Oh life, she's a funny thing, isn't she? This photo is from a class I took while we were living in Beijing. Our teacher, Carrie, taught us all about what makes Chinese cooking special. Like many things in the Chinese culture, home cooking is about making the most of what you have, balancing flavors, temperatures, and chi just right, and creating something that is not only delicious to eat, but beautiful to behold. Almost always present are the three flavors pictured here, chili pepper, garlic, and ginger. In the background you can see a plate of fresh herbs and greens, and just a small bit of meat.
Four years later, here I am, teaching other people all about what makes Chinese cooking special. On April third I'll be teaching a class at Faraday's Kitchen Store, just outside Austin in Lakeway, Texas. We'll be making a spicy tomato soup with ginger, scallion, and crab, a homestyle Chinese stir-fry with egg and seasonal veggies, goji sesame rice, and sweet corn ice cream. I know it will be an experience that I'll enjoy thoroughly, even just the eating part, since those are some of my favorite dishes. I'm also looking forward to sharing the unique beauty of Chinese cuisine with a group of hungry students.
Life is funny, and so much fun.
Wednesday, April 3rd from 6pm to 8:00 pm – A Taste of Beijing: A Home-Style Chinese Supper with Chef Mary Helen Leonard.
When Mary Helen Leonard, cook and food writer of Austin Food Blog ”Mary Makes Dinner”, moved to Beijing she discovered a whole new world of food unlike anything she’d ever seen on a Chinese take-out menu. Discover the flavors and techniques of home-style Chinese cooking, a simple cuisine based on seasonal vegetables, fresh herbs, and bold spices.
In this demonstration class, you’ll enjoy Spicy Tomato Soup with Crab and Scallion; Home Style Stir Fry with Farm Egg and Seasonal Vegetables; Steamed Rice with Goji and Black Sesame; and for dessert, Sweet Corn Ice Cream with Sugar Sesame Wontons.
The cost for this class is $49 per person. Register at FaradaysKitchenStore.com