Sweet Mandarin welcomes Manchester Academy for the Beijing Masterclass. Enjoy!

I love working with schools. Here’s a short video where we were invited to co-judge the “Ready Steady Cook” Competition at Manchester Academy together with staff at Manchester Academy and also representatives from the Marriott Hotel. The standards of cooking were extremely high and choosing a winner was nail bitingly difficult. Watch the video to find out whose cuisine reigns supreme.

About Sweet Mandarin Food Tech/Science Master Classes

Sweet Mandarin has been working with schools for over 6 years in the UK, Asia, Caribbean and USA teaching thousands of students and teachers. We are the approved supplier of Food Technology / Science / Entrepreneurship Master Classes for Manchester City Council and work with their 174 primary and secondary schools in the Manchester district. We also welcome field trips to Sweet Mandarin.

Here is my manifesto on ‘The Power of Food in Schools’ click here

To book Sweet Mandarin for your school click here

I’ve been working a lot with primary, secondary and higher education since being appointed the key Food Tech specialist by Manchester City Council (read about that here). One of the perks for teachers and students are our ultimate blow-your-socks-off one of a kind field trips that you will remember all your life. We take you to the Wing Yip Superstore, show you all those wierd and wonderful ingredients, give you a go on the commercial woks under supervision, and the best thing is you get to eat it too. For those that want a photo with the F word trophy, click away!

To book your ultimate school field trip click here

Photo of Lisa and Helen Tse with Mrs Healey, Food Tech Teacher and her Year 10s at West Hill School, Tameside.

To book Sweet Mandarin click here

I have never been the A* student. In fact during some of the teen angst years I hated school and at times myself. Being the only Chinese kid on the block also made me feel like an alien at times.  Low self esteem and lack of belonging is a dangerous mix. But luckily I found a home in the Home Economic room. Amongst the baking loaves,  flour dusted surfaces and Mrs Woodward’s direction (‘Not another stir fry Lisa, come on try something else’), I felt happy and able to give back some worth. Note to reader, although I did make stir fries every week, my stir fries won class prizes and after branching out to new culinary dishes, I loved making a shortcrust meat pie.

When I teach at schools its cathargic and I love seeing the students enthuse over making dim sum or learning a new culinary technique. That is why I will always make time for schools and teaching the next generation.  My campaign is to work with schools in the local area and give nutrition advice and cooking tips to school teachers, parents and students. I am delighted that Manchester City Council has made Sweet Mandarin the specialist Food Tech provider to the 174 local schools and my manifesto is to exposing children to new foods from different cultures, giving them a unique experience in the classroom and during Sweet Mandarin field trips (a safe after-school setting).

Today, fewer and fewer families cook together let alone eat together. Forget TV dinners and supermarket meals for one. We need to encourage students to make meals together, gain basic cooking skills for life and bond with their families again. The way I see it, this break down in the family table  what I call a ‘nutrition crisis’ could well be the underlying problem of today’s anti social, ADHD society.

When I set up Sweet Mandarin six years ago, we worked along side MANCAT now Manchester College catering arm and invited their students to internship programmes in my kitchen. It was pure magic and has proved to me how powerful food can be.  Before entering the programme, a few of these students had run ins with the law and hung out with the wrong crowds with some skiving for weeks. As they delved into what was a foreign land – the world of woks and cleavers – dim sum and stir fries, their eyes opened like saucers – and they wanted to learn something new and were highly satisfied with the skills I was slowly building into their day to day repetoire. I also noticed that their confidence in themselves grew by the day and their reliance on gangs became weakened. They could stand on their own two feet and could be a useful member of society. That courage to say no to gangs is really a break through. It created hairs on the back of my neck to stand up and I wanted to teach them more, teach them everything I knew so that they could prepare as good as any Chinese sous chef. These students were different people to those who entered my kitchen on day one.  After the programme at Sweet Mandarin they took pride in themselves and swapped their street life for the banter, ebb and flow of the professional kitchen. It would be tough to imagine a clearer illustration of the power of food.

