after all that food they brought out even more!! We got to taste some of that tropical fruit from this morning followed by mangos with sticky rice, bananas in cream, and black sticky rice pudding!! I'd have taken pictures but we ate it all too fast.

If you're ever in Chiang Mai then I'd definitely suggest taking this class. We had an amazing time and learned a few things around the wok. If you ever need the skills of a handsome chef then just give me a ring. I think I just might know a guy!

Posted by Josh on October 15, 2004 01:19 PM
Category: Where are we?
Comments

Wonderful. Can't wait to try some of your food!!!!

Posted by: Steven Saul on October 17, 2004 05:45 PM

I am glad to see you shaved that thing off your face josh it was making you look all old. Now your once again a clean shaven westerner! ttyl Boss

Posted by: Roman on October 18, 2004 08:01 PM

ha, ha! i wonder if roman will ever try to grow facial hair or just shave his back and then maybe paste the hair to his face :) just teasing :)

pictures look great! enjoy the wonderful weather!

Posted by: babu on October 19, 2004 03:40 PM

I just loved your trip in the jungle, cooking school, up the river, all of it is so exciting. I am thrilled to share it with my kids. I turn my computer around and they gather around my desk and watch eagerly. Keep those great pictures and journal coming.

Posted by: Grandma on October 20, 2004 06:56 AM
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