China

Here are a few Chinese-themed community cooking and language event ideas to get you started.  Download the Chinese-style Vegetable Stir Fry recipe and Demonstrator Notes at the bottom of the page.

Click on each country’s page for more ideas and recipes.

Chinese celebration events

Cook the Chinese-style Vegetable Stir Fry at an event to celebrate the Chinese New Year or mid autumn festival. You can show people how to prepare the vegetables and demonstrate safe chopping techniques, before using an electric wok or portable induction hob to cook the stir fry. Give everyone some to taste and a recipe to take home.

Teach people how to use chopsticks and have a prize for anyone who can pick up a single grain of rice. Learn how to draw Chinese characters to spell out your name or food/sport-themed words. Write your own Chinese fortunes – which could be cooking tips instead of words of wisdom!

You could also make some ‘Values fortunes’ – write one of the Values on a  piece of red paper, make up a positive phrase,  fold up the paper and give them out at the celebration e.g. Friendship is what holds the world together, or, Determination will help you achieve your best.

Go shopping!

Visit a Chinese supermarket to look at the different ingredients and find out which regions of China they come from. Which recipes they are used in?  Can you learn a few words in Chinese? Will the staff give you a tour and explain more about traditional Chinese food and explain how recipes are often adapted for British people?

Restaurants and takeaway

Link with a local Chinese restaurant or takeaway and invite a chef into school to demonstrate the Chinese-Style Stir Fry and teach you a few words in Chinese. 

Do try this at home

At home, you could cook the Chinese-style Vegetable Stir Fry to enjoy with friends or family as an alternative to a takeaway.  Adapt this to use your favourite veg or whatever you have in the cupboard! You could also add cooked chicken, prawns or tofu or a different sauce. Try something new today!

Key dates

• Chinese New Year   
  3 February 2011 (Year of the Rabbit)
  23 January 2012 (Year of the Dragon)
• Chinese Mid-autumn Festival
  22 September 2010
  12 September 2011
  30 September 2012