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Host: Pea

Chiang Mai, Thailand

USD
$34-$108 per person

Thai cuisine in a traditional teak home

Host offerings
  • House
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Pea

Pea lives with her son, Jah, in a beautiful teak home surrounded by gardens in Chiang Mai. Pea started cooking when she was 12. As the first daughter and fourth child in the family she remembers her mom waking her up early in the morning to buy food from the market, teaching her about the best ingredients and how freshness can influence a dish. Pea is such a good and creative cook that she can even get her sons to eat and enjoy bitter gourd, a vegetable that is renowned for people, especially children, despising!

“In our family as soon as we finish one meal, we think of the menu for the next meal. Cooking is a big part of my life, I love to work in the kitchen.”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-20 guests) Start your adventure with a pick-up from your hotel and drive to Pea’s home where she will give you a tour of her beautiful vegetable garden. Discover how essential Thai herbs such as lemongrass and holy basil are grown. You will then be treated to miang kham (a local snack of fresh betel leaves with lime, coconut, and peanuts) before beginning your meal. Pea's mother was Chinese and her father was Thai, and her cuisine is influenced by the culinary traditions of both cultures. Enjoy dishes such as beef noodle soup, kaeng khiao wan (chicken green curry), kai kraphrao khai dao (stir fried chicken with holy basil), nam prik ong (typical Northern Thai pork and tomato dip) before you end your meal with a dessert of sweet coconut ice cream or mango sticky rice (when in season).

Cooking experience: (1-20 guests) Join Pea in her kitchen to chop, pound and grind as you learn to make an authentic Northern Thai-Chinese meal from scratch. You might expect your hands-on cooking class class to last about 1.5 hours before you share the meal you helped prepare with Pea at her dining table.

Notes: Please be sure to include your Chiang Mai hotel name on the reservation form so your host can arrange for your pick-up. Please note that a portion of Pea's teak home is under construction.

Languages spoken: English, Thai

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Pad Thai
  • Som Tam
  • Larb (North Eastern meat salad)
  • Namprig Ong (tomato Paste dip)
  • Green or red curry
  • Kaeng som (Hot and sour soup)

