While we were in Luang Prabang, Alan and I took a cooking class run by the local restaurant Tamarind. The class is a full-day event so you start early (by vacation standards) and depart from the restaurant at 9 am.
The first stop is to a local market...
The instructor walks you through the market and explains the local produce, spices, and meats. For most people, this is probably their first experience with a market in Asia so it is always fun to listen to the different reactions. We had a number of Americans in our class and they always get a bit freaked out by the meat area where things aren't in a nice, shiny refrigerated case.
Alan even tried some local meat which I think was heart and brain...
After the market we took a short ride to the cooking school. It is located in a remote area which is just beautiful...
We immediately started cooking. We learned about 5-6 different Lao dishes. The cool part about this class that was different than others I have been to in Asia is that we didn't use modern cooktops but instead used what the locals do...
We even used these great mortar and pestles...they were so great that Alan has ordered one for us to have at home...
We spent a good 3-4 hours prepping and cooking all of the dishes. Alan took the recipe sheet home with him so I can't recall exactly what we made but do know that it was all quite delicious...
I am always a bit lost in the kitchen...let's be honest...am not a very good cook...but I did enjoy this cooking course. I think I did mostly because I was hanging out with Alan and he was having so much fun but the instructor also did a good job of keeping our attention and explaining the local customs and traditions related to food. I would absolutely recommend this course if you ever find yourself in Luang Prabang.
The local kitty could have had something to do with influencing me too...
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