Bonnye and I took a four hour Thai cooking class at the famous Blue Elephant Royal Thai school that just may have changed my life. I think I can learn to cook!!! To say I was intimidated is an understatement...we were going to cook (relatively) complicated dishes using ingredients I had never handled before. I was going to have to use a wok, and a mortar and pistol, and big, sharp knife...shouldn't there be a skills test before they let me touch one of those!?
The head chef was so amazing that I quickly gained some confidence. She said to cook with a smile and good heart because your food will embrace that essence (hmmm...does that mean my cooking usually embraces the essence of a type A stress case? No wonder it isn't very good!); to cook with your memory, because the recipe limits you (spoken like someone who has always known how to cook!); and never to say 'I can't' (a good life reminder). Bonnye is also an amazing chef, so it was nice to have a security blanket in her.
We cooked four mouth watering dishes-Stir-fried Prawns with Green Curry, Northern Beef Curry with noodles, Grilled Fish with Herbs in Banana Leaf, and Glass Noodle Salad with Enoki Mushrooms. The head chef cooked each dish first, and then we were sent to our stations to make it ourselves. I took notes when Bonnye took notes and took each dish one step at a time. And we did it. We cooked four dishes that tasted better than anything I have ever dreamed of cooking. We got certificates! We got an apron! We got to take our dishes home to share with our husbands! It was amazing.
I really hope I make these dishes at home...I will have nothing but time until I find a job, so I don't have a real excuse not to! I can not be afraid of the kitchen any longer! I don't know if you knew this, but I am a master Thai chef!!
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Yay! Proud of you Chef Jacie! I know you make a mean mac 'n cheese, but now you are heading to new heights. Jim may quit his job in the kitchen if you keep this up! I will expect a full SE Asian-style feast when I come to see you in CT this spring and hear all about your travels in-person. I have a feeling ordering Thai take-out might not cut it anymore. xo
ReplyDeleteHi Jen, Congratulations ou are indeed a Master Chef!! I love your storytelling. I chuckled as I read the post and the taxi sign was the icing on the cake!!
ReplyDeletelots of love to all of you, Jane