![Rachel and I at The Helping Hands Cooking School in Bangkok Rachel and I at The Helping Hands Cooking School in Bangkok](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6230/6364521051_c3eea8244f_z.jpg)
During our Bangkok Babymoon earlier this year, Rachel and I decided to attend a one day Thai cooking class with The Helping Hands Thai Cooking School.
The school and cooking classes are run by an energetic and friendly lady nicknamed Khun Poo, hence the name “Cooking With Poo”.
More about the class via the official website:
The Helping Hands Thai Cooking School is an initiative designed to assist in the support of men, women, children and families from within the Klong Toey Slum Community in Bangkok, Thailand.
Khun Poo is one long-time resident of Klong Toey who represents a remarkable model of success and positivity in an often stark and complex landscape of poverty and hardship. For the past two years she has been running her own cooking school for the tourist market as well as local Thais under a community self-help program that she built with four other slum residents. The Helping Hands initiative supports Klong Toey residents to develop micro-businesses based on their skills and talents by linking them with markets and credit support. Other projects that have been supported by the initiative include catering services, a mini-van service, a sushi delivery business, a small bakery and handicraft production.
Our cooking classes are an experience of a lifetime, as you witness the hardship and hope experienced by the people living in Bangkok’s largest slum. After picking you up from our central pick-up point we take you to the market to learn how to select and purchase fresh vegetables and ingredients for the selected dishes of the day.
You will then make your way into Khun Poo’s community where she will teach you how to blend the different herbs and spices and you will learn how to create authentic Thai food for yourself.
Exciting isn’t it?
Rachel and I enjoyed ourselves thoroughly as we learned to whip a few quick, simple Thai dishes wih Poo and five other classmates.
![Boarding a Helping Hands van which will be taking us to the Klong Toey Market and the cooking school Boarding a Helping Hands van which will be taking us to the Klong Toey Market and the cooking school](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6120/6364530743_c36d144604_z.jpg)
The visit to the Klong Toey Market was an eye-opener for us. This is a market for locals, not usually visited by tourists. Unless the rest of our Caucasian classmates, we were familiar with wet markets and “exotic” food stuff like pig’s innards, durians and fish maws. Nonetheless, we were still intrigued by the Isan (northeastern region of Thailand) food section which offers “fear factor” stuff like baby frogs salad, crickets and many kinds of insects and critters. Thankfully, Isan cuisine was not on our cooking menu!
![The Isan food section in Klong Toey Market The Isan food section in Klong Toey Market](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6214/6364532571_412c4d50ff_z.jpg)
![Poo guiding us around the market Poo guiding us around the market](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6227/6364546263_229eb1ecf1_z.jpg)
![Insect feast Insect feast](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6109/6364539805_3134c6b6cd_z.jpg)
![Insect mountain Insect mountain](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6218/6364533335_870f46c053_z.jpg)
![Delicious beetles Delicious beetles](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6052/6364551515_aa4a159523_z.jpg)
![Assorted insect Assorted insect](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6045/6364530527_db6a1c4bce_z.jpg)
![Cricket galore Cricket galore](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6213/6364524505_0f24e7be72_z.jpg)
![Grasshoppers Grasshoppers](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6095/6364520571_ffbd159ec1_z.jpg)
![Plump, juicy worms Plump, juicy worms](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6019/6364522333_012586d2c3_z.jpg)
![Water boatmen Water boatmen](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6229/6364523627_7bcbfd75b9_z.jpg)
![Assorted gluey cooking pastes Assorted gluey cooking pastes](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6120/6364520261_8bbea74c13_z.jpg)
![Live eels Live eels](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6118/6364539515_db0080cdf2_z.jpg)
![Catfish Catfish](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6094/6364524777_94e6c0e14e_z.jpg)
![Freshwater gourami fish and shrimps Freshwater gourami fish and shrimps](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6233/6364546027_0b45e80430_z.jpg)
![Frogs - you can purchase them live or skinned Frogs - you can purchase them live or skinned](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6058/6364543301_2f178d2286_z.jpg)
![Close-up of the bloodied, skinned frogs Close-up of the bloodied, skinned frogs](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6058/6364537185_9cc76f1ac3_z.jpg)
![More yummy green frogs More yummy green frogs](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6222/6364541303_c5eb4eebcc_z.jpg)
![These baby frogs are eaten raw with salad These baby frogs are eaten raw with salad](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6049/6364519963_cb9f8e3ddd_z.jpg)
![Grilled catfish Grilled catfish](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6047/6364535673_e7a1be5106_z.jpg)
![Ant cocoons - these do not come cheap and is considered a exquisite delicacy in Isan cuisine Ant cocoons - these do not come cheap and is considered a exquisite delicacy in Isan cuisine](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6096/6364541055_273b552e4f_z.jpg)
