Welcome to Catherine's home! Step into a real Beijing family's kitchen and learn the art of Chinese dumpling making from scratch. This hands-on cooking experience begins at a local market where you select fresh ingredients, then continues in a warm family courtyard kitchen. Knead dough, mix fillings from secret family recipes, master the pleating technique, and cook your creations three ways: boiled, pan-fried, and steamed. The best part? Eating everything you make, surrounded by the laughter and hospitality of your host family. No cooking skills required — just bring your appetite!
D1Market to Table Dumpling Experience▾
Morning (9:00 AM): Your guide picks you up and takes you to meet Catherine and her family at their courtyard home in a traditional Beijing hutong. Over tea and snacks, Catherine introduces the plan for the day and asks about any dietary preferences.
9:30 AM — Market Adventure: Walk with Catherine to her neighborhood wet market. This is where locals have shopped for generations. Catherine shows you how to select the best pork belly, the freshest Napa cabbage, and just-picked chives and ginger. You'll also visit the tofu maker and the noodle stall for freshly made dumpling wrappers (or learn to make your own!). Watch locals haggle, chat with vendors through your guide's translation, and soak in the vibrant market atmosphere.
10:30 AM — Back to the Kitchen: Return to Catherine's home, wash hands, and put on your apron. The cooking begins! Catherine demonstrates how to make dumpling dough from scratch — just flour, water, and a little salt. While the dough rests, prepare the 3 fillings: Classic Pork & Napa Cabbage (with ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil), Lamb & Carrot (a northern Chinese favorite), and Vegetarian Mushroom & Chive.
11:30 AM — Master the Pleat: Catherine teaches you 3 wrapping styles: the simple half-moon fold, the elegant crescent pleat, and the traditional money-bag shape. Don't worry about perfection — lopsided dumplings taste just as good! Her grandchildren often join in, making this a true family experience.
12:30 PM — The Feast: Cook your dumplings three ways: boiled (shuijiao) — the classic, served with black vinegar and chili oil; pan-fried (guotie) — crispy bottoms, juicy tops; and steamed (zhengjiao) — delicate and translucent. Catherine also prepares a few side dishes: smashed cucumber salad, wood ear mushroom with vinegar, and egg drop soup. Sit together at the family table and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Catherine shares stories of how she learned dumpling-making from her grandmother, and how dumplings symbolize family reunion in Chinese culture.
2:00 PM: Tea and seasonal fruit for dessert. Catherine presents you with a handwritten copy of her family dumpling recipe to take home. Exchange contact info if you'd like — Catherine's family loves keeping in touch with their international guests.
2:30 PM: Your guide escorts you back to your hotel, along with any leftover dumplings packed for a late-night snack!
