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Culinary Adventure in Maine: Chinese Hot Pot Experience by Maine Tasting Center - Portland

Culinary Adventure in Maine: Chinese Hot Pot Experience by Maine Tasting Center

Wiscasseteasy

Difficulty

easy

Duration

2.5 hours

Fitness Level

Suitable for all fitness levels; focus is on participation and enjoyment

Overview

Join Jeff Mao at the Maine Tasting Center for an immersive hot pot experience featuring local ingredients. Dive into the history, master broth making, and enjoy a communal feast that’s as educational as it is delicious.

Wiscasset, Maine

A Deep Dive into Chinese Hot Pot: History, Broths, and a Communal Feast

All Ages • 2.5 Hours • $75 • An educational hot pot feast

Select participants and date

About This Adventure

Join cookbook author Jeff Mao for an immersive 2.5-hour journey into the world of Chinese hot pot. Discover the history, master broth preparation, and enjoy a hands-on dining experience featuring local Maine ingredients. This communal feast promises delicious flavors and the chance to make new friends along the way.

Explore the world of Chinese hot pot and enjoy a hot pot feast

Duration

2.5 hours

Rates

Non-Member: $75 MFBEC Member: $63.75

Our members save 15% on their class registrations! Learn more about membership benefits and sign up at www.mfbec.org.

2025 Dates

  • Sunday, Oct. 12

About

Explore the rich culinary tradition of Chinese Hot Pot with cookbook author Jeff Mao, author of Essential Chinese Hot Pot Cookbook. This class will take you on a journey through the history of hot pot, from its origins to its modern variations, all while highlighting the incredible bounty of Maine.

You'll learn the key elements of a successful hot pot meal, including broth preparation, ingredient selection, and dipping sauce mastery, with a focus on utilizing Maine ingredients whenever possible.

Jeff will demonstrate how to create two distinct broths: a fiery Sichuan spicy broth and an earthy Yunnan mushroom broth. We'll showcase and celebrate the contributions of local Maine producers, incorporating their products into our hot pot feast. The class will conclude with a hands-on hot pot dining experience, allowing you to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables, meats, and more!) of the demonstration and the flavors of Maine. A Maine beer - the beverage pairing of choice for traditional hot pot - is included with your ticket (non alcoholic options also available).

We'll provide all the ingredients, materials and equipment! This class is held in our Learning Center and taught by Jeff Mao of Knead & Nosh.

Important Note

Hot Pot is a communal dining style! At this dinner, diners will be seated in groups of four. If you buy multiple tickets in one transaction, you will be seated together. If you are buying tickets separately from someone you would like to sit with, please let us know their name(s) at checkout.

If you buy tickets for a group smaller than 4 people, you may be seated with strangers. This isn't a bad thing - making new friends is part of the experience - but we want to make sure everyone knows what to expect going in!

About Jeff Mao

Jeff Mao runs Knead and Nosh as a passion project, teaching engaging online cooking and baking classes with a special focus on foods that incorporate doughs in one form or another: breads, pasta, dumplings, and more.

Jeff is an avid home cook and baker who has been consuming food media for decades going back to PBS shows like Yan Can Cook and the Great Chefs to the early days of the Food Network and now the modern Internet media. He recently published his first cookbook, Essential Chinese Hot Pot Cookbook.

Adventure Tips

Prepare to get hands-on

Bring an apron and be ready to actively participate in broth preparation and cooking.

Bring a notebook

Take notes on techniques and recipes to recreate the hot pot experience at home.

Arrive early

Arrive a few minutes before the start to settle in and meet your fellow diners.

Enjoy socializing

Take advantage of the communal setting to chat and share food stories.

Local Insights

Wildlife

  • Sea ducks
  • Ospreys

History

Maine's diverse immigrant communities have influenced its culinary scene, including Chinese cuisine traditions brought by early 20th-century immigrants.

Conservation

The activity emphasizes sustainable sourcing and local ingredients, supporting Maine's farm-to-table ethos.

Select participants and date

Adventure Hotspots in Portland

Frequently Asked Questions

Recommended Gear

Apron

Essential

Protects your clothing during hands-on broth preparation and cooking.

Notebook and pen

Essential

Useful for jotting down recipes and techniques to try at home.

Comfortable clothing

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little cooking splatter on.

Appetite

Essential

Bring a healthy appetite for the communal feast.