I teach about two schools a day, every day of term. There is a saying that one should ‘Eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.’ That is true if you are eating the right kinds of food. However, processed foods  which kids seem to draw to automatically is really really really damaging to the next generation and to the world as we know it.  Arguably, eating processed foods can affect student’s English and Math school results. Those deficient in essential nutrients are more likely to be hyperactive (ADHD), skive off school, and have academic difficulties, including behavioral and attention problems. And, paradoxically, our undernourished children are overweight and obese.

I want to educate the students about real food not the processed stuff…and how delicious real food is. That is why our fruit origami programme is proving so popular with the primary school classes – especially fussy eaters. I’ve made apple swans, strawberry mice, banana dogs and the kids have no hesitation in enjoying their five a day fruit and vegetable after my demonstration. What I’m doing is a very small drop in the ocean but we need to fight against child obesity and we have to make real food the norm again.

There is a Chinese proverb ‘Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.’  Few things are more empowering for children than learning skills that have lifelong value. I’ve seen throughout my teaching programmes the benefits extend beyond the cooking. Students work better in teams, are more appreciative of new cultures and understand how important it is to eat a meal together around the table. As long as I have breath, I will fight to reverse the trend of generations of non-cookers. There are many things in this world that divide us but one thing that unites us is food.

To book Sweet Mandarin click here

SWEET MANDARIN has been invited by CHINA NOW the largest festival of Chinese culture ever in the UK to be a partner to showcase the very best of modern China to the schools in the UK.

CHINA NOW’s education programme aims to encourage awareness and understanding of China’s fascinating heritage and contemporary culture. The programme is designed to provide opportunities for schools and universities to develop new or existing relationships with China.

For primary and secondary schools CHINA NOW and Sweet Mandarin aim to offer a range of programmes and competitions on Chinese cooking, arts and cultural events in schools, workshops (in everything from calligraphy to cooking), and field trips to Sweet Mandarin restaurant and Chinese Arts Centre for activities outside the classroom.

The Sweet Mandarin cultural programme will provide students with the opportunity to celebrate the aspects of Chinese culture that they are most passionate about whilst simultaneously demystifying them for their fellow students and the local community. The university festivals will also feature lectures and business seminars about working in and conducting business with China.

“It is important to build links and forge strong relationships with China as we move into the 21st Century. The China Now education programme offers a great opportunity for students to gain an understanding of different aspects of China and raise awareness of Chinese culture in classrooms across the country”.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for the Department for Children Schools and Families.

“We are honoured to be selected by China Now to be a partner in their education programme. We have always been dedicated to working with education teaching students about Chinese culture, food, music and literature. With China Now, we have similar synergies and together forge the bridge between East and West”.  Lisa Tse, CEO of Sweet Mandarin

Welcome To Sweet Mandarin Food Technology Lessons

Discover the Shangri La of Sweet Mandarin, and experience the authentic tastes of the Far East with Lisa and Helen Tse. Book Sweet Mandarin for an amazing Food Technology lesson that will leave your pupils inspired cooks who will revel in learning new cooking techniques.

Discover too the thrilling tale of three generations of Chinese women behind Sweet Mandarin, and their courageous battle against the most overwhelming odds to bring their dreams to fruition. Travelling from East to West and beyond, Sweet Mandarin combines an authentic gourmand’s journey with all the intrigue of a thrilling narrative.

Lisa and Helen Tse have been visiting primary and secondary schools around the United Kingdom, USA, Asia and Caribbean teaching Years 5 – 12 the art of making dim sum and the history of dim sum during the food technology classes.

Lisa Tse is the head chef of the award winning restaurant and cookery school, Sweet Mandarin.
Helen Tse is an outstanding teacher and has the PGCE qualification.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

These master classes will have long term value for the class and will:

• Ignite the passion in students for food technology
• Improve communication and co-operation in the team
• Encourage collaborative working
• Helps build trust and encourage supportive behaviour/sharing
• Teaches pupils how to operate more effectively and efficiently (project and time management, planning, operational, organisational skills)
• Inspires innovative and creative thinking and resourcefulness
• Cross-curricular aspects – Geography, History, Mathematics, English and ICT.

