Learn to cook abroad in one of these five sizzling destinations.
1. Hoi An, Vietnam
What: Chilled-out Hoi An is the perfect spot to cook up a storm. Do your foodie research by visiting Hoi An’s riverside night market, then get up at dawn to check out the town’s fish market. Local dishes include cao lau, a Japanese-inspired noodle meal.
Get more info: visithoian.com
2. Tuscany, Italy
What: Ah Tuscany! The food, the wine, the postcard-perfect landscapes … Flush with cooking schools set in rustic farmhouses, learn to make traditional dishes using artichokes, asparagus and
wild mushrooms infused with sage, rosemary and thyme.
Get more info: tutti-a-tavola.com
3. Oaxaca, Mexico
What: Forget nachos and burritos, Mexico’s gastronomy capital is all about mole poblano, chicken breast smeared in a rich chocolate-and-chilli sauce. Learn to cook the dish at El Teatro Culinario Restaurant.
Get more info: elteatroculinario.com
4. Chiang Mai, Thailand
What: Chiang Mai is loaded with cooking schools, which normally involve a trip to
the city’s giant markets and lessons in how to prepare Thai cuisine. Get stuck into some tasty Thai tucker at the city’s renowned night market, open every evening.
Get more info: thaicookeryschool.com
5. Essaouira, Morocco
What: The hippy beach town of Essaouira is a great spot to learn how to prepare a tagine, a flavoursome stew that is slow cooked in a conical-shaped dish, also called a tagine. Cooking workshop L’Atelier Madada offers four-hour cooking sessions, including a tour of the town’s lively fish and spice souk (market), a hive of activity.
Get more info: lateliermadada.com
– Janine Kelso
