Grandma’s Home Cooking School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was not just a place where people came to learn how to cook traditional Thai cuisine; it was a place where people came to feel a sense of belonging and warmth that they may have never experienced before. This was all thanks to the vision and passion of one woman - Rabiiab, the grandmother of the school’s founder.

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Rabiiab was a remarkable woman who loved cooking more than anything else in the world. She lived in a small village in the Saraphi District, where she had a longan garden that she took care of with her whole heart. Her garden was her pride and joy, and she spent countless hours tending to it, making sure that everything was perfect. But her love for cooking was even greater than her love for gardening. Whenever her children or grandchildren came to visit, she would always ask them, "Have you had anything to eat yet?" This question wasn't just a polite way of greeting them; it was a way of expressing her love and care for them.

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Rabiiab loved teaching her children and grandchildren about the traditional Thai cooking recipes that had been passed down through her family for generations. She was happiest when they asked her to teach them her recipes because it meant that she got to spend time with them doing something that she loved. And her children and grandchildren were just as happy to spend time cooking with her. That's how they came up with the idea for Grandma's Home Cooking School - “The happiness is cooking with your grandma.”

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Grandma's Home Cooking School opened its doors on September 9, 2019, and it quickly became a beloved home cooking school in the local community and tourists from all over the world. Unfortunately, Rabiiab passed away in May 9, 2021, leaving behind a legacy of love and kindness that touched everyone who had known her. But her spirit lives on at Grandma's Home Cooking School, where her recipes and her teachings continue to be shared with people from all over the world. The school remains a family affair, run by Rabiiab's grandson.

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People would come from far and wide to learn how to cook traditional Thai dishes just like Rabiiab did. They would start their day with a trip to the local market, where they would learn about the basic ingredients used in Thai cuisine and how to select them. Then they would head back to the cooking school to learn how to cook famous Thai dishes like Tom Yam, Green Curry, Stir-fried Rice Noodles, Massaman Curry, and more.

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But what made Grandma's Home Cooking School truly special was the way that the founder and his team made their guests feel like they were a part of his family. They would take their guests on a tour of the organic farm, where they could pick their own vegetables and herbs, collect eggs from the chicken barn (fresh from the bums), and even harvest mushrooms from the mushroom house. The instructors would explain what each ingredient did and how it nourished the body, and they would delight in sharing a bit of Thai cuisine philosophy with their guests while they cooked.

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The school was 100% eco-friendly and sustainable, just like Rabiiab would have wanted it to be. The school’s founder is determined to carry on his grandmother's legacy and her love of cooking, and he knew that the best way to do that is to create a place where people could come together to learn, share, and create memories that would last a lifetime. And that's exactly what Grandma's Home Cooking School became - a place where people could come to feel a sense of belonging and warmth, just like Rabiiab's home.

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Grandma’s Home Cooking School was more than just a place to learn how to cook Thai cuisine. It was a place where people could connect with the culture, the community, and the warmth of Rabiiab’s spirit. The school embodied the essence of Thai hospitality, where guests are welcomed with open arms and treated like family.

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In the end, Grandma’s Home Cooking School was a testament to the power of love and the enduring legacy of those who had touched our lives in profound ways. Rabiiab may have passed on, but her spirit lived on in every dish that was prepared in her honour.