#85 Home-style Chinese Cooking (Online)

Appetizer (30 mins) - Introduction to New Words & Phrases

Begin the session by sparking a conversation about food and cooking, inviting participants to share their favorite dishes, flavors, and cooking experiences. We’ll introduce basic vocabulary related to taste, such as "sweet" (甜), "spicy" (辣), "sour" (酸), and "salty" (咸), as well as key terms for common ingredients like various types of meats (e.g., chicken, pork, beef) and vegetables (e.g., bok choy, mushrooms, and bell peppers). This foundational vocabulary will not only enhance your understanding of Chinese cuisine but also prepare you to follow recipes and instructions more easily.

Main Course (30 mins) - Now, Let's Practice

Now it’s time to get hands-on! In this session, we’ll delve into the culinary techniques used to prepare some of the most beloved Chinese home-style dishes. You’ll learn essential cooking verbs like "stir-fry" (炒), "deep-fry" (炸), "boil" (煮), "steam" (蒸), and "stew" (炖). To make the cooking process clear and organized, we’ll practice using sequencing words such as "first" (首先), "then" (然后), "next" (接着), and "finally" (最后). By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped to follow a recipe and cook these dishes with confidence.

Dessert (30 mins) - Open Discussions

Wrap up the lesson with an engaging discussion on the advantages of home cooking. We’ll compare the experience and benefits of "eating at home" (在家吃饭), "dining out at restaurants" (在餐馆吃饭), and "ordering food delivery" (叫外卖). Participants are encouraged to share their personal experiences, favorite home-cooked meals, and opinions on the convenience, health benefits, and cost-effectiveness of each option. This session is an opportunity to reflect on the joy and satisfaction of cooking at home while exchanging tips and ideas with fellow participants.