Chinese Regional Cuisine

Chinese Stuffed Bread Baking Class

Unknown to most westerners, Chinese cuisine has an incredible selection of baked goods on the menu. One of the best kept secrets for baked goods are the “Xianr Bing” Baked pockets of pita style breads packed with tasty Chinese flavours. Chives, eggs, ginger pork or carrot and spicey tofu combinations. Yummy tasty snacks for the kids and the whole family.

Learn how to create these back in the comfort of your own kitchen. These types of Chinese stuffed breads are most commonly found in the small single-window bakery shops throughout the hutongs of Beijing. Even better, at the Hutong you’ll learn some great recipes for making far better versions of these wonderful mini-sandwiches.

Homemade Chili Paste Making

Join The Hutong for a unique and fun experience making two types of homemade chili pastes from scratch! All guests will have a chance to learn some of the techniques for making both innovative and classic style pastes that can be used in infinite ways in your own kitchen. After the pastes are ready, get a demo from our chefs on a few simple ways to get the most out of your new creation, and leave The Hutong with a bottle of each paste

Chinese Dumpling Making Class

Interestingly, Confucius once said “rolling dumplings is the way to a man’s heart.” Here at The Hutong we roll and stuff these bright coloured goodies with all the love we can muster. An “erect dumpling makes the womens heart tremble” once confessed Mao, meaning that a dumpling able to stand tall without falling over for a snooze reflects the very character of the creator.

Our dumpling parties are perfect for social, corporate or kids groups. In Chinese culture, dumplings are ubiquitously made every Spring Festival. The whole family sits up making them and at 12 midnight on the eve of the new year, the whole extended family sit around to bring in the new year together. Such rituals place the Chinese food in a world of culture that goes beyond just flavours.

Not only learning to roll, knead dough, create gourmet fillings and learn to make the natural vegetable died “Jiaozi” skins, but you will also learn the stories behind one of the most prized and equally common dish enjoyed all over China. Dont be caught in China, not knowing how to roll the perfect dumpling…Let us show you how!

Cost: 220 RMB; 200 RMB for members

Beijing Home Style Cooking

Tasty Beijing home food with local fresh ingredients. What is it you like about Beijing. This class focusses on all the Beijing specialty style snacks and techniques of cooking. Thick homely sauces, with a touch of spice along with vinegar and a little sesame and tofu sauce.

This style of cooking, especially in the winter is fab for some extra nutrition, super flavourful and more than enough delicate flavours to easy out the taste of crispy cold Yanjing served alongside. The focus of this class is to get people used to playing with a wok and also salad techniques and dressing to make from scratch.

The food is what many of us live for in Beijing, here is a sample selection of some of the types of dishes you might learn:

Stir fired pancake and cabbage, homestyle noodles, cold cucumber lettace, kale with a light balsamic, sesame drizzle, stew pork knuckle, anise, goji, millet sweetened dessert.

Cost: 220 RMB; 200 RMB for members

Chinese Gourmet Dumpling Making

Chinese dumplings are the most common Chinese meal, dating back hundreds of years. Learn how to make great tasting dumplings with healthy local ingredients, naturally coloured skins, and serve them up hot with spicy sauces.

Outsource Your Kitchen – Chinese Stuffed Flatbreads

Is cooking in Beijing a little too much trouble for you? Want to skip a few steps and end up with something beautiful and tastier than in the restaurants? This ‘Outsource Your Kitchen’ class tackles the famous xianr bing, or otherwise known as the Chinese stuffed breads most commonly found in the small single-window bakery shops throughout the hutongs of Beijing. At the Hutong you’ll learn some great recipes for making far better versions of these wonderful mini-sandwiches in your own home, and then have them finished for you in the shops! While they are in queue for cooking we’ll swing out to the local market for a quick tour as well.

Homemade Chili Paste Making

Chinese Regional Cuisine: Sichuan CookingClass

Sichuan Cuisine is famed for bold flavors, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavour of the Sichuan peppercorn (花椒). Peanuts are also a prominent ingredient in Szechuan cooking. Hot pepper is believed to reduce internal dampness, so hot pepper was used frequently in dishes in Sichuan to help cope with high humidity. In Sichuan food, a single flavor is rarely used, compound flavors are most common. By blending different seasonings, skilled cooks can make dozens of different sauces each with its own flavor, including creamy, salty, sweet and sour, litchi, sour with chili, hot with chili, spicy and hot. Sichuan cuisine tends to use quick frying, quick stir frying, dry braising, and dry stewing.