Televising a Chinese Cooking Class

Monday mornings all the stores (except for groceries) are closed. Newcomers go to Monday Morning Networking. Those who have gone through the orientation have not much else to do then get back into bed or clean house. Unless, they have signed up for a cooking class through ASH PTA Education.

One of the courses I signed up for was "Chinese New Year Feast" scheduled for Chinese New Year, January 26. The class was canceled due to insufficient enrollment. I was disappointed. The same day I was notified about the cancellation, one of the instructors called me to see if I was available February 2. TV West, a local station, produces a new show about expat life in Holland. They had contacted her about filming on February 2 a segment on Chinese cooking for one of their shows. She would teach us the same recipes she would have for the cancelled class plus we would be on TV. It sounded like a lark so I said yes.

Three other students were there along with the teachers, June (Malaysian Chinese) and Shereen (Chinese). The other three had taken classes from the instructors before. The number fit nicely into June's kitchen. Because the camera crew would not be there to film until about Noon, June and Shereen demonstrated the cooking for us so that we could eat when the food was warm. They also had five dishes to show us while the TV program only wanted two, the fish and the soup.

They demonstrated for us Gong Bao (Kung Pao) Chicken with cashew nuts, Baby Bok Choy with Prawns and Mushrooms, Festive Fish, Egg Drop Soup with Crabmeat and Cold Almond Jelly in Mixed Fruit. Here is a picture of the table with the three main dishes:


The Baby Bok Choy dish is at the top, fish in the middle and Gong Bao Chicken at the bottom. We also had steamed rice and Jasmine tea.

Things I learned in the cooking class are:

• There is a special soy sauce for sea food.
• Chinese consider sitting at the corner of the table bad luck.
• Chinese tables are usually round with a lazy susan in the middle.
• All the food is put out at once to show fullness and abundance.
  
• Soup is not a starter but is eaten last to fill in the gaps.
• Shark's fin is tough and bland, needs to be cooked a lot, and is very expensive. Imitation shark's fin is usually used.
• Foods that are cooked for New Year's have lots of red in them as it is an auspicious color.
• Garlic can be peeled more easily when it is pounded - Shereen gave it a good whack with the side of her knife and the skin came easily off.
• Add a little oil to the water that baby bok choy is cooked in to help it turn darker green.
  
• The most important tradition associated with Chinese New Year is the Reunion Dinner. It is an extravagant feat signifying prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. It is traditional that families will come together to celebrate the New Year. With a global society, it is much harder to do that.
• The Chinese calendar cycles through 12 animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar) and 5 elements (Earth, Wood, Fire, Metal and Water). So this is the year of the "Earth Ox" which means we can expect lots of hard work this year.
• Festive Fish is a must as it signifies good luck and prosperity.
• The best woks are made of stainless steel so they can get hot enough to cook food quickly. The blacker the wok, the better the cook.
• I came away with a list of the best Chinese stores and restaurants in The Hague

We were happily eating lunch when the TV crew arrived. The filming started about an hour later then expected. We had arrived at the house at about 9:30 am, the crew at Noon and they expected to be done by 3 pm.

Because we had used the dinner plates and bowls, we worked together to wash all the dishes, clean up the kitchen and reset the table. The kitchen was separated from the dining area by a wall with an open passage to easily move from the dining room into the kitchen. When the cooking was being filmed, we in the dining room had to be very quiet so there would be no background noise.

The table members were part of a panned shot at the beginning to set the scene. Then June and Shereen spent most of the time in the kitchen. Shereen demonstrated the cooking techniques while June provided commentary. If the chopping was not quite right, it had to be done over again. Some of the vegetables were really chopped finely.

There was no script; it was directed ad lib. The first take was the natural conversation. Then the director would tell June how to make it shorter, to focus on one idea not another and to try again. By the third take, June had it right. Unfortunately, some of her naturalness was lost in the process.

The camera man was a tall Dutchman. At one point to get the angle right, he was standing on a stool and his head was inches away from the ceiling.

June was also asked about her life in Holland, where she had lived before, what were the good things and the bad things of life here.

Cooking the fish dish and soup were finished took about 3 times longer than we did in the morning. No filming was done when the fish dish was brought out and placed on the table. Here's a picture of it nicely decorated with cucumber and chili in green onion:



We needed to be at the table for continuity. One of the guests had to pick up his daughter. He was able to do it and bring her back in time for the last scene. His daughter needed to stay out of camera shot "for continuity."

The interviewer sat down to try the food. June ceremoniously brought out the tureen of soup, twice and then served us all soup (done only once.) Before eating, we all raised our glasses of tea for a toast. I think we did 4 takes of that. Then we were eating soup as the interviewer talked with June. After all the takes, we were eating air. When the interviewer closed the segment by talking to the audience by looking at the camera, we all were directed to look at the camera and then wave good bye.

So, would I take a class from June and Shereen again? Definitely.

Would I take three hours or more of my time to be filled for a TV segment? Probably not. I am glad that I did it. One time be enough.

The segment will be part of the show being aired the week of February 23-27. The show can be viewed online but requires a plug in to be downloaded. Haven't decided if we're going to do that. If I do, I'll let you know and provide the link.