Traveler reviews

4.95 (37)
Pea and her son were gracious and welcoming hosts who answered all of our one thousand questions with ease! We felt honored to be admitted into their stunning, sprawling home and learn so much about fresh Thai cuisine from Pea. Her garden provides fresh herbs and vegetables for the dishes prepared, and we walked out vowing to never buy Thai Curry Paste again! Thank you for a wonderful and educational experience!
- Travelling February 06, 2023
Authentic Thai home cooking with the most gracious host you could ask for. Pea and her family were so welcoming. We loved walking through her garden, picking fresh herbs to smell as she explained what each was used for (and most importantly of all) where to find them in the United States and what substitutes would be acceptable if we could not find the exact. (Though I am determined to find some holy basil and plant it on my balcony now!) We cooked 5 dishes and each was unique. Pea was very sensitive to helping us choose the right level of spice for our tastes and encouraged us to start small and taste each dish as we made it to adjust the spicy, salty, sweet, and sour flavors of Thai cuisine. I am sensitive to spicy foods but was very happy with the end result. My partner enjoys spicy and so his dish was slightly different. Pea listened to us and helped make sure we cooked food we would enjoy. The food we made was so fresh and delicious, but the real treat was Pea’s company. She is an amazing host and we highly recommend taking her class if you visit Chiang Mai. There is no better way to experience authentic quality Thai home cooking!
- ryanBQ October 30, 2022
The host, Pea and her son are very nice and her garden and house are stunning! All veggies and herbs are picked right from her organic garden. She made sure that the recipe included ingredients that I can find in Japan so I can try to book back in my home country. I’d come back to Chiangmai just because I want to see her again and learn to cook other things.
- Yaco October 21, 2022
Pea (and her son) were perfect hosts and made our time with them extra special. Great food and great comonay and cannot recommend this tour highly enough. John.
- johnrN_4 September 24, 2022
We visited Pea’s lovely home and garden recently. She was very welcoming and made us feel at home. We really enjoyed the cooking experience - learning about Northern Thai cuisine and ingredients. We cooked each dish and ate it before moving on to the next. Pea explained everything clearly and her recipes are easy to replicate. I would recommend booking a cooking and meal with Pea if you are visiting Chiang Mai!
- Nithia1605 August 17, 2019
We were a group of 8 that just was with Pea on 26 Dec. The youngest in the group was 7. Pea was very accommodating for everyone in our group. We were picked up by her son and driven to her house to the SE of Old City. Upon arrival we did a short tour of her garden where she grows the produce used for her class. We started with a quick intro to the basics of Thai cooking and then began preparing our 5 dishes. Pea’s instructions were great and she’s very willing to assist or answer any questions along the way. She does basically all of the prep work which allows you to just focus on the actual preparation. At the outset she explains she doesn’t want you to focus on worrying about what ingredients, how much, etc. because she sends you everything electronically after the fact. All in all, it was a great 2.5 hours and very useful class in that we learned how to make manageable, authentic, reproducible Thai dishes. I would highly recommend, we all loved it!
- chuckmoberg December 26, 2018
Cooking with Pea was an incredible experience which I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Thai cuisine or cooking regardless of skill level. It was fun, informative, and the highlight of our stay Chiang Mai.After being picked up by Pea, we were treated to a tour of the garden where she grows all of the herbs and vegetables for her meals. We followed with a refreshing traditional snack and discussion on fundamental Thai flavors before launching into cooking ourselves. Pea’s instructions are clear, easy to follow, and she’s happy to answer questions along the way. She explained each step of the process and together we made five dishes from three regions of Thailand for the best meal of our trip! As a side note, we are both vegetarian and Pea was completely accommodating of our diet. She even sent us home with extra plant based substitutes to try.
- lizzibethc December 20, 2018
My wife and I absolutely loved our cooking class and Pea! She taught us a handful of memorable and useful memories and tailored the evening to our needs (we had another cooking class and didn’t want to overlap). Her home is so gorgeous and we loved every minute of it. It was just the two of us so we got a very hands on and intimate class!
- MattK831 January 13, 2018
We had the most fantastic time learning to cook Thai food with Pea. She made us feel welcome in her home and really took the time to guide us through each dish, letting us take pictures and giving feedback. After we finished cooking, she sat with us for quite some time talking about the culture of Thai's and how food fits into that. It was so great spending time with her, a big highlight of our trip! She is clearly passionate about what she is doing. We would recommend anyone to her class.
- rachelbrowning444 August 14, 2017
It was even better than we expected. First of all the driver was right on time picking us up at out hotel. Then we arrived at the house of Pea with her nice garden and dogs where we would learn and pick the ingredients for the dishes. During the making of the dishes we would learn authentic Thai homecooking so not the touristy bs. It was all so tasty, we learned a lot had a great time and were full to the brim. Definitely would recommend to anyone who likes cooking
- Clint July 22, 2017
July 2017 Review: As a single traveler, this was quite a pricey experience. I added the Cooking Experience and the whole process took a little less than 2 hours, not including the transportation. The webpage listed a 4-hour experience and I am not sure if it is accurate or not. I felt a bit rushed with Pea and despite having a lunch booking, did not visit the market. The Teak home was also unfortunately under construction during the time so I was unable to take a tour-- something that I found out at the very end of the experience when I inquired. Pea was very kind and explained the dishes and ingredients thoroughly. I was able to cook with Jah's girlfriend, who also picked me up. Overall, I learned quite a bit and the hosts were kind. I would recommend a minimum of 2 people to maximize this experience and more bang for your buck. Pea sent me her recipes and let me know that I can contact her at any time. If you want to cook specific dishes, let her know beforehand. If not, she will surprise you with a few of her favorites.
- Emi July 18, 2017
We had a wonderful time with Pea! She hosted us in her beautiful home in an area outside Chiang Mai's downtown center. It looks really impressive on the inside and outside and she had a nice garden as well. She and her staff were very welcoming and had an amazing setup for the large group lesson. Each person had their own stove and cooking space and it was very nicely organized. The dining room was also gorgeous and there was plenty of space for everyone to eat.
- elliewen June 03, 2017
