What’s Cooking in Asia?

Cooking lessons: The travel souvenir that just keeps on giving!

TOKYO

A Taste of Culture is a culinary arts program in Tokyo led by Elizabeth Andoh, a leading foreign expert on Japanese cuisine and culture. She and her staff offer classes on a variety of themes in her home kitchen or your home kitchen, as well as fascinating and useful shop, supermarket and Tsukiji fish market tours. Elizabeth is a contributor to Gourmet magazine and The New York Times and is a popular culinary speaker.

www.tasteofculture.com

SINGAPORE

Courses at Coriander Leaf Cooking Studio emphasize home cooking from the many cultures of greater Asia, the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean. A course in vegetarian cooking is also offered, as well as a unique “Screen Cuisine” course featuring menus inspired by famous films, such as “Indochine” and “Monsoon Wedding.”

www.corianderleaf.com

BALI

A range of courses of different lengths and various themes combining cuisine and culture, among them Temple Cooking and Organic Garden Adventure, is offered at Alila Manggis Bali.

Hotel information: www.alilahotels.com

For the 2006 Culinary Journey Cooking School calendar, request at manggis@alilahotels.com

INDIA

Culinary classes and demonstrations are available on request at any of the Leela Hotels and Resorts. Each offers its particular regional cuisine: North Indian curries, chutneys, dishes from the tandoor, with complementing wine pairings in Mumbai; Karnataka cuisine in Bangalore; Kerala cuisine in Kovalam; and Konkan and Portuguese-influenced Goan cuisine in Goa.

Hotel information: www.theleela.com

Request details by e-mail through the Website.

BANGKOK

The Oriental offers a Thai Cooking School six mornings a week for both in-house and outside guests. A different Thai menu is taught each day, so participants can choose one day of instruction or more, as desired. Classes are conducted in English, but special arrangements can be made for other languages, as well as other times of the day.

A five-night and six-day Cooking School package, including luxury accommodations, spa treatment, four days of cooking classes and other amenities is also available.

Hotel information: www.mandarinoriental.com

For Cooking School program details e-mail orbkk-thaicooking@mohg.com

The Mandara Academy of Spa Cuisine, located at the Marriott Resort & Spa has daily morning classes, beginning with an hour-long massage in the spa, followed by a lesson in creating your own healthful spa cuisine at home for personal well-being and medical benefits.

For program details: www.marriottdining.com/mandara.html

For reservations call: (66) 2-476-0022 ext. 1416.

PHUKET

JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa offers culinary courses at their “Ginja Cook,” where children between the ages of 10-15 are also welcome to join their parents as “Junior Ginja Cooks.” A market visit and traditional spirit house blessing are a part of the various cooking adventures, and a lesson in spectacular Thai food carving is optional.

Course menus change daily, and personalized individual, family and group classes can be arranged. Special three-night “Simply Thai” packages, including accommodations, cooking course and other amenities, are also available.

See Ginja Cooking School at: www.jwmarriottphuket.com

KOH LANTA

The Pimalai Resort & Spa, on the pristine Thai island of Koh Lanta in the Andaman Sea, offers a popular two-hour introductory cooking course for its guests. Under the expert guidance of a chef of the Baan Pimalai restaurant, participants will learn to master the preparation of a complete Thai meal, including green papaya salad, spicy prawn soup, green curry and vegetable stir-fry. www.pimalai.com

CHIANG MAI

The Thai Cookery School, run by Sompon and Elizabeth Nabnian, offers classes from introductory to master level. Conducted from 10-4 daily in their home just outside Chiang Mai or at their restaurant (The Wok) in the city, there is a choice from one-day up to five-day courses. The school comes well recommended in a number of popular international travel guidebooks.
www.thaicookeryschool.com

HONG KONG

Martha Sherpa teaches hands-on courses for both Chinese and Thai cuisines. Among the variety offered is an appealing dim sum course, as well as a Chinese barbecue course in which participants learn to prepare Peking duck, Cantonese duck, spare ribs and Cha Siu. Affluent HK residents even send their housemaids there to learn how to cook properly.
www.cookery.com.hk

HANOI

The Sofitel Metropole Hotel offers classes in Vietnamese cuisine. The day begins with a visit to the Ben Thanh market to peruse the ingredients. Back in the kitchen, techniques for a variety of North Vietnamese specialties are demonstrated by the chef and then tasted by participants.

Hotel information: www.sofitel.com

Request details by e-mail through the Website.

HO CHI MINH (SAIGON)

The Omni Saigon Hotel cooking course starts off with a lively market tour, followed by a hands-on lesson in Vietnamese favorites, including translucent fresh spring rolls.

Hotel information: www.omnisaigonhotel.com

Request details by e-mail through the Website.