If food is a universal language, then cooking is a conversation, according to Top Chef Canada's season 10 runner-up.
Chef Deseree Lo believes food is the best way to bring people together and will be virtually teaching Richmondites two dishes to celebrate Lunar New Year on Jan. 21 while raising funds to benefit the St. Paul's Foundation, Scotiabank Feast of Fortune gala.
Lo will teach community members how to cook a fish, and make a Hong Kong milk tea-infused creme brulee dessert via Zoom.
The creme brulee is a dessert dish meant to represent the cross-culture cooking techniques used in Asian and French cuisines, she explained.
Lo told the Richmond News that Lunar New Year is about celebrating traditions with everyone.
"I feel like as we get older, the quality and the quantity of time together with our families diminishes," said Lo.
"You're living with your parents growing up, but now that we're in an age where we can afford to do things and living on our own, we don't spend as much time with family."
Lunar New Year is not only celebrated by those of Chinese heritage but also by other Asian cultures such as those of Vietnamese and Korean ethnicities, she added.
"It's an honour to be able to give back to the community and share dishes I find that represent the celebrations and people coming together."
The event, organized by the online platform Everything Goes Virtual, will take place on Zoom from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will cost $138 per person, which will be donated to the St. Paul's Foundation.
Registered participants will receive an ingredient package ahead of the event.
For more information, click here.