Our entire experience was amazing! This is definitely one of the highlights of our honeymoon.A few favorite memories: 1. Exploring the local market - We picked out the live fish for one of our dishes and watched coconut milk being freshly made.2. Walking through and picking different type of produce from Pea's garden - Kaffir lime, galangal, basil, lemongrass, long beans, and cucumber. We also enjoyed seeing the other plants, chickens, turkeys, and roosters!3. Cooking all four dishes - Since just the two of us spending the day with Pea, we got to cook everything on our own. This was just incredible! All the dishes were so fresh, so delicious. We enjoy cooking a lot so getting the chance to prep and cook everything is fantastic. The dishes we made were green curry with chicken, a Chinese-Thai fish dish, Nam Prik Ong (resembling a bolognese sauce/dip with dried chili, tomato, and ground pork) eaten with sticky rice, and pad thai.4. Learning about our host and Thai culture - Pea was such a generous host. After sharing our meal she gave us a tour of her house and shared many stories with us. One part we particularly enjoyed was viewing and learning about her family shrine. She explained the significance of the room for Buddha, her family history and the different heirlooms.
- Winnie A June 01, 2017
While in Chiang Mai during our honeymoon, we hoped to find something out of the ordinary. Traveling Spoon was just what we had hoped for! We had the most incredible evening with Pea. Her son picked us up from our hotel and took us to her home where we spent about three hours. She began the evening with a tour of her house and then we enjoying conversation over a giant home cooked meal. Pea was so warm and inviting and I would absolutely send friends back to her home for an absolutely delicious meal!
- jdoloresco May 31, 2017
Pea's class was just what we've been looking for! It's incredibly difficult to find someone willing to teach homestyle Thai cooking in Thailand - most people teach the same menu of classics that as far as we can tell the majority of Thai people don't even eat that often. In Pea's class you'll learn simple, delicious dishes that use easy-to-find ingredients, dishes that you'll definitely want to recreate at home. In a city oversaturated with cooking classes, Pea's stands out.
- reidwitzel May 15, 2017
My friends and I are cooking enthusiasts. We believe that one way of getting to know a country is through it's food. Our host in Chiang Mai was Pea. Over 2 days, she shared with us many of the dishes that she cooks for her family - taught us about the many herbs, vegetables and ingredients used in a typical Northern Thai home - a lot of which she grows in her own garden. The experience was unique as we were taught Northern Thai specialties - dishes which would not be taught by the commercial schools. As the sessions were tailored to what we wanted to learn - and with Pea's generous imparting of her knowledge and skills, we took home a lot more than what we expected. We shared our experiences with other local Thais in Chiang Mai, who were impressed that we now know how to cook a typical Isaan/Lanna meal!We had such a great experience with Pea that we are now planning our next trip. Pea promised to teach us many more Isaan/Lanna dishes - we just can't wait to go again!
- Belinda K May 13, 2017
Pea was a delightful host. She (and her son) went out of their way to make sure my friend and I left full from delicious foods, full with lessons about Thai cuisine, culture and cooking techniques, and our hearts full of her warm advice and thoughts on life. While traveling (especially in Thailand) you'll meet other travelers and hear their stories about cooking classes with 20+ people in a very generic space. Traveling Spoons, and this experience with Pea, are the complete opposite experience. The opportunity to visit a home and learn from someone that has been living and cooking in Thailand her entire life is a unique one, and a highlight of my stay in Thailand.
- Mary C May 12, 2017
This was one of the best food experience of our entire trip to Thailand. It really made our trip to Chiang Mai special. Pea was so welcoming and open to all of our questions. We did the food tour, cooking class and meal. She explained a lot of things to us when we went to the market (ie, the coconut milk press) and introduced us to some different fruits/veggies that we would never try. The food we made was amazing and she took us through it step by step. We had plenty of time and never felt rushed. The one on one attention was really great. I would recommend this experience to everyone. I have been telling all of my friends and family about it. this experience really went above and beyond our expectations. I would highly recommend this!
- CathyG1201 May 12, 2017
We had an amazing experience at Pea's house in Chiang Mai. We were picked up by Pea's son, Jah, who took us from the Old City out to their beautiful house while giving us a great audio tour of Chiang Mai. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Pea - she is such a lovely person! She took us on a tour of her gardens and her house before sitting us down for dinner. We were given a variety of authentic dishes that we had never tried before and loved every one of them. There was enough food to feed a small army! In addition to the lovely company and conversation that Pea and Jah provided us, they also took us to the "Walking Streets" Saturday night market in their neighborhood. It was definitely the most authentic, non-touristy experience we've had since getting to Thailand. The entire evening was life changing and we would do it again in a heartbeat!
- Brian C May 11, 2017
Pea's class was just what we've been looking for! It's incredibly difficult to find someone willing to teach homestyle Thai cooking in Thailand - most people teach the same menu of classics that as far as we can tell the majority of Thai people don't even eat that often. In Pea's class you'll learn simple, delicious dishes that use easy-to-find ingredients, dishes that you'll definitely want to recreate at home. In a city oversaturated with cooking classes, Pea's stands out.
- Jannell Lo and Reid Witzel February 04, 2017
- January 20, 2017
We had the most fantastic time learning to cook thai food with Pea. She made us feel welcome in her home and really took the time to guide us through each dish, letting us take pictures and giving feedback. After we finished cooking, she sat with us for quite some time talking about the culture of Thai's and how food fits into that. It was so great spending time with her, a big highlight of our trip! She is clearly passionate about what she is doing. We would recommend anyone to her class.
- Rachel and Mike January 02, 2017
Pea and her son Jah were amazing hosts! First, Jah picked us up from our hotel and guided us through a local market. It was an awesome experience. Next, we went to their beautiful teak house. Pea greeted us there. She is a an amazingly fun and interesting woman. She was sassy and sweet. Al 6 of us thoroughly enjoyed the class. After the class, Jah dropped us home and recommended we check out his local food market with band that night. We went and it was an awesome local experience. Thank you for sharing your home with us Pea and Jah!
- Nandini December 27, 2016
I would definitely repeat this class,
- Freya Thurell December 07, 2016
Pea was a delightful host. She (and her son) went out of their way to make sure my friend and I left full from delicious foods, full with lessons about Thai cuisine, culture and cooking techniques, and our hearts full of her warm advice and thoughts on life. While traveling (especially in Thailand) you'll meet other travelers and hear their stories about cooking classes with 20+ people in a very generic space. Traveling Spoons, and this experience with Pea, are the complete opposite experience. The opportunity to visit a home and learn from someone that has been living and cooking in Thailand her entire life is a unique one, and a highlight of my stay in Thailand.
- Mary Cecchini November 28, 2016
Pea was fantastic! She was incredibly welcoming and shared so much not only about Thai cooking, but culture and her family traditions as well. We had a fantastic time with her. She showed us the farm where she grows her vegetables and herbs, and then used those to make an amazing meal. I even bought a mortar and pestal at home so I could start making them myself!
- Sarah December 23, 2015
It was a most enjoyable and comfortable experience to cook with Pea in her house. She was happy to share much insights about the food and the local cultures.
- Christine Chok November 04, 2015
