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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Penny

Bangkok, Thailand

USD
$40-$68 per person

Thai cooking in Bangkok with a local family, close to Central Rama 2

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

Meet Penny

Every meal is a family affair in Penny's home, where Penny hosts together with her long time helper who's like a family member, Som. Both are excellent cooks with lovely personalities. In addition to Penny and Som, Penny's husband, Jonathan, and their two children will also participate, when they are home, and help cook Penny's signature Thai dishes. Penny first learned to cook as a young girl helping her grandmother in the kitchen and then later in her girls prep school. After traveling to the U.S., she found she missed the Thai flavors of home; it was during her time in the US that she learned to adapt her Thai dishes and cooked for all of her friends for special occasions, including potlucks for football games. Leave your experience with Penny with a boatload of knowledge on Thai food and, of course, full stomachs.

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: (2-5 guests) Penny's house is located in the lovely local neighborhood of Rama 2 area. It's a short walk from Central Rama 2, one of the largest malls in Bangkok. When you arrive at her house, a large house in a family compound, be amazed by the wonderful trees, flowers and shrubs. Penny's mom has planted over 10,000 trees and shrubs in their gardens. Enjoy picking out some herbs in the garden to add as the ingredients for the dishes. Penny prepares her mouthwatering menu of colorful dishes using family recipes, that you can devour at the beautiful 12 seating wood dining table. Some of the dishes guests can expect to enjoy include kaeng khiaao waan (green curry), khaao phat (fried rice), and gai pad med ma muang (stir-fry chicken with cashew nuts). For dessert enjoy one of Penny's signature dishes, bua loy (rice balls in sweetened coconut milk) or seasonal fruits, or sticky rice with sweet mangoes.

Cooking experience: (2-5 guests) Penny does a great job of providing guests with a hands-on cooking experience all while keeping control of the kitchen and making sure things run smoothly. You will learn to make traditional Thai dishes which could include pad Thai (fried rice noodles) or pad kra pao gai (basil chicken), or pad see ew (stir-fry noodles). You should expect to make about three dishes. Penny have mastered more than a handful of dishes, so if you have a particular dish in mind you would like to make you can note this during the booking process.

Market visit: (2-5 guests) Penny shop at the supermarket near-by as it's very convenience and clean. You can find all the ingredients needed in one place and the produce looks similar to what's being offered inside supermarkets oversea. This makes it practical for replicating any dishes.

Notes: Occasionally, 1-2 family members may join them for dinner, when they are home.

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.
  • Fried Rice
  • Chicken Curry
  • Vegetable soup or stir-fry
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Penny is an amazing host! Her apartment is in one of the most luxurious buildings and areas in Bangkok, with huge windows providing guests with great views of the city. Penny is sweet and kind, and it was great to cook with her as she interacted with her family. Penny's and John's two-year-old son, AJ, played and ran around the apartment during our class and even helped (sort of) make one of the dishes! It was a lot of fun, and they really make you feel like you are at home.

Kelly , Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
We've known traveling spoon for a while and have been recommending it to friends and family. When we visited Bangkok for the first time, we signed up with our host Penny. Penny & her sister Tam are a great duo! Penny lives in a nice apartment in the heart of Bangkok and taught us how to cook simple but very tasty Thai dishes! She and her warm family welcomed us into their home. My husband does not eat meat so Penny adjusted the menu accordingly. We did not do a market visit but went straight to cooking. We did shrimp curry, chicken laab, stir fried vegetables, and Penny's signature dessert. What I liked about traveling spoon is that we get to see how real locals cook and eat. Hosts are always very welcoming to our dietary needs. Highly recommended!
- Ariali2552 October 11, 2017
Penny & Tam were a great duo! We visited Bangkok for the first time and eager to do a cooking class. Penny lives in a nice apartment in the heart of Bangkok and taught us how to cook simple but very tasty Thai dishes! She and her warm family welcomed us into their home. My husband does not eat meat so Penny adjusted the menu accordingly. Thanks, Traveling Spoon and thanks, Penny & Tam!
- Ariana August 20, 2017
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Penny

$40-$68 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $64 $54
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $68 $60
Alcohol
 $36 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $64 $54
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $68 $60
Alcohol
 $36 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 5:30pm-7:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-3:00pm 4:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-3:00pm 3:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Penny

