Chinese Food Comes to Life at N. Merrick Library

A filled room of more than 50 people listened intently as cooking instructor Penn Hongthong shared her secrets last Thursday night as part of North Merrick Library's Super Duper Cooking Program.

Hongthong, a native of Laos, is also a caterer, personal chef and author.

"I always loved to cook, but I tried to avoid [becoming a chef] because I don't want to be in a restaurant cooking all the time," Hongthong said, "so I said I don't have to cook in a restaurant, I can teach."

Hongthong is widely known for her cookbooks Simple Laotian Cooking and Healthy Lao Cuisine, but on Thursday she prepared three Chinese dishes using an electric wok: vegetable lo mein, sesame chicken and chicken fried rice.

"She's terrific," resident Vivian Golia said of Hongthong. "She's very amusing and looked happy in what she was doing."

When cooking Chinese food, it is very important to wash everything before peeling, keep the food uncovered and stir consistently, as Hongthong said during her demonstration.

"I mostly do healthy Lao cooking or Thai cooking, but lately I've started up Chinese and Indian," Hongthong said.

Hongthong teaches "everywhere," including vineyards, culinary schools and private homes, but mostly libraries.

To learn more about Hongthong and Lao cuisine, visit www.laochef.com.