Expanding Sandton’s tastes
PARKMORE - The Nan Hua Meditation Centre has invited all to attend their vegetarian Chinese cooking classes.
The classes are aimed at promoting traditional vegetarian cuisine as a ‘different way of life’ which could benefit the mind and soul.
The centre, which is based in Parkmore, began their cooking classes in March this year and received a warm reception from local residents who enjoyed their intricate mixture of spices and flavours to create tasty vegetarian dishes.
Du Mann Ying, chairperson of Buddha Light International, said the classes are an excellent introduction to a healthier way of eating and living.
Ying said, “The primary belief [of Buddhism] that we all hold is that we do not kill animals. When we kill animals for meat there is a terror in their eyes which releases hormones which you taste in the meat. This is a pure way of eating which we would love to give people the choice of participating in.”
The history of the cooking style is complex. Ying said that after the introduction of communism in China, a great deal of the population left for Taiwan. All of these people came from different backgrounds; through this convergence of cultures they developed a healthier and more modern style of Chinese cooking.
The classes are led by Buddhist Master Jiewei who teaches small groups of people a number of different dishes, such as preparing spicy pineapple, the creation of pork substitutes with winter melon and soy bean, and the different types of vegetables they use such as wood ear, a type of mushroom grown in China.
Ying said the classes are not meant to force a different diet on to people, but to expand the palate of Sandton residents by giving them different cooking options.
The classes are held every Friday from 10am.
Details: Duuman Ying, 082 372 3898.
