Authentic Thai Cooking: In the Galley with a Thai chef.
I have been a student of some sort for 20+ years. But never has a learning experience been as unique as authentic Thai cooking in the Galley of a Superyacht.
Once the galley was stocked with all of the spices, sauces, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, all that was required was a talented hands of Thai chef to create something wonderful. Her name was Noi. I would be under her tutelage for the duration of the expedition to learn the art of Thai cooking.
At 5-foot-nothing, Noi was fluent in English, Thai and surprisingly, Italian. Having lived in Italy for over 20 years, studied the art of cooking in both London and Paris and cooked in kitchens all over Europe, Asia and on super yachts in nearly every ocean. Clearly, I was in good hands with her.
As she was new to this particular galley, Noi first became familiar with the kitchen and the ingredients she was given. Then she handed a list of last-minute items she needed for the deckhand to procure at the local market before our departure. Just like I spent the afternoon chasing Ta around the local markets, I was kept on my toes keeping up with Noi’s techniques and use of ingredients. I also became proficient at translating her broken English, “Where is my ka-nif (knife)?” or “Put in the kai-na-mon (cinnamon)!
When mixing a stir fry, curry or a sauce for a particular meat, Noi emphasized the importance of sampling whatever it is your creating, “You must always mod-if-i-cate,” she would tell me. Which I interpreted as add a little bit of whatever ingredient you think is missing and taste again.
The entire crew ate so well while at sea and were appreciative of every dish Noi and I created. We all marvelled at how Noi could turn that days’ fresh catch that Michael caught or speared (be it a grouper, a snapper, or squid) into something so spontaneously wonderful!
I have appreciated the scrumptious flavours of Thai food for many years now, but from Noi, I have learned that the cuisine is about balance (little bit of this, little bit of that), variety (from spring rolls to curries and satay) and attention to detail, especially when it comes to colour, flavour and texture. Authentic Thai cooking truly is an art, that when done well, creates a harmonious blend of spicy, sweet, sour and savoury.
1 Comment