Birds of a feather
MBK shopping mall teaches shoppers how to make rare Thai snacks
MBK CENTRE – a winner of TripAdvisor’s Exceptional Service Awards 2015 – recently launched a brand new Thai culture workshop featuring demonstrations of Thai cooking and making traditional Thai souvenirs guaranteed to delight customers from all over the globe.
“We have organised the workshops in support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s ‘Discover Thainess’ campaign this year. Not only are they aimed at visitors from overseas but also at local residents who we hope will adapt the ideas to generate income for themselves and their families,” Supissara Thongmalai, executive vice president of marketing for MBK, explained.
This month’s workshops, which continue through Sunday, are demonstrating how to make garlands and fish ornaments as well as Thai-style bird-shaped steamed dumplings, a rare Thai snack. Heading the team is the adjacent Pathumwan Princess Hotel’s veteran chef ML Chanya Chompoonut and he’s being helped by cooking enthusiast and celebrity Jarospan Sawasdiwat Na Ayutthaya. They’ll be back from September 11 to 13 showing how to carve fruits and make pumpkin custard.
“This Thai snack is a rare treat today as it takes considerable time to make. You also need skill and attention to detail to create the delicate and beautiful shape of the bird’s body and add to the dish’s tasty appeal,” said ML Chanya.
“Thai food is very healthy and Thai ingredients are typically natural, highly nutritious and easy to find. The steps involved in making a Thai dish require patience, calmness and focus on the task at hand. Once served, the dishes will delight everyone both with their pleasing appearance and excellent flavours.”
“I’ve long been personally interested in making Thai food and snacks, and I am very excited to have this opportunity to learn how to make bird-shaped dumplings,” Jarospan added.
“As a member of Thailand’s younger generation, I would like to see more Thai youths try their hand at Thai cooking to keep the art form alive. Do not be daunted by the challenge. With time and practice, anyone can develop the skills required to make a truly delectable dish.”
“It is a very valuable activity for our community’s housewives. Not only will they keep the traditional art of Thai cooking alive but they are also gaining the knowledge needed to commercialise the bird-shaped dumpling recipe, thus generating income for themselves and their communities,” said Somboon Saleepol, chairman of the Pathumwan Police Station Flats Community and a member of the Pathumwan Thai Culture Council.
All workshop sessions are held on the ground floor of the shopping complex. Find out more by visiting www.MBK-Center.co.th and Facebook.com/MBKBangkok.
