HOH WOK CLUB

About HOH WOK CLUB:
HOH WOK CLUB is a celebration of Asian culture and cuisine and a way for cooking students and I (Eleanor Hoh aka Wok Star) to socialize outside of my cooking classes and marketing my indispensable Wok Star Kit for fast, fun and flavorful dinners at home.

Dim Sum at Mr. Chu's, South Beach

After a few years hiatus, I have resurrected my HOH WOK CLUB gatherings. I'm thrilled to introduce numerous new restaurants focusing on modern Asian eats. I like supporting small restaurants that serve good food and have a nice ambience. For me, eating out has to be a complete experience and in Miami, unfortunately, not many Asian eateries have both. As a foodie friend, Joan says, 'it's like you're giving your 'seal of approval.'

These gatherings are also open to anyone who enjoys meeting people and exploring new flavors. Of course, students and subscribers to my newsletter get first dibs. Many who've attended have gone back to these restaurants to try other dishes and told friends about them, so win win for everyone.

Karma Restaurant, Coral Gables

My aim is to create a tasting sampler at a great value. It's an excellent way to be introduced to what the restaurant has to offer and gives the chef an opportunity to talk about his/her style of cooking (unless they're shy of course, then I have to help them.) Starting off with a meet and mingle, drinks and snacks, then get down to the eats. There'll also be giveaways for lucky raffle winners.

I hope to have these gatherings on a regular basis, well, depending of course with how many restaurants there are. It seems they close and open so quickly, so we have to be vigilant and act quickly.

If you want to be notified of future HOH WOK CLUB gatherings and other Asian related news, the best way is to subscribe to my newsletter from my website (not the same as this blog).

I'll be posting some past HOH WOK CLUB gatherings soon.

Please note: If you have food related allergies, strict dietary requirements, religious restrictions; are salt sensitive, vegetarian, pescatarian, or vegan; don't like your meat cooked medium rare, or are pregnant: these gatherings are probably not for you.

NEXT HOH WOK CLUB, click here for details:
Indomania, Monday August 16

Fairchild's Food and Garden Festival

What a lovely way to spend a weekend!  I was invited to give a cooking demonstration and blog about Fairchild Garden's 2nd Annual Food and Garden Festival.

Schedule included a wide variety of cooking demos.

Banana nut cake for Ralph from Native Conch.

By the time I got there, nothing was left in the way of savory food!

I hope you'll make it to this event next year, it was a lot of fun meeting people who also enjoy fresh local produce and getting to know the farmers.  In the meantime, I encourage you to shop at your organic and farmer's market or visit Redlands if you live in Miami before it gets too hot!  My post on Seasonal Foods has lots of meal ideas and tips.

Nothing excites me more than seeing and smelling beautiful, fresh produce. 

I was a bit upset I didn't end up buying any produce because I'd just given a cooking class and always have  leftovers.  My parents went through a war so we were always taught never to waste food.  It drove me crazy to see all the food and not get any.

Selection of colorful and interesting combination of teas!

There was a lovely variety of farm produce.  I will be posting a series since there is so much to share. This first one will give you a little peak.

I had one of Gaby's Tropical Ice, cold, yummy and creamy mango.

She grows her own fruit to make these desserts!

What I love about giving live presentations is that it gives me a chance to interact with people. It's a great way to find out the problems people have with stir frying in a wok!

I prepped in Fairchild's lovely kitchen and practiced what I preach, see the chopping board with grocery bag for the trimmings?

Here's swiss chard, red bell peppers, mustard greens, zucchini and carrots.

My produce were generously sponsored by Whole Foods Market in Coral Gables.

Shrimp were rinsed and dried with paper towels. A very important step, so you don't dilute your marinade and also prevents your shrimp from getting tough and chewy.

 I didn't realize my friend, Irene took this picture behind me. 

My demo was very well attended with over 60 signed up for my free newsletter, thank you for your interest!  There were a lot of questions posed mostly by guys! Thanks to Fairchild staff and volunteers.

 

See Peter Kastan's Miami River Wall video who was a speaker at this event.  Miami River Wall's new living, hydroponic herb, chili, edible flower wall will be hosting a series of my Wok Star cooking class so I hope to see many of you there!

Hani Khouri cooking up a fresh batch of falafel.

He was featured in Edible South Florida's Spring Issue with his cute kid goats and online. Do subscribe or pick up your copy from your nearest Whole Foods Market. It's full of stories, resources and has a calendar of all things edible and organic. Thanks for listing my cooking classes.

Katie, Edible South Florida publisher/editor and Annie, Special Events, Fairchild Tropical.

 My lunch: Falafel with pickled radish and 

hummus wrap from Hani's Organics.

In an upcoming series, I'll share a video of Food Network Celebrity Chef, Simply Delicioso Ingrid Hoffman making a fabulous mango and papaya dish as well as many more wonderful food stalls.

Wok Star cooking classes

MIACUCINA

kitchen and closet design showroom

host Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

A perfect combination of socializing, entertaining and learning

Saturday, Aug.16, 12pm-3pm

$65 per person
4 dishes paired with Tiger Beer, Fiji Water and Prosecco

Click here for reservations and prepayment.

Spaces are on a first come, first save basis. Prepayment will guarantee your spaces. So, please do not leave till last minute and be disappointed when you cannot get in.

Wok Star Cooking Classes

I'm excited to announce 4 new venues hosting my Wok Star classes in Broward: Naked Grape Wine Bar, Wilton Manors; Hollywood Vine; Chef Jean Pierre Cooking School and The Grateful Palate. I feel quite honored to be The Grateful Palate's first cooking instructor to inaugurate the newly renovated space. For all those in Broward, take advantage of this exceptional chance to be in a really classy setting.

Just in time for the Olympics starting 8.08.08, very important and a lucky date in Chinese culture. This is a perfect time to learn how easy it is to make quick, easy exotic dishes in your own home and enjoy while you watch the Olympics with your family and friends. Spread the word and let's make this a happening! We need to work fast, so please reserve and prepay ASAP, details below.
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Watch a CBS and Fox News Style File video or a slideshow of my class by Miami Dish plus read a review by Mango and Lime as well as comments from people who have attended my event.

Menu
Rainbow lettuce appetizer with ground turkey, hoisin sauce & crunchy pumpkin seeds
Easy stir fry veggies with an Asian twist
Shrimp with asparagus, carrot & topped with cashews
Tilapia with zucchini, squash & bell peppers in spicy, brown bean

Join me for an unforgettable class and learn my simple, no-recipe technique focusing on quick, "easy style", weekday, 30-minute, one-dish meals with little clean-up. It's a very interactive, engaging class with many who will get to stir fry.

My Wok Star Kit will be available for purchase at the class. The Kit includes a preseasoned cast-iron wok set, instructional discs with my personal selection of Asian ingredients so people can go home and start implementing what they've learned in class. If you cannot make it to a class, the Kit has my complete class plus audio cook-alongs (it's like I'm a private coach in your kitchen).

You'll get tons of tips and information on brands of ingredients and where to pick them up in Asian markets. Many will get a chance to stir fry and ask burning questions about wok cooking. I'll bust some myths about wok cooking like throwing everything in a wok or using a flat wok on electric stoves.

You'll soon be able to make dinners with the whole family and enjoy eating together. Simple, healthy, weekday dinners with readily available ingredients that will entice even the pickiest eaters to an exotic and scrumptious dinner. Plus you'll save money eating out and gas money to get there. You can now create those favorite Asian meals in your own home and it's easier than you think.

Look forward to meeting you at this class...