Benny's Home Cooking

Benny's Home Cooking is taught in the family's own home in Pa Daet, about 20 minutes south of Chiang Mai's Old City, and it's the class for people who'd rather cook in a house than a school. The daily course runs 09:00 to 15:00 with free pickup from city hotels between 08:30 and 09:00, a local market visit, and seven dishes that you choose from the menu categories. It costs ฿1,590, or ฿1,790 on the Loy Krathong and Christmas to New Year dates the school lists.

Evenings are private. The dinner classes run 17:00 to 21:00 for one to 12 people at ฿3,000 a head, or ฿3,500 for the northern Thai menu, which is pork-heavy and not one for vegetarians. Families have their own class, morning or afternoon, at ฿1,700 for adults, ฿1,300 for children aged 6 to 11 with their own station and ฿700 for ages 3 to 5. Under-12s can't join the adult day course.

Vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian and gluten-free versions are on offer, and you leave with a printed recipe book. Book through the website or by message, since the family doesn't take reservations by phone.