![Freshwater fish, not a favouite among Singaporeans due to the stronger "fishy" taste Freshwater fish, not a favouite among Singaporeans due to the stronger "fishy" taste](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6109/6364540301_5a62d864e3_z.jpg)
![Fresh poultry Fresh poultry](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6225/6364547295_658658eef7_z.jpg)
![Whole chicken Whole chicken](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6213/6364528665_b6c3604736_z.jpg)
![Chili paste Chili paste](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6054/6364527551_eb12c7582d_z.jpg)
![Isan veggies Isan veggies](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6364542975_0cd977516c_z.jpg)
![More Isan veggies More Isan veggies](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6221/6364534143_994cd23998_z.jpg)
![Young boy vendor Young boy vendor](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6031/6364525923_23d15679dc_z.jpg)
![Lotus and other stuff Lotus and other stuff](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6114/6364534797_8e9c20d5ab_z.jpg)
![A happy little girl in the market A happy little girl in the market](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6218/6364529715_c63c8cd268_z.jpg)
![Another vegetable stall Another vegetable stall](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6364535395_3df3b83099_z.jpg)
![All the stuff you need to make Tom Yam soup All the stuff you need to make Tom Yam soup](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6226/6364532881_bcde66084e_z.jpg)
![Tin biscuits, these were very common in Singapore in the 80s but are a rare sight now Tin biscuits, these were very common in Singapore in the 80s but are a rare sight now](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6052/6364551209_bceda8f8d0_z.jpg)
![Rice of varying grades Rice of varying grades](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6221/6364550861_ac6987a6ef_z.jpg)
![A black cat we spotted at the market A black cat we spotted at the market](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6117/6364527819_306a562c31_z.jpg)
![Fresh flowers Fresh flowers](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6117/6364527109_908ddc438a_z.jpg)
![Fresh seafood stall Fresh seafood stall](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6224/6364550113_c2f3c3602a_z.jpg)
![Mud crabs Mud crabs](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6238/6364548755_ee49370337_z.jpg)
![Blue prawns Blue prawns](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6364549295_6f8976cdd7_z.jpg)
![Prawns of varying grades (and prices) Prawns of varying grades (and prices)](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6042/6364549561_1ecff5afb6_z.jpg)
![Fishmonger Fishmonger](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6236/6364537469_1bbd0c3c88_z.jpg)
![Pig's heads for Ah Long Pig's heads for Ah Long](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6032/6364521815_cd19368a46_z.jpg)
![Buying some ready-made Thai sticky rice Buying some ready-made Thai sticky rice](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6098/6364526133_49b38cc402_z.jpg)
![A child resting at a vegetable stall A child resting at a vegetable stall](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6114/6364545019_3dd356f905_z.jpg)
![Chilli vendor Chilli vendor](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6099/6364544707_a113313c99_z.jpg)
![Chopped coconuts Chopped coconuts](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6059/6364543813_7206243294_z.jpg)
![Fruits stall Fruits stall](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6093/6364542205_c982917667_z.jpg)
![Green limes Green limes](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6031/6364541639_e9427434a0_z.jpg)
![Mangosteens! Rachel and I bought lots of these Mangosteens! Rachel and I bought lots of these](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6019/6364520837_75d0ffbf67_z.jpg)
![Poo buying some mushrooms for our cooking lesson Poo buying some mushrooms for our cooking lesson](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6039/6364541897_24b7ebdb4a_z.jpg)
![Thai popiah skins, freshly made Thai popiah skins, freshly made](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6215/6364537713_6cc41686b8_z.jpg)
![Thai sticky rice, smoked in bamboo Thai sticky rice, smoked in bamboo](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6095/6364536879_eba31a6911_z.jpg)
After getting all the ingredients we need at Klong Toey Market, we boarded the van and headed to the Helping Hands Cooking School. The school is located within the residential area of the Klong Toey community and resides in a cosy little double-storey home. It can comfortably host a class of around 6 to 10 pax.
![Interesting contrast on the wall Interesting contrast on the wall](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6233/6364519267_560070c3d8_z.jpg)
![Children playing Children playing](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6100/6364519443_3fcb50f12c_z.jpg)
![Rachel in the alley Rachel in the alley](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6219/6364519625_127ec960ff_z.jpg)
![Sleepy black cat Sleepy black cat](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6214/6364518819_5de221eef9_z.jpg)
![The black cat has a kitten The black cat has a kitten](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6105/6364519067_7b450e9189_z.jpg)
![School entrance School entrance](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6038/6364542413_99a07baa1e_z.jpg)
Clean and well-equipped, Poo is assisted by another three apprentice girls while conducting her class.
