Lao Traditional Kitchen

During my visit to Laos earlier this year I found one thing in common with all my relatives. They all have a kitchen away from the main house. Even the relatives in Vientiane living in a big house with all the comforts of a modern home have an old fashion stove outside the house, rather than using an electric stove in the kitchen. Some relatives have built a little kitchen that looks like a hut while others just build a roof, sort of like an outdoor tent for the clay stove, using charcoal to cook their meals.

After asking quite a few questions I found out the main reason is the price of electricity. My relatives can save money by using the old fashion stove, rather than using an electric stove. I can understand the reason for those that are farmers and having to keep a tight budget, but for those relatives with two refrigerators and air conditioners (one in each bedroom), having just one electric stove can’t really push up the electric bill, can it?

To be honest I am fond of a Lao traditional kitchen. There is so much history to it and to see such a kitchen like this, it made me want to have one of my own, like the one we used to have in Vientiane, but more organized and nicer than this.

These photos are from my uncle’s kitchen. I spent three weeks at his house and most of the regular visitors to all my sites would have seen all the meals he cooked for me. He is building a new and more modern kitchen so this little hut will be gone the next time I go to Champassack Province.

Cooking equipments and utensils. The one main thing that all Lao kitchens have is the cupboard with screens to protect food from flies and mosquitoes. This is where you store food before refrigerator was introduced in Laos. Now Lao people (those with refrigerator) mainly used it to store dried food.

Pha Khao is a serving tray for meal. You sit on your floor around pha khao to eat your meal.

Lao stoves with sticky rice steamer to the left (the bottom part for the water).

So where do you do the dishes? Well, you guessed it right. This is where I spent three weeks doing the dishes. All you need is a big bucket for your soap and you are ready to go.

There you have it, Lao traditional kitchen. Quite simple but very innovative and effective.