Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
taken in any order. Each class explores a dif-
ferent vein of culinary skills—learning how
to shop in the market one day, the next
learning to identify the full range of exotic
Thai spices, or making spicy pastes with a
mortar and pestle, or carving fruits and veg-
etables. Not only that, you have two differ-
ent choices of location, either in the
Nabnians' pleasant home just outside Chiang
Mai in Doi Saket, or in town at
The Wok
(44
Ratchamanka Rd.;
&
66/53/208287
).
Nabnian and his assistant teachers are
all fluent in English and offer lots of hands-
on assistance. Every student is given his or
her own workstation and equipment; they
cook four dishes in the morning and two in
the afternoon, and later eat the fruits of
their labors. Culinary professionals and
students who complete all 5 days of the
course are also welcome to take master
classes with Nabnian after 4pm.
Even if you're not taking a class, you can
stay at the Jasmine Rice Village, with a
cluster of private poolside villas that evoke
the village life of northern Thailand. Set
amid green rice paddies, the peaceful
property even has an herb and vegetable
garden that provides produce for the
cooking classes, a short walk away. Rooms
have a minimalist simplicity, trimmed in
teak. The resort's restaurant, Fragrant
Rice, showcases some of Nabnian's more
ambitious cooking—a reminder that, no
matter how much you've learned, you still
haven't exhausted the wonders of Thai
food.
47/2 Moon Muang Rd., Chiang Mai 50200
(
&
66/53/206 388;
www.thaicookery
school.com).
(
Chiang Mai (14km/8
1
/
2
miles).
L
$$
Jasmine Rice Village,
91 Moo 3
Soi 3, T. Luang Nua A. Doi Saket (
&
66/
53/206 3151;
www.jasminericevillage.
com). $$
Tamarind Village,
50/1 Rath-
cadamnoen Rd., Chiang Mai (
&
66/53/418
896
).
Cooking Schools for Travelers
102
Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island
Cooking School
Salts of the Earth
Amelia Island, Florida
Competition is fierce among the various
resorts on Amelia Island, a beautiful Atlan-
tic barrier island just off the north Florida
coast, rich in white sand beaches and
imposing stands of live oak trees. The Ritz-
Carlton Amelia Island's 13-acre (5 hectare)
beachfront wasn't enough to compete
against the long-established Amelia Island
Plantation next door. So the Ritz-Carlton
hit one out of the ballpark with its elegant
wood-paneled restaurant
Salt, The Grill,
where the exceptional seasonal American
regional menu is matched by a stunning
ocean view. It's now considered one of the
top restaurants throughout the Southeast.
The Ritz-Carlton makes the most of this
gastronomic jewel. Salt offers daily four-
and seven-course chef's tasting menus,
which of course include a sampling of dif-
ferent salts (you'll be surprised how distinct
their tastes are). There's a four-person
chef's table in the kitchen for interested
gourmets; there are special monthly wine
dinners; at 4pm every Saturday you can
drop by for a “culinary preview” of that
evening's menu. Luckily for Ritz Carlton
guests, Salt's chef de cuisine, Richard Gras,
is also interested in teaching. He takes time
out of his cooking duties to lead a 2-day
hands-on cooking seminar at the resort
