Give Thai a Try

My friend Emily loves Thai and Vietnamese food. Summer rolls, pad Thai, sugarcane shrimp and Thai Iced tea are her favorite foods. She orders them, anxiously awaiting their arrival, and watches them appear at her side complete with elaborate garnishes sweet and spicy dipping sauces. Yet she never makes these dishes at home. Anytime we get together for dinner, she always requests that I make her Vietnamese food. I asked her why; “Because it’s too hard. There are too many ingredients and I don’t really understand them.” This from someone who has almost as many cookbooks as I do! As I reflected on her puzzling response, it occurred to me that she probably wasn’t the only cook to be intimidated by SE Asian cuisine. It’s true- there are a lot of ingredients, and they are foreign to most Americans.
At In Good Taste this Saturday, April 7th, Chef Robert Carmack will be visiting all the way from his home in Sydney, Australia to teach a class on Authentic Thai and Vietnamese cooking. The class will begin with fundamentals like making condiments and curry pastes. There is a stellar menu featuring Spicy Noodles with Prawns and Red Curry Chicken with Sticky Rice. Before the class, there is an optional tour to an Asian market, where students will get a complete store tour, shopping guide and a hands on product tasting. The first step to authentic SE Asian cuisine is authentic ingredients, and where better to learn about them than at an Asian market?
Robert Carmack is a seasoned traveler and cooking instructor. In addition to running frequent tours to Thailand, Vietnam and Burma (see www.globetrottinggourmet.com), he recently published two books. Through his years of experience, Robert has learned how to demystify Thai and Vietnamese ingredients, techniques, and recipes. In his class, he provides an in depth glossary of ingredients, including their origins, tips on how to use them, and shopping information. A comprehensive overview of each cuisine and diet, with cultural explanations is also explained. Chef Carmack even offers advice for using traditional equipment, like a fire pot, as well as potential alternatives so that you don’t have to stock a full Thai kitchen to make good Thai food.
“Thai and Vietnamese Cooking” with Robert Carmack is the chance to learn quick, easy, delicious recipes that you can make at home. Armed with the information provided by Chef Carmack, Emily will never have to order take out again, and I can finally rest.

-Josie