Traditional Laotian cooking class in a local home

Meet Khamlec (Alex)

Alex was born into a huge family in Northern Laos, the youngest of all his siblings. His village is close to the China border, and he belongs to an ethnic group called Phou Noi. Alex did his initial schooling in Laos and then had the opportunity to study International Business Management (IBM) in Switzerland for six years. He missed eating home cooking while living abroad and that is when his culinary journey began. Once he returned home to Laos, he started working as a guide and now enjoys introducing travelers to the rich history and culture of his beautiful country.

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 (1 - 13 guests) The tradition in Alex’s home is that the man of the house does the cooking. He therefore inherited family recipes and cooking techniques from his father, which had been passed down from generation to generation, father to son. One very important cooking tip that his father gave him was to put your heart into each dish that you cook! Alex wants to share this love and passion for food with travelers. After an gaining an initial understanding of Laotian food and culture, join Alex to share a meal. The menu is seasonal - in the summer you might taste authentic dishes such as mok pa (fish fillets seasoned with chili paste, lemongrass and dill, wrapped in fresh banana leaves and steamed), lemongrass chicken or pork, a seasonal vegetable soup, Laotian-style eggplant. In the winter you might experience a seendat (Laotian barbecue) with meat, vegetables, thin rice noodles, clear broth and cheo suki (peanut and tamarind dipping sauce).

Cooking experience (1 - 13 guests) Since Laotian cuisine is very aromatic, Alex had a separate kitchen and patio built outside the main house for cooking. Join Alex in his outdoor kitchen for a one-hour cooking demo, where he will demonstrate how to make traditional Laotian dishes that you will later enjoy during your meal.

Market visit (1 - 13 guests) Explore the Phongsavanh Market, a 5-minute walk from Alex’s home. Here he will introduce you to local ingredients that you will later use in your cooking class. In Laos, markets are not only places where food and household goods are sold but also also hubs for the local community to share news from the town and other regions. This is a great place to witness the hustle and bustle of Luang Prabang daily life and interact with locals!

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW

A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Alex was a very welcoming and hospitable host. He has great knowledge on Laos culture, cuisine and history. He exceeded many of my expectations and offered more than anyone could ask for. Alex is a very well organized host who offers many different activities one could get involved in. My favorite food item was having the sticky rice with the different sauces, they were both spicy but can be adjusted for a palette that may not be able to handle too much spice. It was very fresh and had a lot of flavor considering it was made from very few ingredients. I enjoyed the overall experience!

, Jessica, Traveling Spoon Ambassador