Live Stream Classes
During this unprecedented time of shelter-in-place, we can be physically distanced while staying socially connected. Live stream cooking classes are a fun way to get together and nourish our bodies and spirit. I offer 2 types of classes these classes for groups of 6 or more. Choose your class and then I will work with you to schedule a time and discuss pricing.
“Food is not just fuel. Food is about family, food is about community, food is about identity. And we nourish all those things when we eat well.”
- Michael Pollan, Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation
Upcoming Community Classes
Easy Group Gatherings
These 60 min classes are versatile for all skill levels and require minimal or no specialty ingredients and equipment.
Master the Stir-fry
The stir-fry is the most versatile dish, and so is this class. It requires ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery, and is fun for all skill levels. Beginner cooks will learn key fundamental skills, and more experienced cooks will discover new ways experiment with ingredients and perfect their technique.
Perfect Your Fried-Rice
Rice is the essential Chinese staple and the foundation of our meals. In Chinese culture, our greeting equivalent of the Western “Hi, how are you doing?” is: “Have you eaten rice yet?”. Fried rice is an important tool for the modern cook because it’s meant to be made with leftovers. There aren’t many other Chinese dishes that taste better the next day! This course will teach you how to properly steam rice and then how to turn that into the perfect fried rice.
Make Tofu That Isn’t Bland
How can something that starts out so bland transform into something so delicious? This is the mystery of Tofu. Eating plant-based protein has dramatically increased in popularity, and fortunately the Chinese have been making this rockstar vegetarian protein for centuries. Learn how to prepare Tofu for best results, and make the classic Ma-Po Tofu dish. The traditional preparation calls for specialty ingredients, but we can adapt and improvise with more commonly available ingredients.
Choose Your Own Adventure Dinner Party
Get a group of friends and/or colleagues together for a unique dinner party. I’ll design a custom lesson and menu based on the ingredients and equipment that everyone has on hand. With less trips to the grocery store during shelter-in-place, this is a great way to get connect with others and use that produce that needs to be cooked. At the end of the class, everyone will have their own unique variation of the dishes.
Note: Class duration will depend on group size.
Beyond the Basics
These classes are taught as a three-part series, 60 minutes per session. Taking more than one class focused on a common theme helps students practice fundamentals, and gain confidence to improvise and add their own unique touches.
Mastering Chinese Sauces
Chinese cuisine draws on dozens of sauces, each with its own flavor profile and affinity for specific ingredients. The ones most familiar outside China are hoisin, black bean sauce, and sweet-and-sour. Yet they’ve been misrepresented in Western fast-food renditions, with muddled ingredients, and then used in quantities that swamp the vegetables and proteins that should be the stars of the dish. Learn how to make these sauces from scratch, free of the chemicals and preservatives found in store-bought brands. We’ll also explore how to make a stir-fry with each of these sauces.
Steam It
Cooking with steam is flavorful, healthy, and the secret to making an easy weeknight dinner, or a warm breakfast on a cold morning. Learn how to cook with steam by making three Chinese staples: steamed fish, steamed tofu, and steamed pork.
Doughy Things
Dishes requiring homemade dough might not be your first choice when you need to whip up something for a quick weeknight dinner. But they’re fun to make with family or friends (the best meals are prepared and shared by a group) — or embrace them as a solo meditation on a rainy weekend. I grew up eating scallion pancakes, dumplings, and sweet rice balls in restaurants. But I’ve since learned how to make these things at home, and experimented with developing good gluten-free versions. Learn how to make scallion pancakes, a classic dumpling, and a sweet rice dumpling from scratch in both traditional and gluten-free versions.
More Umami, Please
Many traditional Chinese dishes include pickled vegetables, salted eggs, beans, and dried seafood. These can be found pre-made in the store, but may contain undesirable preservatives, chemicals, and allergens. There is also nothing more delicious and satisfying than doing a little science experiment in your kitchen, and being able to use the fruits of your labor in your dishes. You can choose the freshest and highest-quality ingredients, and also get creative with what you ferment once you get the basics. In this class we’ll learn how to ferment a vegetable, and then use it to cook a classic Chinese dish. We will also learn to cook two additional dishes with dried seafood and beans (depending on availability of ingredients).
Traditional Chinese Postpartum Care for Expecting Mamas and Caregivers
Chinese postpartum traditions emphasize healing foods and practices to ensure a mother’s full recovery from birth. The month after giving birth is called “The Golden Month” in Chinese culture, and it is of utmost importance that the mother, along with the newborn, get exceptional care during this time. It’s believed that moms who don’t take proper care during this recovery month may suffer from negative health conditions for a long time afterwards, or even for the rest of their lives.
During this class you will learn about the important foods to eat during this special time, and how to create a healing postpartum environment. We’ll prepare a soup that promotes lactation, as well as some other traditional Chinese dishes that help promote healing and recovery.