17 December 2015-
I'm sure if you read my last post you'll have read about my not-so-subtle frustration with our diving trip to the Similan Islands.
Let me put the Thailand trip in a very positive light.
I also think that by now you also know that we enjoy attending cooking classes while traveling. We asked at the hotel lobby tourist desk about cooking classes through the resort but they'd already been booked full. Lucky for us! The hotel agent arranged for a cooking class through a local restaurant.
We met the chef (who was also our instructor) at a local veggie and fruit and meat and spice market. He suggested a menu of four different dishes for us to cook. We quickly browsed through the market – it's very similar to the markets here in China. We did manage to remember to buy turmeric root. It's one of those difficult-to-locate ingredients.
***Aaaaaaa!!! I'm trying to remember our instructor's name and my mind is drawing a blank. Darn it!***
Various pastes available for purchase:
After the market we drove down a bumpy, narrow road …all the way down to the end of the road. Then we spotted this sweet little perfect restaurant- sitting next to a small lake.
And they had cats! Friendly cats are always a bonus in our book.
Ava gets chef's hat:
Hee hee!
Now it's Annika's turn.
These were very unique shrimp – the shrimp were partially peeled (left the heads on as they look nice- or so the chef said) and put them in a simple marinade. Then they were wrapped with rice noodles and deep fried until the noodles turn a golden brown.
oooooo…the shrimp!
Making Massaman curry….yummy!!!!
Kitty gets a close up!
The cats were very comfortable with strangers. Sometimes a little too comfy…and getting too close to our thoughtfully prepared dishes.
Darn it…I'm having trouble remembering all the dishes we prepared. I remember the shrimp and the massaman curry…but I'm having trouble remembering the other dishes. Hopefully Mark can fill the gaps!
And here's our quick dessert – bananas in coconut milk with palm sugar. Yummy!
After our lunch our instructor, who also happens to own the restaurant and this land, took us on a short tour of his property. He grows many of the ingredients he uses in his dishes. I've often wondered why more restaurants and chefs don't grow their own ingredients.
This place is just the sort of many people dream of owning while in retirement…land, gardening, cooking…idyllic.
If you're ever in Kao Lak we highly recommend visiting Baan Srimuang Restaurant!