My friends and I are cooking enthusiasts. We believe that one way of getting to know a country is through It's food. Our host in Chiang Mai was Pea. Over 2 days, she shared with us many of the dishes that she cooks for her family - taught us about the many herbs, vegetables and ingredients used in a typical Northern Thai home - a lot of which she grows in her own garden. The experience was unique as we were taught Northern Thai specialties - dishes which would not be taught by the commercial schools. As the sessions were tailored to what we wanted to learn - and with Pea's generous imparting of her knowledge and skills, we took home a lot more than what we expected. We shared our experiences with other local Thais in Chiang Mai, who were impressed that we now know how to cook a typical Isaan/Lanna meal!
- Belinda November 02, 2015
Pea and her son, Jah, were excellent hosts! Jah was timely with our pick up from our hotel. We enjoyed our market tour and conversation with Jah on the way to their house. We learned about not only Pea's love for cooking and sharing Thai food but, Jah's passion for the same. When we arrived at their house Pea greeted us like family and gave us a tour of the garden. It was inspiring to learn about all the produce they grow for themselves. Pea continued to be very informative as we started cooking, explaining the flavoring of the foods and which goes in the mortar first to create smooth curry. We learned how to fix four dishes and the process was fun and easy. Pea had completed all the preparation for the dishes. After cooking we all sat together and "dug in" to our creations. The dishes were delicious and conversation with Pea effortless. We left with our bellies full and lifelong friends in Thailand!!! Thank you, Traveling Spoon, for making the connection for us!!! It was an experience that will not soon be forgotten.
- Lindsey Harris July 13, 2015
We had a wonderful evening. Pea's son picked us up from our hotel and took us to Pea's home where we spent about three hours. She began the evening with a home tour and then we enjoying conversation over a giant home cooked meal. Pea was so warm and inviting and I would absolutely send friends back to her home for a delicious meal!
- Jessie D. June 29, 2015
We had an amazing experience at Pea's house in Chiang Mai. We were picked up by Pea's son, Jah, who took us from the Old City out to their beautiful house while giving us a great audio tour of Chiang Mai. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Pea - she is such a lovely person! She took us on a tour of her gardens and her house before sitting us down for dinner. We were given a variety of authentic dishes that we had never tried before and loved every one of them. There was enough food to feed a small army! In addition to the lovely company and conversation that Pea and Jah provided us, they also took us to the "Walking Streets" Saturday night market in their neighborhood. It was definitely the most authentic, non-touristy experience we've had since getting to Thailand. The entire evening was life changing and we would do it again in a heartbeat!
- Brian Canty June 15, 2015
We really enjoyed our time with Pea, especially the trip to the market before the cooking class. We discovered lots of local fruits and veggies and Pea gave us interesting insights into the Thai food culture. Afterwards we went back to Pea's lovely home where our host showed us around her garden to pick some more ingredients for the curry we were about to prepare. The food was delicious and we are looking forward to cooking it again once we are back home.
- Martine and Paul April 18, 2015
Pea was a fantastic host and her house was impeccably suited for this experience. She was a great teacher and entertainer. We learned how to cook several meals which we could replicate at home. Pea even provided each of us with our burner to cook the meals ourself and she monitored the progress with coaching. Each meal was punctuated with a break in which we ate our latest tasty creation. This may have been the highlight of our trip to Thailand!
- Kyle February 02, 2015
The two of us had an incredible time with Pea. She took us to the market, showed us through her incredible garden but the highlight was working with her in the kitchen. While in the market we told her we also loved seafood and mango sticky rice, so she picked up ingredients for us to make fish and rice! Pea walked us through all of the dishes and we each got to try our hands at cooking the entire time. We had so much fun and can't wait to try these recipes at home. Thank you Pea!
- January 13, 2015
We had a wonderful time with Pea and the group of MBA students from UC Berkeley's Haas school of business! Pea hosted us in her beautiful home in an area outside Chiang Mai's downtown center. It looks really impressive on the inside and outside and she had a nice garden as well. She and her staff were very welcoming and had an amazing setup for the large group lesson. Each person had their own stove and cooking space and it was very nicely organized. The dining room was also gorgeous and there was plenty of space for everyone to eat. There was a little bit of confusion on the day of because Pea hadn't received our emails confirming that we would be joining the dinner. But once we reached her by phone, Pea did an amazing job coordinating a last minute car pick up for us from our hotel and was very accommodating at her house. As the photography ambassadors for the group experience, we and Pea were a little confused about whether Greg and I were going to actually participate in the lesson or just take pictures. She had actually prepared two spaces for us to participate, but we didn't want to intrude on the group experience, so we decided to just take pictures and Pea and her staff kindly prepared some dishes for us to eat at the end. It all worked out great in the end and the students were fun to meet as well. They seemed to enjoy having photos taken of them since they were a large group :)
- Ellie January 05, 2015
This was one of the best food experience of our entire trip to Thailand. It really made our trip to Chiang Mai special. Pea was so welcoming and open to all of our questions.She explained a lot of things to us when we went to the market (ie, the coconut milk press) and introduced us to some different fruits/veggies that we would never try. The food we made was amazing and she took us through it step by step. We had plenty of time and never felt rushed. The one on one attention was really great. I would recommend this experience to everyone. I have been telling all of my friends and family about it. this experience really went above and beyond our expectations.
- Cathy January 02, 2015
Our entire experience was amazing! This is definitely one of the highlights of our honeymoon. A few favorite memories: 1. Exploring the local market - We picked out the live fish for one of our dishes and watched coconut milk being freshly made. 2. Walking through and picking different type of produce from Pea's garden - Kaffir lime, galangal, basil, lemongrass, long beans, and cucumber. We also enjoyed seeing the other plants, chickens, turkeys, and roosters! 3. Cooking all four dishes - Since just the two of us spending the day with Pea, we got to cook everything on our own. This was just incredible! All the dishes were so fresh, so delicious. We enjoy cooking a lot so getting the chance to prep and cook everything is fantastic. The dishes we made were green curry with chicken, a Chinese-Thai fish dish, Nam Prik Ong (resembling a bolognese sauce/dip with dried chili, tomato, and ground pork) eaten with sticky rice, and pad thai. 4. Learning about our host and Thai culture - Pea was such a generous host. After sharing our meal she gave us a tour of her house and shared many stories with us. One part we particularly enjoyed was viewing and learning about her family shrine. She explained the significance of the room for Buddha, her family history and the different heirlooms.
- Winnie Aoieong November 16, 2014
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Pea

