MARCH 2010
– Denise Gogarty
Culinary experiences in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
One of the most enjoyable ways to experience the culture and people of SE Asia is through the food — “the route to the heart is through the stomach.” I recently returned from a three-week trip through SE Asia where I enjoyed eating and cooking my way through various kitchens in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.
Travelers can experience the kitchens of SE Asia in many ways — whether a cooking class in the kitchen of a five-star hotel, an impromptu meal with locals, or eating a bowl of noodle soup from a street vendor. Here are some of my culinary experiences in SE Asia, many of which can be incorporated into your own journey to this magical part of the world.
Temple Kitchens: While in Hue in Central Vietnam, my guide and I took a leisurely boat ride up the Perfume River to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda in Hue, Vietnam. We arrived rather late in the day, and by the time we had walked past the pagoda to the living quarters of the Buddhist monks, it was past dinnertime. 
The young novitiate monks that had returned home late from school, were just beginning to eat their dinner when they spotted me and my guide and invited us to share their meal. In exchange, we spoke to them in English so they could practice their speaking skills. The food was delicious and the invitation to share the meal was serendipitous.
Street Kitchens: Eating on the street is one of my favorite things to do in SE Asia — the one place in the world where the street food is safe to eat and delicious. The turnover of food is very high so you can be certain of fresh ingredients, cooked-to-order. Whether snacking on sticky rice in Luang Prabang, Laos or slurping on hot “pho” (rice noodle) soup in Saigon, you can be assured of finding something to snack on as you stroll in the markets or as you sit at a sidewalk table watching the world go by.
Professional Kitchens: In Hanoi, I enrolled in the Sofitel Metropole Hotel’s morning cooking class. The class begins with a cyclo (pedi-cab) ride through Hanoi’s crowded streets to the bustling morning market where you can stroll through the stalls and mingle with vendors. One of the Metropole’s young sous chefs joined us and answered our questions while identifying the various herbs, vegetables, fruits, rice, and fish that are used in Vietnamese cooking. After picking up some last minute ingredients needed for class, we rode by cyclo back to the hotel’s kitchen for a morning of demonstrations, hands-on cooking, and, of course, tasting. As a class participant, I went “behind-the-scenes” to get a peek at the professional chefs preparing meals for the hotel’s guests. The morning’s class ended with lunch in the hotel restaurant with a briefing by the chef on the various dishes of the day.
Similar courses are offered in many of the five-star hotels throughout Asia including the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok, where I completed an exceptional cooking course. Guests may take the complimentary boat taxi across the river from the main hotel to the cooking school located in the historic section on the other side of the river. I would definitely recommend this for a fun way to spend a morning in Bangkok. Similarly, you can discover the secrets of Royal Khmer Cuisine at the cooking class held in the historic Raffles Hotel in Cambodia or enjoy Laotian food at one of the many fine hotels in Luang Prabang.
And, of course, in any of the destinations, you can experience exceptional restaurants — just ask for our list of hotspots!
– Denise Gogarty
1-800-999-1759
Explore our Asia & Pacific, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia travel adventures on coxandkingsusa.com.
Southeast Asia Experience: Thailand, Laos & Cambodia
Classic Vietnam
Classic Vietnam & Cambodia
Portrait of Vietnam
Indochina Sojourn
The Enchanting Temples of Angkor
Cambodia Discovery: Beyond Angkor
Thailand: Land of Smiles
Northern Thailand & Krabi
Laos: Jewel of Indochina
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