It’s a joke that keeps on giving. “Cooking with Poo” may not seem the most obvious slogan for advertising your business, but it’s worked out okay for Saiyuud Diwong, who’s put her nickname on books, merchandise and the well-known cooking school which helps benefit its neighbors in the Khlong Toei slums. Not to mention the “I cooked with Poo and I liked it” aprons.
Although preparing Thai food may seem unnecessary in a city where it sits piled inexpensively along every street, the visit of a foodie friend interested in learning led us to pay Poo a visit.
A minivan from Emporium Suites near the Phrom Phong BTS station took our eager group to the Khlong Toei market. For Southeast Asian residents, the market resembles a bigger version of what we’re familiar with: freshly killed pigs hanging from hooks, fish gasping in the minimum amount of water to keep them alive, and bloody guts covering the floors. It was smelly, crowded and not the sort of place you’d want to spend a hungover morning. You may end up cooking with puke. We whipped through the market as Poo showed us how to choose vegetables and pointed out a few lesser-known, native veggies.
The trip round the market didn’t allow time for shopping of our own and seemed more demonstration of authenticity and photo opportunity than a chance to really browse.
Back into the van, and it was into the heart of the Khlong Toei slums, where Poo’s small kitchen is based. It’s small, but there’s plenty of room for around five people to watch as the other half of the 10-student class cooks (and then swaps). Poo’s demonstrations are lively and fun, and although there’s not a lot of technique involved in most of the cooking – it’s mostly just chopping and shoving stuff in a pan – even the most proficient of cooks would have to admit they had a good time.
I am not the most proficient of chefs, but even so, the fried vegetable rice dish (my dishes were altered to accommodate my vegetarianism) didn’t demand much talent. Perhaps the only real cooking skill we were taught was how to make chilli paste – which we had a short go at – by grinding them with a pestle and mortar. Poo’s impressive arms are testament to the fact it’s a killer workout, too.
The menu changes slightly each day, but you can pretty much count on three staple dishes along the lines of pad Thai, green curry, fried rice and tom yum – as well as a couple of Thai desserts. There’s the option to pack up your food and take it home, but during my class everyone gobbled up each of the three dishes we made, plus the desserts, so it’s a good idea to go on an empty stomach.
Realistically, I’m unlikely to decide to whip up a storm of Thai cooking any time soon, but I’d rather repeat this activity with the next visiting guest than hit the temple trail for the umpteenth time.
For more information on how to book a session, visit Cooking with Poo online.
