Dim sum class for adults

Dim sum, those tiny, tasty Asian treats, will be the centerpiece of a culinary workshop offered Thursday, Feb. 26, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Ambler Farm. A second workshop, scheduled for March 6, is sold out.The workshop will be led by Heather Priest, a master chef and culinary arts teacher at Middlebrook School. This class follows two sold-out programs she led on tapas in the fall.“It’s a hands-on learning experience to give adults a chance to connect and meet each other” as well as learn some new cooking skills, said Ashley Kineon, a member of the Ambler board.Dim sum, Ms. Priest said, “are almost like tapas. … They are small plates you can share. It’s a fun event to go to.”She attributes their popularity to Asian fusion cuisine, “which in the 90s and 2000s was epic. Now the cuisine is getting more authentic.”At the class, participants will work in teams of two or three, following along with Ms. Priest, as they make a peanut salad in fresh lettuce boats, scallion pancakes, steamed buns filled with braised chicken, and shrimp and snowpea potstickers.“Everyone will make everything and take home recipes,” she said. And, of course, eat what they make.To add to the conviviality of the evening, everyone is encouraged to bring their beverage of choice.Registration for the class, which will take place in the white carriage barn, is required. The cost is $65 per non-member, $60 per member. To register, visit amblerfarm.org. Adult classes Both the dim sum and tapas classes are part of an effort by the Ambler Farm board and staff to present more adult-oriented programs. “Our youth programs are so robust,” said Ms. Kineon, referring to the apprenticeships, summer camps and family offerings. “They have been hugely successful.” When seeking to devise a follow-up to the tapas program, the women said, they went through many ideas. “I love small plates,” Ms. Priest said. “I like many things to taste at one time. … It’s a casual atmosphere, more fun” than something more formal. Recalling the “great energy” at the tapas class, Ms. Kineon said, “You learn skills and there’s a social aspect. It’s a magical combination.” They suggested the class would be a good opportunity for working parents to meet others in the community or for couples to have a night out together. “This is a real activity you can do,” Ms. Priest said.

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