![Many photos of past cooking classes adorned the walls Many photos of past cooking classes adorned the walls](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6118/6364529991_b1fb1659bb_z.jpg)
![More pictures More pictures](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6115/6364542707_e2554def4f_z.jpg)
We learned to cook a total of 4 traditional Thai dishes – Tom Yum Gai (Hot & Spicy Soup with Chicken), Phad Thai (Thai Noodles with Vegetables), Larb Pet (Minced Duck with lemongrass) and Khao Niow Ma-muang (Mango and Sticky Rice).
![Rachel is really excited about the cooking class Rachel is really excited about the cooking class](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6053/6364521337_d17527f48f_z.jpg)
![Getting down to business Getting down to business](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6216/6364549799_29c3670e98_z.jpg)
![Rachel was very serious and took notes throughout Rachel was very serious and took notes throughout](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6092/6364547775_3955bc64d0_z.jpg)
![Poo's cook book Poo's cook book](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6048/6364540493_1ee8746f4c_z.jpg)
![The first dish we learn to cook was Tom Yam soup The first dish we learn to cook was Tom Yam soup](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6097/6364538697_1de1903d69_z.jpg)
Interestingly, we found out the red colouring on the noodles in Phad Thai came from the natural colouring inside the head of the prawns used in the dish and not from chili paste or artificial food colouring.
![The ingredient for Phad Thai The ingredient for Phad Thai](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6096/6364545149_7a2cc7507f_z.jpg)
![Dumping all the Phad Thai ingredient into the pan Dumping all the Phad Thai ingredient into the pan](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6364526375_cf4ddbe0c1_z.jpg)
![The frying process The frying process](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6215/6364529457_1fb2b312ee_z.jpg)
![The prawns are cooked The prawns are cooked](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6098/6364546731_49352c7537_z.jpg)
![Mixing in an egg Mixing in an egg](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6364546503_a635cceea6_z.jpg)
![Stir and fry like a pro Stir and fry like a pro](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6047/6364543567_b38df3d744_z.jpg)
![The red colour from the prawns seeping in The red colour from the prawns seeping in](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6213/6364545363_4596a4860f_z.jpg)
![Rachel's Phad Thai is ready Rachel's Phad Thai is ready](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6032/6364547531_f8f008317a_z.jpg)
The delicious Thai dishes were also much easier to cook than we had thought. Our confidence was so boasted after the lesson that we immediately whipped up a Thai dinner for our family when we were back in Singapore, to positive reviews.
![Ingredient for the duck dish Ingredient for the duck dish](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6225/6364523081_d349118872_z.jpg)
![Dicing everything into small bits Dicing everything into small bits](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6211/6364523299_7e09bcd3c6_z.jpg)
![Me showing off my nifty knife skill Me showing off my nifty knife skill](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6239/6364524135_c7bbf9d3a6_z.jpg)
![Poo's demo Poo's demo](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6224/6364525065_8e55220a4b_z.jpg)
![Minced duck in the pan Minced duck in the pan](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6115/6364538987_97e9762927_z.jpg)
![Rachel with her completed plate of Larb Pet Rachel with her completed plate of Larb Pet](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6095/6364552239_7ab4ebfc93_z.jpg)
![Poo preparing the last dish, Mango with Sticky Rice Poo preparing the last dish, Mango with Sticky Rice](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6033/6364545795_75848da0a9_z.jpg)
![This is always one of Rachel's all time favourite Thai dish This is always one of Rachel's all time favourite Thai dish](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6224/6364527263_b5b79ebc42_z.jpg)
By coincidence, Nirmal Ghosh, the Thailand correspondent for The Straits Time popped by in the middle of our cooking lesson to conduct an interview with Poo. As a fellow journalist in the same media company, Rachel is a big fan of Ghosh’s news stories and she was really delighted to meet him in person.
![Nirmal Ghosh and his assistant, sharing a plate of Poo's Phad Thai Nirmal Ghosh and his assistant, sharing a plate of Poo's Phad Thai](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6032/6364546959_38216cd3fb_z.jpg)
At the end of the day, Rachel and I bought a copy of Poo’s cookbook to support The Helping Hands initiative. We had a really good time. It was a day well spent and we would highly recommend it to other Bangkok tourists who want to try something different beyond the usual sight-seeing and shopping.
![We were each given copies of the recipes at the end of the day We were each given copies of the recipes at the end of the day](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6040/6364531927_063c7232ce_z.jpg)
![We can now cook Thai food! We can now cook Thai food!](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6364528119_b38d6df27f_z.jpg)
![A picture of Rachel with Poo A picture of Rachel with Poo](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6226/6364529225_ef321f2610_z.jpg)
![Group photo with Poo and our five classmates Group photo with Poo and our five classmates](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6101/6364548053_76f43f9434_z.jpg)
If you are interested in attending this cooking class, please visit the Cooking With Poo official website to find out more on the cooking menus, lesson prices, dates and schedules available. 🙂