Chinese Homestyle Cookbook Discussion and Cooking Demo with Maggie Zhu

February is a great time to learn about the bold flavors of Chinese food with a discussion and cooking demo!

Register for Chinese Homestyle

Darien Library, along with Essex Library and The Hotchkiss Library, welcome Maggie Zhu, who will talk about her new cookbook, Chinese Homestyle, and will demonstrate the art of plant based Asian cooking with the classic dish, Mapo Tofu.

Chinese Homestyle features 90 foolproof plant-based recipes for the Western cook and kitchen. No wok required!  These recipes pack all of the flavor and none of the meat.  Did you explore Veganuary last month?  Continue the plant based trend in February. Building on a foundation of plant-based and vegetable-forward dishes found in Chinese cuisine, these umami-rich recipes are inspired by the comforting, everyday dishes Maggie grew up eating in northern China and discovered in her travels throughout the country, along with takeout favorites she became familiar with after moving to the United States. Made with fresh ingredients and minimal oil and sugar, the salads, soups, stir-fries, braises, dumplings, and more are not only delicious, but also demonstrate the impact of aromatics, the benefits of using homemade sauces and condiments, and other versatile cooking techniques. Complete with step-by-step instructions, stunning photos, and information for stocking your Chinese pantry, Chinese Homestyle will soon have you enjoying this exciting cuisine right in your own home.

About the Presenter

Maggie Zhu started her website, Omnivore’s Cookbook, in 2013. Born and raised in Beijing, she moved to Austin, Texas, in 2015. Currently, she is a full-time New York–based blogger, writer, recipe developer, and photographer. Having grown up with a mother who always did the cooking, Maggie’s culinary adventure started in 2007, when she moved to Japan and needed to cook to survive. Learning and sharing Chinese food has become a way for her to connect with her roots and the rest of the world. Her mission is to help more people get to know real Chinese food and expose less-known regional cuisines to a broader audience. More importantly, she wants to show you how easy it is to cook with wholesome ingredients to create delicious dishes that are like the ones served in Chinese restaurants.