Paul Young

Educator, Designer, Culinary Explorer

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Flavor Principles of Ethnic Cooking

 

Travel the world with self-taught home cook Paul Young as he deconstructs ethnic recipes and breaks down the flavor principles of each culinary tradition. Learn how to make anything taste ethnic by following a few master recipes and utilizing simple flavor principles. By the end of the series you will be able to customize flavor profiles and adjust recipes like a pro.

 

This is a hands-on cooking class series where all students will participate in the preparation of all the dishes on the menu. Do come hungry and thirsty because the tuition includes a multi-course dinner during the second half of the class when you will be eating everything you cooked that evening. 

 

Students will leave each session with easy-to-follow recipes of all the dishes on the menu. These recipes have all been adapted for the typical home cook and contain many tips & tricks to help minimize your time in the kitchen while staying true to the spirit of the original ethnic flavors.

 

All menu items below will use locally sourced ingredients but are subject to change based on the availability of fresh ingredients at local markets.




Taste of Kazakhstan (June 18, 2026)

manti

Kazakhstan is a huge and beautiful country in Central Asia with a very rich history. It is famous for its wide steppes, modern cities, and incredibly friendly people. If you visit, the most important thing to experience is the traditional food. Kazakh cuisine is based on meat and milk because of the country’s nomadic past. Eating in Kazakhstan is always about hospitality and making guests feel at home. Join us for a delightful home cooked Kazakh meal featuring recipes from guest chefs Akgul Yessirkep and Asylzada Zhanbolatovna:

 

Akgul Yessirkep is a mother of three and loves to experiment in the kitchen. "I am very proud of my culture's traditions of hospitality," says Akgul. "In our home, the door is always open, and the table is always set with love. I have been a school teacher for 10 years, teaching students about Information Technology. Before I got married, I honestly never spent any time cooking. However, starting my own family changed everything and I discovered a true passion for it. Now, as a mother of three, my greatest joy is preparing delicious meals for my children. I love to experiment in the kitchen and fill our home with the wonderful aromas of Kazakh cuisine. It makes me so happy to see my kids well-fed and enjoying my food. I try to make every family meal feel special and full of warmth. My life is a beautiful mix of my career in IT and my love for my family. I am proud to share our cultural traditions through the dishes I create every day."

 

Asylzada Zhanbolatovna is a pediatric neurologist with more than 5 years of professional experience. She is also the mother of three children. "In both my medical practice and daily life, I follow the principles of healthy and balanced nutrition," says Asylzada. "When I cook at home, I focus on wholesome, high-protein, and satisfying meals, preferably prepared by steaming or baking. My family rarely eats out, as I strongly believe that home-cooked meals made with love is the foundation of health. In this class, I will share how to maximize flavors while making healthier meals suitable for the whole family."




Chinese Home Cooking (July 9, 2026)

BRAISED PORK BELLY

Chinese cuisine is known as the mother of all Asian cooking. Shaped by a vast geography and eight distinct regional styles, Chinese cuisine can be as diverse as its people and climate. At home, however, these regional lines tend to blur. What stays the same is a familiar set of bold flavors and simple techniques: soy sauce for depth, garlic and ginger for aroma, and scallions to finish things off. In this class, we’ll focus on home-style dishes from central China, where everyday cooking draws heavily from both Sichuan and Shanghai traditions. Guest chef Huijuan Dong will share a few of his favorite recipes of dishes that he regularly cooks at home — practical, comforting dishes that are practical, comforting and all about balance, texture, and familiar flavor:

 

Huijuan Dong is a visiting research scientist at University of Illinois specializing in molecular biology. He has been living in the USA for over seven years and really likes to cook for his wife and son. Huijuang learned home cooking from his mother back in China and he is familiar with all the popular home-cooked dishes from Anhui province in Mideast China where he was born.

 




Spanish Tapas Feast (July 30, 2026)

Tapas

Some say a tapas bar is a window into the Spanish soul and the Spanish gastronomic mentality. Popular throughout Spain, eating tapas is the preferred way to enjoy an evening meal since the heaviest meal of the day is usually served at lunch. In fact, it’s a cultural tradition for groups to jump from one tapas bar to another for a full evening of snacking, sipping, and socializing. Tonight, we'll sample a wide range of small plates including:





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