$34-$108 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
In-Home Meal
Not offered $48 $34
Cooking Experience + Meal
$108 $70 $58
Alcohol
$6 per person
Transportation
$0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $48 $34
Cooking Experience + Meal
$108 $70 $58
Alcohol
$6 per person
Transportation
$0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
11:00am-1:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
9:00am-12:00pm 4:00pm-7:00pm

Meet Pea

Pea lives with her son, Jah, in a beautiful teak home surrounded by gardens in Chiang Mai. Pea started cooking when she was 12. As the first daughter and fourth child in the family she remembers her mom waking her up early in the morning to buy food from the market, teaching her about the best ingredients and how freshness can influence a dish. Pea is such a good and creative cook that she can even get her sons to eat and enjoy bitter gourd, a vegetable that is renowned for people, especially children, despising!

“In our family as soon as we finish one meal, we think of the menu for the next meal. Cooking is a big part of my life, I love to work in the kitchen.”

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-20 guests) Start your adventure with a pick-up from your hotel and drive to Pea’s home where she will give you a tour of her beautiful vegetable garden. Discover how essential Thai herbs such as lemongrass and holy basil are grown. You will then be treated to miang kham (a local snack of fresh betel leaves with lime, coconut, and peanuts) before beginning your meal. Pea's mother was Chinese and her father was Thai, and her cuisine is influenced by the culinary traditions of both cultures. Enjoy dishes such as beef noodle soup, kaeng khiao wan (chicken green curry), kai kraphrao khai dao (stir fried chicken with holy basil), nam prik ong (typical Northern Thai pork and tomato dip) before you end your meal with a dessert of sweet coconut ice cream or mango sticky rice (when in season).

Cooking experience: (1-20 guests) Join Pea in her kitchen to chop, pound and grind as you learn to make an authentic Northern Thai-Chinese meal from scratch. You might expect your hands-on cooking class class to last about 1.5 hours before you share the meal you helped prepare with Pea at her dining table.

Notes: Please be sure to include your Chiang Mai hotel name on the reservation form so your host can arrange for your pick-up. Please note that a portion of Pea's teak home is under construction.

Languages spoken: English, Thai

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Pad Thai
  • Som Tam
  • Larb (North Eastern meat salad)
  • Namprig Ong (tomato Paste dip)
  • Green or red curry
  • Kaeng som (Hot and sour soup)

