Cooking School In China

Program Dates and Itinerary
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Fall 2010

Sunday - October 24th, 2010
to 
Friday - November 5th 20101
Spring 2011

 
Sunday - March 13th, 2011

Friday  - March 25th, 20111 
Additional tour departures can be arranged for groups of ten or more.

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DAY ONE - Sunday

ARRIVAL IN CHENGDU AND WELCOME DINNER

We encourage you to arrive by mid-day in Chengdu so you have time to relax before the group gathers on Sunday evening for our Welcome to Chengdu Hot Pot dinner.


DAY TWO TO SIX - Monday to Friday of first week

FIVE DAYS OF DAILY COOKING INSTRUCTION AT THE SICHUAN HIGHER INSTITUTE OF CUISINE  

For those staying in city-center Chengdu, a bus will depart from the downtown area at 8:30 AM and bring you to the Sichuan Institute of Higher Cuisine's campus. The trip is about 30 miles (50K) and due to Chengdu's rush hour traffic, takes about one hour. Classes at the Institute will commence at 9:30 am.

The ten-day course will introduce you to the essential skills of the Sichuanese kitchen, and teach you how to prepare a mouthwatering selection of local delicacies. You will learn how to use the versatile Chinese cleaver to cut your raw ingredients into different shapes, to create some of the famous complex flavours of Sichuan (including ‘numbing-and-hot flavour' and ‘fish-fragrant flavour'), and to control the heat of the wok. The program will include authentic versions of classic Sichuanese dishes such as Gong Bao chicken with peanuts, twice-cooked pork, pock-marked old woman's beancurd (mapo doufu) and Fish braised in chilli bean sauce. You will also learn how to make some traditional Sichuanese snacks, such as the irresistible spicy Zhong dumplings, and Dan dan noodles. By the end of the course we hope to give you the confidence to conjure up fabulous Sichuanese dinners at home!        

During the morning session, the master chef will demonstrate three recipes, along with cooking skills. Morning classes should conclude by noon allowing for a one hour lunch break.

During the afternoon session, students will recreate the morning's recipes. Each student will have their own wok, and all food and cooking materials are provided. The class will conclude around 4 pm. Participants staying in downtown Chengdu will be transported back into town.

See our gallery of photos:

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DAY SEVEN - Saturday

WEEKEND EXCURSION TO PANDA RESEARCH CENTER AND SICHUAN CULINARY MUSEUM 

In the morning a bus will depart from downtown Chengdu and bring you to the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research which is approx 20 miles (35 km) north of the city. The research center is set up as a park which houses both giant (black and white) pandas and red pandas in a very natural environment. The center has a museum which explains the ongoing effort to breed Panda's in captivity and then release them back into the wild. For an additional fee - you may have the opportunity to hold a baby panda.    
 
From there you will visit the Sichuan Culinary Museum which exhibits many historical culinary implements and discusses the development of Sichuan cuisine. The museum is housed in a beautiful garden which has a well known restaurant where we suggest you enjoy lunch. The bus will return to downtown Chengdu by 3:00 PM.
 

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DAY EIGHT - Sunday

WEEKEND EXCURSION to visit the Giant Buddha in Leshan.

Bus will depart Sunday morning from downtown Chengdu and return at approx 3:00 PM. The trip to Leshan is approx 2 hours and in addition to the giant Buddha there is a lovely park and monastery to explore.

DAY NINE THROUGH THIRTEEN - Monday to Friday of second week

FIVE MORE DAYS OF COOKING INSTRUCTION AND CELEBRATION BANQUET

The program will continue as described above. Included in the itinerary will be an excurison to the Chengdu Food marketplace where you will be able to select spices for your own use. The program concludes Friday evening with our grand celebration banquet at a well known Sichuan restaurant.  

Please budget a minimum of 13 nights accommodations in Chengdu (from Sunday through Saturday morning). However, there are so many things to do and see in the city, consider staying a few extra days to take in the museums, parks and cultural events.