Blogs

Tips for Cooking Family Meals at Home

Family life can be a whirlwind. Between work, school runs, extracurricular activities, and social commitments, finding the time to prepare and enjoy a healthy, home-cooked meal can feel like a challenge. Yet, shared family meals are more than just about food — they’re a chance to connect, create, laugh, and share the stories of our day.

At Otao Kitchen, we believe that cooking and eating together strengthens bonds and builds memories. Whether you’re feeding toddlers, teens or grown-ups, these simple tips will help you make family meals easier, more fun, and more meaningful.

How to Keep Your Kitchen Clean While Cooking

Cooking a beautiful meal should be joyful—not stressful. Yet for many home cooks, the real challenge begins after the last bite: the cleanup.

At Otao Kitchen, we teach more than just recipes—we help you build the confidence and systems of a real chef at home. One of the key lessons in our Home Chef Program is learning how to keep your kitchen clean, organised, and efficient—so cooking becomes a daily pleasure, not a chore.

Here are our top tips to help you clean smarter, not harder, every time you cook.

Tips and Tricks for Cooking Beautiful Thai Food at Home

Thai food is all about bold flavours, vibrant colours, and exciting textures. If you've ever fallen in love with Thai dishes at a restaurant, imagine the joy (and bragging rights!) of recreating these favourites at home for friends and family.

Whether you’re whipping up a quick Pad Thai or hosting a Thai dinner party, we’ve compiled the essential tips and tricks to make cooking Thai food at home both fun and successful. Let’s dive in!

Whether you’re crafting delicate dumplings from scratch or enjoying a dumpling-making class at Otao Kitchen, no experience is complete without a bold and flavourful dipping sauce. Here are four must-try recipes that complement everything from pork and prawn dumplings to vegetarian gyoza.

Vietnamese Pork Roll Demystified: How to Make the Perfect Bánh Mì Thịt at Home

There’s no doubt that Melbourne is in love with bánh mì. Whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or craving something comforting, this Vietnamese pork roll has become a beloved, must-have street food classic.

At Otao Kitchen, we believe great food is best when shared—and made with your own hands. Our Vietnamese Cooking Class includes the legendary bánh mì thịt—and here’s how you can recreate it at home with all the trimmings.

Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Gỏi Gà) – A Light and Zesty Summer Favourite

When the Australian summer heat kicks in, there’s nothing more refreshing than a crisp, vibrant salad—and few are as satisfying as Vietnamese Chicken Salad, also known as Gỏi Gà. This light yet flavour-packed dish combines tender poached chicken with crunchy vegetables, aromatic herbs, and a zingy dressing that’s equal parts sweet, sour, salty and spicy.

At Otao Kitchen, we love this dish not only for its taste but also for the way it captures the essence of Vietnamese cooking—simple ingredients, fresh produce, and bold, balanced flavours. It’s easy to prepare, full of goodness, and guaranteed to impress your guests or elevate your weekday lunch.