The next time you plan to visit another country and have an adventure, such as the one we had, I would highly recommend you consider including a Cookery Lesson in the itinerary. A friend had suggested it to my husband when the trip was mooted, and a jolly good idea it turned out to be.
After the tour of the food markets in Hoi An town, we were taken on a 20 minute boat ride up the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cookery School. This was treat in itself, as the river breeze was a welcome relief from the heat of the afternoon. Water bottles were dispensed from the cool box on board and off we went.
Our boat, like many tourist boats, had a roof which gave some very welcome shade. The river had some interesting sights itself...
Once we'd left the main part of the town behind, the river became more river-like, and a little further on we turned left up a tributary or some branch of the system. This part of the waterways was more tranquil, and obviously a good spot to do a little fishing...
Whilst the river trip was enjoyable, before long we'd arrived at
Our guide, Tan, excused herself whilst we were given welcome drinks. A short while later she appeared, having changed into her chef whites, and the lesson proper was about to begin.
First of all we were taken on a tour of the school's herb garden. Tan told us about the herbs, which foods they would flavour, and picked us leaves from this and that for us to smell. She then took us to the school-house / cookery room.
This being a tropical country, the need for walls is negligible.... and actually very practical!
Tan had several assistants, who helped with the food preparation and the equipment preparation as well, and even better than when I was at school (with Mrs Pickering at Notre Dame, umm around 1979/1980) the assistants also did the washing up.
We were in the fortunate position of having a 'private' cookery lesson, in that our party of 8 was large enough. Tan said some of the regular lessons could have up to 20 participants. Note the mirror above the demonstration area - for the larger classes to see what's happening.
Taking photographs wasn't easy during the lesson - there was so much to pay attention to, and I like my cooking and wanted to learn. The first thing we made was rice paper rolls - we made the rice paper for the wraps ourselves, the filling was ready prepared. What we made, we ate...
There are some vegetables ready for prep on the table in front of the children - I wish I'd bought one of those gadgets - they were used to julienne the carrots - seemed to do it really easily.
Shrimp salad in pineapple boat - ingredients/flavourings
Whilst our Vietnamese Egg-Plant in Clay Pot was cooking, Tan showed us how to do vegetable decorations, she talked us through this tomato rose with cucumber fan, and said we should do the same....
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| Tan - professional chef |
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| Me (Cookery O-Level 'A' grade 1981) |
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| Phoebe |
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| 'E' - had to hold her rose together |
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| Simon - apparently he has hidden talents in the vegetable carving department! |
Tom was a little out of his depth in the lessons. The stoves were too hot, the knives either too sharp or not sharp enough, and as for knife/carving skills, I'd be happy if he used them properly at the table, never mind let loose in the kitchen....
We were then invited to eat the meal we'd cooked in the restaurant area before taking the boat back to Hoi An. Tom was determined to fit in a quick swim before we left...
It was past 6.30pm by the time we left, and starting to go dark, as it always did in the tropics...
On the return journey we spotted people fishing - we think they were catching shrimp/prawns by hand. It looked timeless, and certainly a good way to cool down at the end of a hot day..
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| in front of the Red Bridge Restaurant |
On the return journey down to Hoi An, around 6.30pm
It only takes 20 minutes for the sun to set...
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| How much electricity were they using? |
Back in Hoi An, hot and tired, we headed back to the hotel so the children could cool down in the pool. Hoi An is somewhat touristy, and we didn't feel the need to divert the children into spending money on trinkets and such like. Although we did stop and let them get henna tattoos - which faded too quickly having then gone in the pool immediately after. You live and learn... or maybe you don't.
So we arrived back to our Green Heaven, after an amazing day in Hoi An. Tomorrow we tour Hoi An ancient town before flying North to Hanoi for the next part of the trip.
Night y'all. Kat
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