Traveler reviews

4.95 (37)
Pea and her son were gracious and welcoming hosts who answered all of our one thousand questions with ease! We felt honored to be admitted into their stunning, sprawling home and learn so much about fresh Thai cuisine from Pea. Her garden provides fresh herbs and vegetables for the dishes prepared, and we walked out vowing to never buy Thai Curry Paste again! Thank you for a wonderful and educational experience!
- Travelling February 06, 2023
Authentic Thai home cooking with the most gracious host you could ask for. Pea and her family were so welcoming. We loved walking through her garden, picking fresh herbs to smell as she explained what each was used for (and most importantly of all) where to find them in the United States and what substitutes would be acceptable if we could not find the exact. (Though I am determined to find some holy basil and plant it on my balcony now!) We cooked 5 dishes and each was unique. Pea was very sensitive to helping us choose the right level of spice for our tastes and encouraged us to start small and taste each dish as we made it to adjust the spicy, salty, sweet, and sour flavors of Thai cuisine. I am sensitive to spicy foods but was very happy with the end result. My partner enjoys spicy and so his dish was slightly different. Pea listened to us and helped make sure we cooked food we would enjoy. The food we made was so fresh and delicious, but the real treat was Pea’s company. She is an amazing host and we highly recommend taking her class if you visit Chiang Mai. There is no better way to experience authentic quality Thai home cooking!
- ryanBQ October 30, 2022
The host, Pea and her son are very nice and her garden and house are stunning! All veggies and herbs are picked right from her organic garden. She made sure that the recipe included ingredients that I can find in Japan so I can try to book back in my home country. I’d come back to Chiangmai just because I want to see her again and learn to cook other things.
- Yaco October 21, 2022
Pea (and her son) were perfect hosts and made our time with them extra special. Great food and great comonay and cannot recommend this tour highly enough. John.
- johnrN_4 September 24, 2022
We visited Pea’s lovely home and garden recently. She was very welcoming and made us feel at home. We really enjoyed the cooking experience - learning about Northern Thai cuisine and ingredients. We cooked each dish and ate it before moving on to the next. Pea explained everything clearly and her recipes are easy to replicate. I would recommend booking a cooking and meal with Pea if you are visiting Chiang Mai!
- Nithia1605 August 17, 2019
We were a group of 8 that just was with Pea on 26 Dec. The youngest in the group was 7. Pea was very accommodating for everyone in our group. We were picked up by her son and driven to her house to the SE of Old City. Upon arrival we did a short tour of her garden where she grows the produce used for her class. We started with a quick intro to the basics of Thai cooking and then began preparing our 5 dishes. Pea’s instructions were great and she’s very willing to assist or answer any questions along the way. She does basically all of the prep work which allows you to just focus on the actual preparation. At the outset she explains she doesn’t want you to focus on worrying about what ingredients, how much, etc. because she sends you everything electronically after the fact. All in all, it was a great 2.5 hours and very useful class in that we learned how to make manageable, authentic, reproducible Thai dishes. I would highly recommend, we all loved it!
- chuckmoberg December 26, 2018
Cooking with Pea was an incredible experience which I highly recommend to anyone with an interest in Thai cuisine or cooking regardless of skill level. It was fun, informative, and the highlight of our stay Chiang Mai.After being picked up by Pea, we were treated to a tour of the garden where she grows all of the herbs and vegetables for her meals. We followed with a refreshing traditional snack and discussion on fundamental Thai flavors before launching into cooking ourselves. Pea’s instructions are clear, easy to follow, and she’s happy to answer questions along the way. She explained each step of the process and together we made five dishes from three regions of Thailand for the best meal of our trip! As a side note, we are both vegetarian and Pea was completely accommodating of our diet. She even sent us home with extra plant based substitutes to try.
- lizzibethc December 20, 2018
My wife and I absolutely loved our cooking class and Pea! She taught us a handful of memorable and useful memories and tailored the evening to our needs (we had another cooking class and didn’t want to overlap). Her home is so gorgeous and we loved every minute of it. It was just the two of us so we got a very hands on and intimate class!
- MattK831 January 13, 2018
We had the most fantastic time learning to cook Thai food with Pea. She made us feel welcome in her home and really took the time to guide us through each dish, letting us take pictures and giving feedback. After we finished cooking, she sat with us for quite some time talking about the culture of Thai's and how food fits into that. It was so great spending time with her, a big highlight of our trip! She is clearly passionate about what she is doing. We would recommend anyone to her class.
- rachelbrowning444 August 14, 2017
It was even better than we expected. First of all the driver was right on time picking us up at out hotel. Then we arrived at the house of Pea with her nice garden and dogs where we would learn and pick the ingredients for the dishes. During the making of the dishes we would learn authentic Thai homecooking so not the touristy bs. It was all so tasty, we learned a lot had a great time and were full to the brim. Definitely would recommend to anyone who likes cooking
- Clint July 22, 2017
July 2017 Review: As a single traveler, this was quite a pricey experience. I added the Cooking Experience and the whole process took a little less than 2 hours, not including the transportation. The webpage listed a 4-hour experience and I am not sure if it is accurate or not. I felt a bit rushed with Pea and despite having a lunch booking, did not visit the market. The Teak home was also unfortunately under construction during the time so I was unable to take a tour-- something that I found out at the very end of the experience when I inquired. Pea was very kind and explained the dishes and ingredients thoroughly. I was able to cook with Jah's girlfriend, who also picked me up. Overall, I learned quite a bit and the hosts were kind. I would recommend a minimum of 2 people to maximize this experience and more bang for your buck. Pea sent me her recipes and let me know that I can contact her at any time. If you want to cook specific dishes, let her know beforehand. If not, she will surprise you with a few of her favorites.
- Emi July 18, 2017
We had a wonderful time with Pea! She hosted us in her beautiful home in an area outside Chiang Mai's downtown center. It looks really impressive on the inside and outside and she had a nice garden as well. She and her staff were very welcoming and had an amazing setup for the large group lesson. Each person had their own stove and cooking space and it was very nicely organized. The dining room was also gorgeous and there was plenty of space for everyone to eat.
- elliewen June 03, 2017
Our entire experience was amazing! This is definitely one of the highlights of our honeymoon.A few favorite memories: 1. Exploring the local market - We picked out the live fish for one of our dishes and watched coconut milk being freshly made.2. Walking through and picking different type of produce from Pea's garden - Kaffir lime, galangal, basil, lemongrass, long beans, and cucumber. We also enjoyed seeing the other plants, chickens, turkeys, and roosters!3. Cooking all four dishes - Since just the two of us spending the day with Pea, we got to cook everything on our own. This was just incredible! All the dishes were so fresh, so delicious. We enjoy cooking a lot so getting the chance to prep and cook everything is fantastic. The dishes we made were green curry with chicken, a Chinese-Thai fish dish, Nam Prik Ong (resembling a bolognese sauce/dip with dried chili, tomato, and ground pork) eaten with sticky rice, and pad thai.4. Learning about our host and Thai culture - Pea was such a generous host. After sharing our meal she gave us a tour of her house and shared many stories with us. One part we particularly enjoyed was viewing and learning about her family shrine. She explained the significance of the room for Buddha, her family history and the different heirlooms.
