Cooking class Chiang Mai

This was our instructor, Bai (pronounced like bye, but not bye).  Here she is showing us all of the authentic Thai ingredients that are needed to make a dish delicious.  Most of the ingredients that we used they grew in their garden. In this photo she is showing us turmeric otherwise known as kamin (or cumin).  It is a member of the ginger family.

 I was able to take a Thai Cooking class at Asia Scenic Cooking School. I am SO glad I was able to do this.  If you didn't want for me to cook for you before, you will now.

This is galangal or kha (or Thai ginger).

This is an eggplant, which I've already talked about it previous post.

A well in the garden.  Well's are ending up to be my trip theme.

Cow's Head Eggplant.  The king (which king I don't think I could tell you) had this plant made to look like this. It TOTALLY looks like a cows head! Crazy.

Our small and wonderful class

Our class opened with this, the 'Welcome Snack' so good. I can't wait to share it with you!

Bai showing us how to put it together.

Welcoming Snack is: betel leaves (or lettuce) sliced kafffir lime, chillies (fresh if possible), shallots, ginger (regular or Thai ginger) roasted peanuts,  and toasted coconut meat.

And we begin..

Essential sauces: (stinky) fish sauce

Oyster Sauce

Sugar (to create the balance I love so much, much like the salt in chocolate chip cookies)

Soy sauce

Noodles, egg and sesame seeds

Wok, and hot oil

Pad See Ew

Ingrediants for Khao Soi curry

L.J. mixing and mashing the curry ingredients together

And now a whole series of me in front of a wok.  I'm cooking and learning if you can't tell by the photo's.  I apologize for the mass repetition, but it helps build tension, or something, no?

Finally sitting down to eat the food we cooked.

Khao Soi, Tom Yum soup, Pad See Ew, and for dessert, mango and sticky rice

Take 1

Take 2. What a wonderful class.

Going to sign out with this picture.  As many of you know, I see frogs on a regular basis, whether they end up being real or not.  In this case they were very real and copulating.  Can't you tell.  He's clamped down on her and there's nothing she can do about it. You can see it in their faces.

Sending Love! xoxo

It's a small world Chiang Mai

Right after my new friend John left, both Kade and Jade (from the blog Where in the world is JK) came through Chiang Mai.  I didn't get a pic of Kade, sorry folks, but here is a post full of pics and adventures with friends from home.

Birds on a bike at my favorite spot to get Pad Thai, Thanks John for showing me.

The most amazing dress shop.  I've the the designers email if any of you out there need one.  I tell you these pictures don't do them justice, they were ab.so.lutely amazing.

And it had a kitten in the shop!!!!

<3

Bowling night Chiang Mai. From left to right: Evan, me, Jade and Eleza.

Channeling the days when bowling was a Thursday night regularity.

Charade bowling begins

"Wild West"

"Robot"

making out with a bowling ball, I think it was "one night stand" (?)

"Burlesque Bowling"

There were a lot more, and I'm sad I didn't get Jade's "yoga bowling" pose.  Anyway, you got the idea. Bowling and beer, woah. Always a good time.

Movies at the mall, while you wait you can get your eye brows, eye liner and lips tattooed, very affordable.

Sunday Night Walking Market, Left to Right, Eleza, Jade and Roz.

And me a little overwhelmed by the crowd.

After Jade, Roz and Eleza moved on a co-worker of Shai's came into town, Helen.

This is not Helen but a very cute puppy that was in a store.  There are also a lot more pictures than just this one.

This is Helen.  We had a nice time, swimming, eating, massage receiving, market wondering and bike riding.

At the big food market

Coconut shakes. Yum!

This is a picture from one of my favorite cafes, called Free Bird Cafe.

  Thank you Jade for introducing me to the place.

Read about it here

After Helen left, I met Alice through a recommendation through a mutual friend in NY.  I am so glad we were able to meet.  It was a little slice of home.

Both sporting out Sf tote bags

I also got the pleasure of meeting Alice's bestie, AJ and her fiance Rob

AJ and Rob

And also Michael, who I later was able to travel with in Northern Vietnam.

Michael

Food adventures with Aj, alice and Rob.  AJ reads (many) blogs, and got the suggestion to find this guy that does the best mango salads.  They were right, it was good.

But not as good ad this deliciousness. This is fried root, similar to rutabaga. So delicious!

Just because i love animals, especially cats.  This is my favorite cat on a string.

Chiang Mai Main City Building

Saturday Night Walking Market (not as crazy or as busy as Sunday Walking market)

And this concludes today's post.  Next, the blog that will make you want me to cook for you.xoxo