A reunion forty years in the making, a vegetarian Chinese cooking class, and the small moments that made one afternoon in Shanghai unforgettable.

A father and daughter from the United States joined our Shanghai dumpling cooking class as part of their global tradition of learning local cuisine together. Having already taken classes in six countries, the young traveler created an imaginative octopus dumpling—making this experience their most memorable cooking class so far.

What started as a soup dumpling class in Shanghai became an unexpected conversation about food, family, and tradition.

When an Italian mother shared that kneading dough is considered "a very sensual movement" in Italy, we discovered how two different cultures can find common ground through flour, water, and handmade cooking. Over a pot of Liubao tea and homemade Xiao Long Bao, a simple cooking class turned into a meaningful cultural exchange between Italy and China.

A guest from Delhi, India, joined our Vegetarian Soup Dumpling class during her visit to Shanghai.

As a doctor and a vegetarian, she was especially happy to discover a version of Xiao Long Bao that aligns with her lifestyle without compromise. Beyond cooking, the experience became a moment of cultural exchange, sharing stories about food, family, and everyday life.

A simple class turned into a meaningful connection through handmade food.