- Winnie A June 01, 2017
While in Chiang Mai during our honeymoon, we hoped to find something out of the ordinary. Traveling Spoon was just what we had hoped for! We had the most incredible evening with Pea. Her son picked us up from our hotel and took us to her home where we spent about three hours. She began the evening with a tour of her house and then we enjoying conversation over a giant home cooked meal. Pea was so warm and inviting and I would absolutely send friends back to her home for an absolutely delicious meal!
- jdoloresco May 31, 2017
Pea's class was just what we've been looking for! It's incredibly difficult to find someone willing to teach homestyle Thai cooking in Thailand - most people teach the same menu of classics that as far as we can tell the majority of Thai people don't even eat that often. In Pea's class you'll learn simple, delicious dishes that use easy-to-find ingredients, dishes that you'll definitely want to recreate at home. In a city oversaturated with cooking classes, Pea's stands out.
- reidwitzel May 15, 2017
My friends and I are cooking enthusiasts. We believe that one way of getting to know a country is through it's food. Our host in Chiang Mai was Pea. Over 2 days, she shared with us many of the dishes that she cooks for her family - taught us about the many herbs, vegetables and ingredients used in a typical Northern Thai home - a lot of which she grows in her own garden. The experience was unique as we were taught Northern Thai specialties - dishes which would not be taught by the commercial schools. As the sessions were tailored to what we wanted to learn - and with Pea's generous imparting of her knowledge and skills, we took home a lot more than what we expected. We shared our experiences with other local Thais in Chiang Mai, who were impressed that we now know how to cook a typical Isaan/Lanna meal!We had such a great experience with Pea that we are now planning our next trip. Pea promised to teach us many more Isaan/Lanna dishes - we just can't wait to go again!
- Belinda K May 13, 2017
Pea was a delightful host. She (and her son) went out of their way to make sure my friend and I left full from delicious foods, full with lessons about Thai cuisine, culture and cooking techniques, and our hearts full of her warm advice and thoughts on life. While traveling (especially in Thailand) you'll meet other travelers and hear their stories about cooking classes with 20+ people in a very generic space. Traveling Spoons, and this experience with Pea, are the complete opposite experience. The opportunity to visit a home and learn from someone that has been living and cooking in Thailand her entire life is a unique one, and a highlight of my stay in Thailand.
- Mary C May 12, 2017
This was one of the best food experience of our entire trip to Thailand. It really made our trip to Chiang Mai special. Pea was so welcoming and open to all of our questions. We did the food tour, cooking class and meal. She explained a lot of things to us when we went to the market (ie, the coconut milk press) and introduced us to some different fruits/veggies that we would never try. The food we made was amazing and she took us through it step by step. We had plenty of time and never felt rushed. The one on one attention was really great. I would recommend this experience to everyone. I have been telling all of my friends and family about it. this experience really went above and beyond our expectations. I would highly recommend this!
- CathyG1201 May 12, 2017
We had an amazing experience at Pea's house in Chiang Mai. We were picked up by Pea's son, Jah, who took us from the Old City out to their beautiful house while giving us a great audio tour of Chiang Mai. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Pea - she is such a lovely person! She took us on a tour of her gardens and her house before sitting us down for dinner. We were given a variety of authentic dishes that we had never tried before and loved every one of them. There was enough food to feed a small army! In addition to the lovely company and conversation that Pea and Jah provided us, they also took us to the "Walking Streets" Saturday night market in their neighborhood. It was definitely the most authentic, non-touristy experience we've had since getting to Thailand. The entire evening was life changing and we would do it again in a heartbeat!
- Brian C May 11, 2017
Pea's class was just what we've been looking for! It's incredibly difficult to find someone willing to teach homestyle Thai cooking in Thailand - most people teach the same menu of classics that as far as we can tell the majority of Thai people don't even eat that often. In Pea's class you'll learn simple, delicious dishes that use easy-to-find ingredients, dishes that you'll definitely want to recreate at home. In a city oversaturated with cooking classes, Pea's stands out.
- Jannell Lo and Reid Witzel February 04, 2017
- January 20, 2017
We had the most fantastic time learning to cook thai food with Pea. She made us feel welcome in her home and really took the time to guide us through each dish, letting us take pictures and giving feedback. After we finished cooking, she sat with us for quite some time talking about the culture of Thai's and how food fits into that. It was so great spending time with her, a big highlight of our trip! She is clearly passionate about what she is doing. We would recommend anyone to her class.
- Rachel and Mike January 02, 2017
Pea and her son Jah were amazing hosts! First, Jah picked us up from our hotel and guided us through a local market. It was an awesome experience. Next, we went to their beautiful teak house. Pea greeted us there. She is a an amazingly fun and interesting woman. She was sassy and sweet. Al 6 of us thoroughly enjoyed the class. After the class, Jah dropped us home and recommended we check out his local food market with band that night. We went and it was an awesome local experience. Thank you for sharing your home with us Pea and Jah!
- Nandini December 27, 2016
I would definitely repeat this class,
- Freya Thurell December 07, 2016
Pea was a delightful host. She (and her son) went out of their way to make sure my friend and I left full from delicious foods, full with lessons about Thai cuisine, culture and cooking techniques, and our hearts full of her warm advice and thoughts on life. While traveling (especially in Thailand) you'll meet other travelers and hear their stories about cooking classes with 20+ people in a very generic space. Traveling Spoons, and this experience with Pea, are the complete opposite experience. The opportunity to visit a home and learn from someone that has been living and cooking in Thailand her entire life is a unique one, and a highlight of my stay in Thailand.
- Mary Cecchini November 28, 2016
Pea was fantastic! She was incredibly welcoming and shared so much not only about Thai cooking, but culture and her family traditions as well. We had a fantastic time with her. She showed us the farm where she grows her vegetables and herbs, and then used those to make an amazing meal. I even bought a mortar and pestal at home so I could start making them myself!
- Sarah December 23, 2015
It was a most enjoyable and comfortable experience to cook with Pea in her house. She was happy to share much insights about the food and the local cultures.
- Christine Chok November 04, 2015
