Residents of Shoreline’s new on-campus housing enjoyed a traditional Chinese meal last week, and learned some new kitchen skills in the process. Linda Du, International Programs Manager – China Specialist, set up shop in the residence hall’s shared kitchen and taught a group of 10 students how to prepare two simple yet delicious Chinese dishes: Xihongshi Chao Jidan, which is stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, and a rice flour and sweet potato dessert stuffed with red bean paste.
“Both dishes are easy and fun to make, as food should be,” said Du. “The food is quite tasty and comforting, so in teaching these two recipes I was hoping that students would learn something new and enjoy themselves.”
The residence hall currently houses 234 residents, with 51% domestic and 49% international students. Just over 93% are between the ages of 17-25.
The cooking lesson was just one in a series of planned events that aim to take advantage of Shoreline being an international learning community.
“We have students and staff from across the globe, with over 50 countries represented on campus,” said Sundi Musnicki, Director of Student Leadership & Residential Life. “Not only does that present an awesome opportunity for cultural exchange, but cooking really brings people together and helps build community. And that’s what we really want to do: build a strong sense of unity and belonging in the residence hall as well as across the larger campus.”
Du chose to teach the students how to make Xihongshi Chao Jidan because it was the first Chinese dish she learned to cook. A native of Baoding, Hebei, China, Du learned to make the dish when she was eight years old. “My mom taught me that dish and that cooking is an essential life skill that can be passed on through cultural traditions such as Chinese food. I love trying out new recipes and revising them to make them my signature dishes,” said Du.
The cooking lessons are also a chance to teach students, many of whom are living away from home for the first time, healthy eating habits.
“I want to encourage healthy eating and promote a healthy lifestyle amongst our students,” said Du. “Hopefully the students will learn that the best way to know what they are putting in their own bodies is by cooking for themselves.”
Musnicki hopes to recruit more staff and students to lead a cooking lesson in the residence hall soon.
“One of our resident assistants is from Pakistan and may lead the next cooking class to showcase their home country’s traditional cuisine,” said Musnicki. “We also have many staff and faculty who’ve expressed interest in sharing dishes from their cultures, so we’re really looking forward to what’s ahead.”
“Cooking brings joy and laughter,” said Du. “You live, you eat, and you share the food with your families and friends. And at Shoreline we’re a big family, so this is a way to celebrate that.”
Campus living still has a few vacancies for spring quarter. Learn more about on-campus living.