Day 4 Cooking Class

We had company for the class today. Things are very "go with the flow" at the school. We are supposed to start at 9 but didn't get there till 9:30. When we arrived, there were two young ladies waiting. They were expecting the Sunday menu or desserts but since they were just drop-ins, the school was not exactly prepared. They were quickly accommodated though and preparations were made to teach them 2 desserts. We went ahead as planned to cook Red Curry with Potatoes and Chicken, a Pomelo and Shrimp Salad, a Sweet and Sour Stir-fry served in an Omlette and Thai Style Fish Cakes. Made our first fish cakes today and they were tasty!

We were so full that we took the salad and stir-fry home and ended up having it for dinner (see Don with our dinner photo). We are finishing the 5 day course tomorrow so will soon have to have regular breakfasts and lunches. The big question will be whether we cook or eat out.

Since we took it way easy today, there aren't too many pics to share. Sorry. Will try to do more tomorrow.

J

Day 3 of Cooking Class

We were the only two in class again. It's great cause we get her undivided attention. We made a Green Curry with Squid Stuffed with Pork, Sweet and Sour Spareribs, Seafood Salad and Whole Fried Fish. We realized this morning that our previous days began with a spicy breakfast and ended with a spicy dinner so were thankful today for a less chili focused menu. Everything was delicious as usual and we had to take the salad home cause we couldn't eat anymore. Today was great because we did things we wouldn't normally do, like deep frying the spareribs first, frying a whole fish and stuffing squid. You will see a photo of Don with Sheri's (our teacher) grandson. He hangs out with his mom and bb brother (I think) while his grandma teaches the classes.

After class, we wandered to another mall and I just had to take a photo with the Thai Ronald McDonald. The trip home is always by baht bus now because we are experts. I took a photo of Don in the back of one.

On our way back to the hotel, we saw a cart selling spring rolls and we couldn't pass them up. That was our snack on the balcony with some cold refreshing drinks. We spend as much time on the balcony as possible. We start our days with coffee there in the morning. Loving this outdoor living!

I got a haircut for $3 Cdn today and NO, I don't think it LOOKS like a $3 haircut :)

Dinner was cheap and cheerful again. For $7, we got a crab appetizer, a stirfry for Don and a fried noodle for me with a big beer for sharing.

Oh yeah, there is a photo of the Banana Roti from last night I forgot to post yesterday.

Second Day at Cooking School

We came out from our hotel room today and saw an elephant again. Apparently, there is an elephant trekking park right near here. We managed to get a photo this time for proof.

We were the only ones in class today so we had a great chance to ask questions and the lesson was quicker. Yesterday, we cooked Penang Curry, Pad Thai, Hot and Sour Chicken Soup and a Green Papaya Salad. Today, we cooked four more dishes: Curry Noodles, Chicken Galangal and Coconut Soup, Chicken and Vegetable stir-fry and a Spicy Seafood Salad. After the first dish, I could barely touch the others. I was so stuffed!

On our way back to the hotel, we checked out a mall on the beach front. No bargains to be had even though there was End of Season sales everywhere :( But I did find my favourite drugstore in China, Watsons, here AND a Boots so I was happy. Hope to check out the Outlet Mall soon.

When we went out for dinner tonight, there were tons of flying insects out. You can see from the photo that they put on quite a show and were terribly pesky around our heads. We tried a yummy street snack tonight, a banana roti. It's a pastry fried in butter and oil and filled with banana and topped with a sprinkle of sugar and sweetened condensed milk. We ate them before having dinner because they were fresh and warm. Nice to be adults!

We're heading back for day 3 at the cooking school tomorrow. Think we will have company because a girl stopped in to inquire about classes while we were cooking.

That's it for today. J

First Day of Cooking Classes

We woke up early so we could be ready for our pick up at 8:30 this morning. Sheri, the chef who was teaching the classes, picked us up on her way in to the school. When we got there, there were 5 women waiting. We turned right back around and headed out to a nearby market which really reminded us of Mexico. We got a quick tour of some popular vegetables and other produce, bought some ingredients and headed back to cook.

You can see that this is a real hands-on class. We all got our own stations and we stood on the outside while Sheri stood on the inside to give us instructions and organize the ingredients for us. All we had to do was cut and stir. It was awesome! We cooked 4 dishes in 3 hours and we were stuffed. I can't believe how easy it was to cook such flavourful dishes. Of course, it helps when someone has prepared all of the ingredients for us. We would cook a dish, plate it and sit down to enjoy the fruits of our labour, rest a bit and go back to make the next dish. While we are, Sheri and her helper washed the things that we had used and prepared the ingredients for the next dish. We liked it so much, we've decided to do the other 4 courses in the series so we are returning tomorrow. Here is the link to the school:

http://www.happyhome-thaicookingschool.com/

We were so full that we didn't need lunch. We came back to the hotel, had a swim then a nap and headed back out again for a foot massage for me while Don had a drink next door. Ahhhhh! Possibly the best foot massage ever. The massage included my legs, arms and shoulders too and it was the first time I've had a stick used in massaging my foot. Dinner was a bit of street food from some carts. We had donairs and fried chicken, not Thai but cheap. Enjoying some English tv now and chilling. Looking forward to our second cooking class tomorrow :)

Night all. J

p.s. Our cooking classes cost $130 Cdn. What a bargain for 5 mornings of fun! Every morning we start at 9 a.m., go to the market, then cook 4 dishes and eat till noon. Today we didn't finish till 1.

Thai Lunch and Dinner From Day 3

Most of these were from the one restaurant we found and liked very much. In the big clay pot is some bbq pork ribs that we found in the market in a food cart. That was our first appetizer for the evening.

Fish Spa and Great Thai Food

On our way out to breakfast this morning, I had to take a photo of one of the alters on the way. Many of the properties and businesses had an alter of some sort. This one above was particularly beautiful.

Our first adventure of the day was a fish spa. For 150 baht (almost $5 Cdn), little fishes ate the dead skin from our feet for 20 minutes. I was a bit afraid once I saw the tank of fishes but that quickly turned to uncontrolled laughter as soon as the fishes found my feet. Don and I were crying because we were laughing so hard. It felt like little electrical shocks AND the worst tickling you can't stand. It was the best $10 we've spent! Our feet came out nice and soft.

We found a nice outdoor restaurant for a cheap and cheerful Thai lunch. It was so good that we returned for dinner tonight. Having trouble posting pics in this entry. Check out our food in the next entry.

Oh and we saw an elephant across the street from the hotel. It disappeared so quickly into the trees that I didn't have a chance to pull out my camera so you'll have to use your imagination. There was a person riding it if that helps.

Tomorrow, we're going to cooking school. It should be fun!

Night all. J

A View of Our Apartment

Our balcony is the one on the top floor to the left of the green towel.