As you know, Sweet Mandarin has a cookery school that is growing by the week, literally. Classes are held every Saturday morning and places are filling up fast….the next available dates are in January 2009!  My twin sister, Lisa and her trusted team teach you the secrets of the wok, how to cook the perfect fried rice, wrap the most delightful dim sum and tell the fascinating stories behind the 5,000 years of history of Chinese food.

So its no surprise that when I met Martha Stewart, who has a new cookbook out called Cooking School – that we had a lot to chat about. Wok verses oven baked recipes….. Who inspired us to cook? – Martha was inspired by her third grade teacher Miss Weyer, we learnt from our mum and grandma how to cook in the family food takeaway (Lisa was cooking banquets by the age of 11!). Also, Martha’s reading Sweet Mandarin (and “loving it!”). 

There are many things in this world that try to divide us, but one thing that unites us is food. To all you budding chefs out there, cook cook cook. If you get stuck, call Lisa and join the class. You’ll impress your friends and family forever!

(To book your place at the Sweet Mandarin Cookery School or to purchase a gift voucher for a budding chef call Tel 0161 832 8848, email: sweetmandarin@gmail.com – see more details at www.sweetmandarin.com  Classes are held at Sweet Mandarin 19 Copperas Street, Manchester, M4 1HS on Saturday mornings 10am – 12noon).