Demuths Cooks up some Tasty Treats for Chinese New Year

You might have thought that the celebrations were over, but there’s another excuse for a party on February 8 with Chinese New Year.

Demuths Cookery School is holding a Chinese New Year Feast cookery class on February 6 so you can learn to make all kinds of tasty dishes to mark the occasion.

During the class, Demuths’ Chinese cookery expert Lydia Downey will show you how to make her mother’s family favourite dishes to usher in the New Year.

Chinese New Years Eve dinner is comparable to our Christmas dinner and is the most important family meal of the year, on New Years Day, many Chinese abstain from meat, as they believe this will ensure a long life!

Lydia’s great grandfather came to UK from China in the late 1800s. Her grandfather followed in 1919. As well as starting up the family's laundry business in Leicester, he also did most of the cooking as her grandmother had 8 children to bring up. Her eldest uncles then opened a Chinese takeaway in the 1960's, when Chinese eating out in Leicester was just becoming popular. Her mother still cooks the way her father taught her. When she was growing up, meat and fish were rationed out between the huge family, with vegetables being most prominent.

All the recipes are easy to make and quick to cook, you will learn how to prepare unusual ingredients, such as dried tofu skins and where to source them from and Lydia will give you lots of tips on how to make your Chinese dishes taste authentic.

The course involves a mixture of demonstrations, knife skills and hands-on cookery in small groups.  There will be lots of cooking, but also plenty of conversation, tasting, fun and a late lunch with vegan organic wine. You will go home with a pack of recipes and lots of tips.

The course takes place on February 6 and runs from 10am to 4.30pm and costs £160.

Demuths Cookery School is also holding a Chinese Takeaway Evening Workshop on March 9 from 6.30pm to 9pm costing £55.

For details on the courses and to book visit www.demuths.co.uk.