Every meal is a family affair in Penny's home, where Penny hosts together with her long time helper who's like a family member, Som. Both are excellent cooks with lovely personalities. In addition to Penny and Som, Penny's husband, Jonathan, and their two children will also participate, when they are home, and help cook Penny's signature Thai dishes. Penny first learned to cook as a young girl helping her grandmother in the kitchen and then later in her girls prep school. After traveling to the U.S., she found she missed the Thai flavors of home; it was during her time in the US that she learned to adapt her Thai dishes and cooked for all of her friends for special occasions, including potlucks for football games. Leave your experience with Penny with a boatload of knowledge on Thai food and, of course, full stomachs.

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: (2-5 guests) Penny's house is located in the lovely local neighborhood of Rama 2 area. It's a short walk from Central Rama 2, one of the largest malls in Bangkok. When you arrive at her house, a large house in a family compound, be amazed by the wonderful trees, flowers and shrubs. Penny's mom has planted over 10,000 trees and shrubs in their gardens. Enjoy picking out some herbs in the garden to add as the ingredients for the dishes. Penny prepares her mouthwatering menu of colorful dishes using family recipes, that you can devour at the beautiful 12 seating wood dining table. Some of the dishes guests can expect to enjoy include kaeng khiaao waan (green curry), khaao phat (fried rice), and gai pad med ma muang (stir-fry chicken with cashew nuts). For dessert enjoy one of Penny's signature dishes, bua loy (rice balls in sweetened coconut milk) or seasonal fruits, or sticky rice with sweet mangoes.

Cooking experience: (2-5 guests) Penny does a great job of providing guests with a hands-on cooking experience all while keeping control of the kitchen and making sure things run smoothly. You will learn to make traditional Thai dishes which could include pad Thai (fried rice noodles) or pad kra pao gai (basil chicken), or pad see ew (stir-fry noodles). You should expect to make about three dishes. Penny have mastered more than a handful of dishes, so if you have a particular dish in mind you would like to make you can note this during the booking process.

Market visit: (2-5 guests) Penny shop at the supermarket near-by as it's very convenience and clean. You can find all the ingredients needed in one place and the produce looks similar to what's being offered inside supermarkets oversea. This makes it practical for replicating any dishes.

Notes: Occasionally, 1-2 family members may join them for dinner, when they are home.

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.
  • Fried Rice
  • Chicken Curry
  • Vegetable soup or stir-fry
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Penny is an amazing host! Her apartment is in one of the most luxurious buildings and areas in Bangkok, with huge windows providing guests with great views of the city. Penny is sweet and kind, and it was great to cook with her as she interacted with her family. Penny's and John's two-year-old son, AJ, played and ran around the apartment during our class and even helped (sort of) make one of the dishes! It was a lot of fun, and they really make you feel like you are at home.

Kelly , Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
We've known traveling spoon for a while and have been recommending it to friends and family. When we visited Bangkok for the first time, we signed up with our host Penny. Penny & her sister Tam are a great duo! Penny lives in a nice apartment in the heart of Bangkok and taught us how to cook simple but very tasty Thai dishes! She and her warm family welcomed us into their home. My husband does not eat meat so Penny adjusted the menu accordingly. We did not do a market visit but went straight to cooking. We did shrimp curry, chicken laab, stir fried vegetables, and Penny's signature dessert. What I liked about traveling spoon is that we get to see how real locals cook and eat. Hosts are always very welcoming to our dietary needs. Highly recommended!
- Ariali2552 October 11, 2017
Penny & Tam were a great duo! We visited Bangkok for the first time and eager to do a cooking class. Penny lives in a nice apartment in the heart of Bangkok and taught us how to cook simple but very tasty Thai dishes! She and her warm family welcomed us into their home. My husband does not eat meat so Penny adjusted the menu accordingly. Thanks, Traveling Spoon and thanks, Penny & Tam!
- Ariana August 20, 2017
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $64 $54
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $68 $60
Alcohol
 $36 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $46 $40
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $64 $54
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $68 $60
Alcohol
 $36 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 5:30pm-7:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-3:00pm 4:00pm-8:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-3:00pm 3:00pm-8:00pm
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.