SCHOOL'S OUT: A smoother way to better health and refreshment
Published
on Jun 21, 2004
A sweet, pastel coloured drink is being poured
into short clear glasses for everyone attending a workshop to sample.
They start with a soft pink “Strawberry Smoothie”, a soft orange “Mango
Tango”, and then a soft green “Vegetable Refresher”. While the first
drink is slightly sweet, the second is slightly sour and the other has a
celery aroma.
In the three-hour
Smoothies Drink Central workshop all participants will get to make as
well as taste a variety of fruity drinks, with recipes created by a head
barman from the Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, who is one of the two
instructors of the course.
“Smoothies are a
colourful, healthy drink mixed with fresh ingredients such as fruit,
herbs, low-fat yoghurt, honey and sometimes ice cream for children,”
said Manus Kaewkam, a professional bartender and another instructor of
the workshop.
“Many people tend to
take care of themselves only on the outside, but usually forget about
their inner health. With their natural ingredients the smoothies can
help detoxify the chemical substances in your body.
“Also, for women who
want to lose weight, instead of not eating anything they can have one
glass of a smoothie for a meal. For children who refuse to eat
vegetables you can add vanilla ice cream mixed with the vegetables in
the drink to make the taste suit the children and reduce the smell and
flavour of the vegetables,” said the 28-year old who also teaches at
Harry’s Academy of Bartending.
To start the lesson
the two instructors will introduce the equipment needed to make the
drinks, for example the blender, the squeezer and the shakers, and will
then give a lecture on different kinds of fruit and vegetables, the main
ingredients of the drinks – what flavours, character and benefits they
have and how to select them – plus some tips on making a syrup and
garnishing.
“When we see the
recipe for the drinks it’s hard to believe that they’re drinkable. Some
ingredients don’t seem to mix well at all, but after we get the chance
to make them and try them, they’re certainly edible and have a pretty
good taste too,” said 30-year-old business owner, Natvarang Nguenwichit.
The drinks vary for
each class, ranging from Thai fruit smoothies with the main ingredients
being things like mango, papaya and coconut; foreign fruit smoothies
such as strawberry and apple and vegetables; and herb smoothies with a
mix of fruits and ginger, carrot and celery.
“It’s very much a
beginners course for starters like me,” said Yanika Rungruang-Aree, a
business partner of Natvarang. “It may not suit those who want to open a
smoothies drink business. There are few in-depth details necessary for a
business provided in the course,” said the 33-year-old who wanted to
start her own smoothies business.
The class is
conducted in Thai for a fee of Bt1,500 including documents, recipes,
ingredients and snacks. It’ll be limited to 20 students and will not
open if there are less than five participants.
“You don’t need to
bring anything to the class, but have your stomach empty for the
drinks,” said a smiling Manus.
The next class will
be held on July 4 at Central Rama II, then July 31 at Central Rama III.
For more details,
contact (02) 655 3939 ext 4923-4.
Foreigners who want
to have an English speaking class can contact
Harry’s
Academy of Bartending at (02) 251 6320.
Harry Jane: 0-891340237
e-mail:
harry@harrybartending.com
Rojana Manowalailao