Starting in July on Wednesdays’ late mornings, The Hutong is pleased to introduce a new series of cooking classes reserved especially for teens. This 6-week course led by Hutong Chef Ali will focus on preparing delicious foods and will emphasize tasty, healthy and nutritional choices, as well as cover kitchen safety tips such as cutting and chopping techniques. Even if you can’t boil water, Ali will have you making your own bread from scratch by week 3 (yes, you are really going to make your own bread!). Not only will you gain confidence and independence in the kitchen, but our teen cooking camp will be an occasion to enjoy culinary times in our cozy Hutong Kitchen with your old and newfound friends.
Date: Every Wednesday in July (3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st) and August 7th, 11:30-14:00
Cost: 1,500 RMB (includes one-year Hutong membership for all participants)
Week 1: Kitchen Orientation
Introduction to kitchen equipment, cutting techniques & basic ingredients; balancing flavors & tastes, plus some nutrition basics. You’ll jump-start your cooking with three simple dishes.
Dishes Taught- Green Salad with Homemade Dressing, Potato Rosti, Simple Omelette, and Homemade Lemonade
Week 2: Complete Meals
Now that you’ve mastered the basics, we’ll learn how to put together a complete meal with a protein, starch & vegetable dish. We’ll also learn how to make simple sauce and use herbs for flavor.
Dishes Taught- Chicken in Vinegar Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Greens, and Glazed Carrots
Week 3: Bread!
Yes, Bread! This week you’ll learn all about flour, including how to make your own yeast bread from scratch plus three simpler recipes.
Dishes Taught- Homemade Bread, Soda Bread, Pancakes, and Banana Bread
Week 4: Comfort Foods
Missing your favorites? Getting a little sick of Annie’s and Kraft box meals? Week 4 will have you making your favorite dishes completely on your own, along with some tips to make them just a little healthier.
Dishes Taught- Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti w/ Homemade Meatballs & Tomato Sauce, and Pierogi
Week 5: Desserts & Baking
Of course no meal is complete without dessert! We’ll learn the basics of baking, the importance of measuring, and how to read a recipe. You’ll also make some treats to take home and share (or not).
Dishes Taught- Chocolate Chip Cookies, Vanilla Cupcakes, Icebox Pie, and Yogurt Parfaits
Week 6: The Great Cook-Off
Now that you’ve mastered the kitchen, it’s time to show what you learned! We’ll set you up with a variety of ingredients and give you 90 minutes to make a meal on your own.