OUTLINE OF COURSES – SCHOOLS CAN PICK ONE COURSE OR MORE

COURSE 1: DIM SUM MASTERCLASS
Learn the art of dim sum – create 2-3 authentic dim sums
Learn Chinese Culture and food
Learn about Healthy Eating

COURSE 2: CHINESE NEW YEAR FOOD AND TRADITIONS
Learn how to cook Chinese New Year food and traditions
Learn about matching Yin and Yang foods

COURSE 3: FRUIT ORIGAMI MASTER CLASS
Learn how to carve beautiful fruit sculptures
Learn about Healthy Eating – Five a Day fruit and vegetable

COURSE 4: F WORD CHALLENGE
Design, create and cook your course
Learn about budgeting and portion control and timing
Learn to be the best

COURSE 5: TASTE OF CHINA: SHANGHAI
Learn how to make Shanghai style food
Understand the history of Shanghai
Understand the geography aspects

COURSE 6: TASTE OF CHINA: Beijing
Learn how to make Beijing food
Understand the history of Beijing
Understand the geography aspects

COURSE 7: TASTE OF CHINA: Sichuan
Learn how to make Sichuan food
Understand the history of Sichuan and their chilies
Understand the geography aspects

COURSE 8: TASTE OF CHINA: Hong Kong and Guangzhou
Learn how to make Cantonese food
Understand the history of Guangzhou and Hong Kong
Understand the geography aspects

GUEST SPEAKER
We are available for Assembly or Prize Giving as a guest speaker and motivate the pupils with our story and how we made it.

COSTS FOR MANCHESTER /OLDHAM/ROCHDALE /TRAFFORD SCHOOLS
Each course costs £250 plus VAT (if the school wishes to provide the ingredients) or £295 plus VAT (includes the ingredients). To book, please email lisa@sweetmandarin.com with your preferred date, time and number of classes. Full payment must be made two weeks before the lesson date. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Lisa Tse’ and sent to Sweet Mandarin 19 Copperas Street, Manchester, M4 1HS.

Lisa and Helen will provide the necessary handouts, aprons and personal tuition. Maximum class size is 20. Each course has been tailored for lessons lasting no more than 1 hour. We can cater for primary or secondary school classes.

Teenage students are mesmerized by Lisa’s knife skills demonstration

Three teenagers learning to cook Chinese dim sum at the Sweet Mandarin Chinese Cookery School with Lisa Tse

Lisa teaching 14-16 year olds at Irlam Youth Forum Centre how to cook Chinese dim sum and cuisine.

SCHOOLS VISITS – FOOD TECHNOLOGY 
DIM SUM MASTERCLASS
Sweet  Mandarin Cookery Courses – Workshops / Demonstrations

Lisa Tse has been visiting schools around the North West, USA, Asia and Carribean teaching Year 7 – 13 the art of making dim sum and the history of dim sum during the food technology classes.

Explained Lisa Tse, co-owner of Sweet Mandarin with her sisters Helen and Janet: “We are really excited to be working with schools. We’ve put together a workshop that will give the students hands-on experience of how to make authentic dim sums and learn a bit about Chinese culture and food. The students will also end the workshop with a fruit origami.

Said Fay Flatt (Arts Officer at Irlam & Cadishead, Irlam Youth Forum Centre): “When my students heard about the opportunity to train with Lisa Tse from the Sweet Mandarin Cookery School they were so excited. Lisa is an excellent teacher and mesmerized the students”

One of the students reported that “learning how to cook dim sum and understanding about Chinese food was brilliant. I wish every food technology class was taught by Lisa.”

INVITE LISA TSE TO YOUR SCHOOL

- Learn the art of dim sum
- Learn Chinese Culture and food
- Learn Chinese New Year food and traditions
- Assembly Guest Speaker – Motivational Talk
- Prize Giving Guest Speaker – Motivational Talk

To book Lisa Tse please email sweetmandarin@gmail.com

COSTS

There will be a cost of £20 / student that participate in the class. (Secondary Schools only)
Payment must be settled before or on the day. Please make cheques payable to Lisa Tse

- Maximum class size is 15.
- Ingredients need to be provided for the class ( full list will be provided)
- Expenses must be covered also.