Notes from January

January ended yesterday - 1/12th of 2009. Sigh. What's been happening to the Smith-Dmochowskis the past month? Here goes:

Sunlight - we went from 7 hours and 44 minutes of sunlight in Holland on December 21, 2008 to 9 hours and 6 minutes today (just a few minutes off from yesterday.) On Dec 21, sunrise was 8:49 am; today it was 8:23. Sunset was 4:33 pm; today it was 5:29. ER appreciates the extra light when biking home from school. Terry hasn't had a chance to benefit from it yet.

New Years Eve was spent together as a family with our wonderful friends, the Moores, who let us stay with them a huge chunk of the Christmas vacation. Terry flew out on January 1 back to Holland into the cold (teens) and snow flurries, icy canals, and ducks huddled together on the lawns.

Zoey was happy to see him. When the heat is on, this is her favorite spot in the whole house:

When she has grilled herself on her tummy, she turns on one side, then the other. For entertainment, she can look out the window to watch the birds teasing her. She's also started sleeping under ER's comforter. She gives herself away by either sticking out a paw or two, or by the suspicious lump in the middle of the bed.

Still back in Virginia, Mary Ann, JA and two of her friends saw "Legally Blonde-The Musical" at The Kennedy Center and loved it. True to the movie - perhaps a little too true as the actors mimicked many of the mannerisms of the actors in the original movie. This musical was in contrast to the revival of "West Side Story" at The National Theatre which still needed some work before hitting Broadway.

Although on vacation, the girls attended school. JA visited her class and teachers at Bishop Ireton; ER shadowed at O'Connell with a good friend. JA had her flute audition for the Music Department at George Mason University. It was the one day of vacation we needed to travel that icy weather threatened. The temperature stayed above freezing and we made it. She had a successful audition and was accepted into the program. She's just waiting on her acceptance into the University itself.

The family reunited in Holland on January 8. Holland was still cold. Stayed cold long enough for the canals and small ponds to freeze over thick enough for skating. (See our post below.)

Even in the cold and the rain, Terry and ER biked to school. A few days ER took the bus because of late trumpet practices or it was just too windy and rainy. They are doing their best to imitate the resilient Dutch who are out there no matter what the weather.

We are now a Face book family, each with his or her own presence, some more public then others, experiencing its joys and annoyances. Terry was the last one to sign up.

Mary Ann became a great-aunt for the 3rd time when her brother became a grandfather for the 3rd time (yes, he is grand and she is great!) We hope this summer (next at the latest) to go out to the West Coast to visit and meet them all.

Auditions for the high school play were held. Both girls have parts in the pre-show which they are excited about. Plus, JA gets to be assistant stage manager. She likes working behind stages as much as being on stage.

Thanks to television and internet, we were able to watch the inauguration of President Obama as it was taking place in Washington, DC on January 20. Both the BBC and CNN were broadcasting on TV and the BBC also on the radio. The crowds were amazing. There is something reassuring watching the tradition play itself out - the president-elect arriving at the White House, the drive to the Capital, the order of dignitaries taking seats to witness the swearing in, listening to the inaugural address. With the six hour time difference, we skipped watching coverage of the balls and just caught up on them the next day.

Two days later, we participated in spirit and prayer in the March for Life.

The high school winter ball was on January 24. The theme was "The Roaring '20s" mostly seen in the dresses of the girls. JA and ER looked for outfits in Virginia when we visited. JA wore a costume on loan from a friend. The same friend took ER shopping at Unique (our favorite second hand store) and they found a dress and a boa. Yes, ER wore a dress - there is only one person she allows to buy her a dress and it's not her mother. Here are the girls, without boas, before heading out to the dance:


Girl Scout cookies arrived on January 28. Less than 500 cases were ordered for the troops to sell to friends, family and the school community. The girls don't take orders; the leaders select the cookies and numbers in October for delivery in January. Once these are gone, there aren't any more cookies until next year. The cases were picked up in Rotterdam and brought to a cookie mom's house to count and then distribute. The cars began their trip at 9 am and the last box was out to the troops at 2:30 pm. The cookie brigade worked efficiently and with dropping only a few cases. Mary Ann remembered the times she worked the cookie distribution at the Elks Lodge for her service unit back home.

We were disappointed that Little Brownie Bakers discontinued All Abouts. The Lemon Chalet Cremes are better than last year. Haven't tried the new Dulce di Leche yet.

The month ended with the Solo/Ensemble Festival at the school. About 400 middle and high school students from our corner of Europe come in to the school to participate. They perform either solo, solo with accompanyment or in an ensemble. They are judged according to a set of criteria and can achieve a rank from a low 3 to the highest, 1+. JA performed a Mozart piece to a piano accompanyment. Although she was sick with a cold and having breathing problems, she received a 1. ER was 1/4 of a trumpet quartet that performed a jazz piece; they received a 1+. The judges also give tips to the performers on how they can do better. Mary Ann worked the welcome table and enjoyed meeting people from so many different schools.

Of course, the girls had their classes, did their homework, went to music lessons, did jazz band, slept in, visited with friends, and all the other normal activities done whether living in Virginia or in Holland.

That pretty much brings us up to date. Nothing very exciting. A few things on the calendar for February. Thanks for checking in on us. Know we always appreciate hearing from you too.