With the arrival of spring in New York City, the nice weather has energized me and I’ve found that I’m trying to fit a lot into these long, beautiful days! I am particularly excited that ICE’s recreational department has developed a new series of shorter classes called ICE al la Minute, which offer a wide variety of core cooking skills in just 1 ½-2 ½ hours. This past Wednesday I participated in my first ICE al la Minute class, Taste of Thai, with Chef Instructor Loren Banco. After discussing the brief history and flavor palate of Thai food, we prepared and then sat down to an authentic meal of chicken and beef sates, green papaya salad, and shrimp pad thai, all within 2 ½ hours. Since the majority of the class had little experience with cooking this cuisine, Chef Banco suggested the below essential items for at-home Thai success.