My friends and I are cooking enthusiasts. We believe that one way of getting to know a country is through It's food. Our host in Chiang Mai was Pea. Over 2 days, she shared with us many of the dishes that she cooks for her family - taught us about the many herbs, vegetables and ingredients used in a typical Northern Thai home - a lot of which she grows in her own garden. The experience was unique as we were taught Northern Thai specialties - dishes which would not be taught by the commercial schools. As the sessions were tailored to what we wanted to learn - and with Pea's generous imparting of her knowledge and skills, we took home a lot more than what we expected. We shared our experiences with other local Thais in Chiang Mai, who were impressed that we now know how to cook a typical Isaan/Lanna meal!
- Belinda November 02, 2015
Pea and her son, Jah, were excellent hosts! Jah was timely with our pick up from our hotel. We enjoyed our market tour and conversation with Jah on the way to their house. We learned about not only Pea's love for cooking and sharing Thai food but, Jah's passion for the same. When we arrived at their house Pea greeted us like family and gave us a tour of the garden. It was inspiring to learn about all the produce they grow for themselves. Pea continued to be very informative as we started cooking, explaining the flavoring of the foods and which goes in the mortar first to create smooth curry. We learned how to fix four dishes and the process was fun and easy. Pea had completed all the preparation for the dishes. After cooking we all sat together and "dug in" to our creations. The dishes were delicious and conversation with Pea effortless. We left with our bellies full and lifelong friends in Thailand!!! Thank you, Traveling Spoon, for making the connection for us!!! It was an experience that will not soon be forgotten.
- Lindsey Harris July 13, 2015
We had a wonderful evening. Pea's son picked us up from our hotel and took us to Pea's home where we spent about three hours. She began the evening with a home tour and then we enjoying conversation over a giant home cooked meal. Pea was so warm and inviting and I would absolutely send friends back to her home for a delicious meal!
- Jessie D. June 29, 2015
We had an amazing experience at Pea's house in Chiang Mai. We were picked up by Pea's son, Jah, who took us from the Old City out to their beautiful house while giving us a great audio tour of Chiang Mai. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by Pea - she is such a lovely person! She took us on a tour of her gardens and her house before sitting us down for dinner. We were given a variety of authentic dishes that we had never tried before and loved every one of them. There was enough food to feed a small army! In addition to the lovely company and conversation that Pea and Jah provided us, they also took us to the "Walking Streets" Saturday night market in their neighborhood. It was definitely the most authentic, non-touristy experience we've had since getting to Thailand. The entire evening was life changing and we would do it again in a heartbeat!
- Brian Canty June 15, 2015
We really enjoyed our time with Pea, especially the trip to the market before the cooking class. We discovered lots of local fruits and veggies and Pea gave us interesting insights into the Thai food culture. Afterwards we went back to Pea's lovely home where our host showed us around her garden to pick some more ingredients for the curry we were about to prepare. The food was delicious and we are looking forward to cooking it again once we are back home.
- Martine and Paul April 18, 2015
Pea was a fantastic host and her house was impeccably suited for this experience. She was a great teacher and entertainer. We learned how to cook several meals which we could replicate at home. Pea even provided each of us with our burner to cook the meals ourself and she monitored the progress with coaching. Each meal was punctuated with a break in which we ate our latest tasty creation. This may have been the highlight of our trip to Thailand!
- Kyle February 02, 2015
The two of us had an incredible time with Pea. She took us to the market, showed us through her incredible garden but the highlight was working with her in the kitchen. While in the market we told her we also loved seafood and mango sticky rice, so she picked up ingredients for us to make fish and rice! Pea walked us through all of the dishes and we each got to try our hands at cooking the entire time. We had so much fun and can't wait to try these recipes at home. Thank you Pea!
- January 13, 2015
We had a wonderful time with Pea and the group of MBA students from UC Berkeley's Haas school of business! Pea hosted us in her beautiful home in an area outside Chiang Mai's downtown center. It looks really impressive on the inside and outside and she had a nice garden as well. She and her staff were very welcoming and had an amazing setup for the large group lesson. Each person had their own stove and cooking space and it was very nicely organized. The dining room was also gorgeous and there was plenty of space for everyone to eat. There was a little bit of confusion on the day of because Pea hadn't received our emails confirming that we would be joining the dinner. But once we reached her by phone, Pea did an amazing job coordinating a last minute car pick up for us from our hotel and was very accommodating at her house. As the photography ambassadors for the group experience, we and Pea were a little confused about whether Greg and I were going to actually participate in the lesson or just take pictures. She had actually prepared two spaces for us to participate, but we didn't want to intrude on the group experience, so we decided to just take pictures and Pea and her staff kindly prepared some dishes for us to eat at the end. It all worked out great in the end and the students were fun to meet as well. They seemed to enjoy having photos taken of them since they were a large group :)
- Ellie January 05, 2015
This was one of the best food experience of our entire trip to Thailand. It really made our trip to Chiang Mai special. Pea was so welcoming and open to all of our questions.She explained a lot of things to us when we went to the market (ie, the coconut milk press) and introduced us to some different fruits/veggies that we would never try. The food we made was amazing and she took us through it step by step. We had plenty of time and never felt rushed. The one on one attention was really great. I would recommend this experience to everyone. I have been telling all of my friends and family about it. this experience really went above and beyond our expectations.
- Cathy January 02, 2015
Our entire experience was amazing! This is definitely one of the highlights of our honeymoon. A few favorite memories: 1. Exploring the local market - We picked out the live fish for one of our dishes and watched coconut milk being freshly made. 2. Walking through and picking different type of produce from Pea's garden - Kaffir lime, galangal, basil, lemongrass, long beans, and cucumber. We also enjoyed seeing the other plants, chickens, turkeys, and roosters! 3. Cooking all four dishes - Since just the two of us spending the day with Pea, we got to cook everything on our own. This was just incredible! All the dishes were so fresh, so delicious. We enjoy cooking a lot so getting the chance to prep and cook everything is fantastic. The dishes we made were green curry with chicken, a Chinese-Thai fish dish, Nam Prik Ong (resembling a bolognese sauce/dip with dried chili, tomato, and ground pork) eaten with sticky rice, and pad thai. 4. Learning about our host and Thai culture - Pea was such a generous host. After sharing our meal she gave us a tour of her house and shared many stories with us. One part we particularly enjoyed was viewing and learning about her family shrine. She explained the significance of the room for Buddha, her family history and the different heirlooms.
- Winnie Aoieong November 16, 2014
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
In-Home Meal
Not offered $48 $34
Cooking Experience + Meal
$108 $70 $58
Alcohol
$6 per person
Transportation
$0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 people 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $48 $34
Cooking Experience + Meal
$108 $70 $58
Alcohol
$6 per person
Transportation
$0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
11:00am-1:00pm 6:00pm-8:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
9:00am-12:00pm 4:00pm-7:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.