Choochoo-ca-Chew

Making dumplings doesn’t have to be an all-day project. If you’ve ever thought, “I want dumplings, but I’m not ready to make wrappers from scratch,” this post is for you. Using store-bought dumpling wrappers is a completely legit way to make really good dumplings at home. They’re convenient, consistent, and perfect for beginners — especially if you’re on a time crunch. Here’s how to make…

Standing in the frozen aisle staring at ten different dumpling wrappers can feel overwhelming — especially when they all label themselves as “pot sticker,” “gyoza,” or “shui jiao” wrappers or doesn’t have much explanation in English. So I did what any dumpling-obsessed Taiwanese cook would do:I bought every brand I could find and tested them all. In this guide, I fold, boil, and taste-test…

Potstickers are already doing a lot. Crispy bottoms, juicy fillings, tender wrappers — they don’t need a complicated sauce to shine. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a simple dipping sauce for potstickers, the answer is refreshingly easy. A good dumpling sauce should support the dumpling, not overpower it. Most of the time, that means a few pantry staples, balanced flavors, and less than 5…

There’s nothing quite like biting into a homemade dumpling—soft, juicy, and packed with flavor. And the best part? You can make dumplings at home, even if you’ve never folded one before. At The Dumpling Club, we teach home cooks just like you how to make traditional Taiwanese dumplings from scratch, step by step. Whether you want a fun family cooking activity or a new culinary skill, this guide…

Are you a home cook who’s always wanted to make dumplings from scratch but didn’t know where to start? You’re not alone. Dumplings are a beloved part of Taiwanese cuisine, and they may seem intimidating at first. But with virtual dumpling cooking class for beginners, you can learn step by step—right from your kitchen. At The Dumpling Club, we’ve created a self-paced online course that takes you…

Inspired by Japanese-influenced curry in Taiwan, this filling is innovative yet nostalgic. Packed with locally grown vegetables and Minnesota-made tofu, this dumpling doesn’t just taste good — it’s good for you. The best tofu filling I’ve ever made! The best way for cooking these dumplings after folding is to pan-fry them.

Chiayi might not be the first place that comes to mind when people think of Taiwan’s famous dishes, but if you’re looking for the realest oyster omelette, this is where you want to be. We started our day in Budai, a fishing village on Taiwan’s west coast, where the air smells like ocean and oyster farms stretch into the horizon. I spent the morning sweating through my shirt and watching the…

Looking for a forgiving sourdough focaccia recipe that produces a slightly chewy, fluffy, and flavorful focaccia with tasting notes of honey and malt that is perfect for beginners or a busy schedule? Here it is. The recipe is great for making sandwich bread or dressing it up however you want, add herbs, make it your own! I’ve been on a baking spree lately since I’ve revived my sourdough starter.…

Wine lovers know that a great bottle of wine is more than just fermented grapes—it’s an experience, a story in every sip. In a recent tasting, we had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Justin Harmon, the mastermind behind Argot Wines, and explore the Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir along with some of Argot’s other standout wines. From his journey as a software engineer to becoming a winemaker,…

Looking for the best wine for Thanksgiving that won’t crush your budget or your taste buds? We’ve got you covered! These holiday-ready wines are crowd-pleasers that bring joy to every sip without breaking the bank. Whether you’re toasting the morning festivities or pairing your glass with turkey and pie, these gems shine at just under $30. Why Budget-Friendly Wines Make Sense The holidays…

My favorite way to eat scallion pancake is this stir-fry loaded with vegetables. I can’t live without vegetables and this is such an easy way to refresh the leftovers and use up ingredients in the fridge to make a quick, nutritious meal! Scallion Pancakes You can find homemade scallion pancake recipe here. We like to make more than one portion at a time and just freeze them till we want them…

On the most famous food street of Tainan, Taiwan lies an un assuming little shop that sells delicious savory rice cake in a bowl called “uánn-kué”, pronounced like “Wa-Guei”, 碗粿。 This kind of rice cake is a snack I grew up eating, one of my favorite after school snacks, but I’ve never had a version from Tainan. Watch the giant steamer steam thousands of rice cake in a bowl to keep up with the…

This YouTube episode is very special as my mom is making a special appearance and talks about what she knows about the food too! Breakfasts in Taiwan can be almost anything. Sticky rice triangles are sticky rice (aka glutinous rice or sweet rice) wrapped in leaves- often times bamboo leaves but sometimes it can be galangal leaves too. Rice triangles or Zongzi are often eaten during the dragon…

This is a Taiwanese scallion Pancake recipe that helps you use up some sourdough discard. I recently revived our sourdough starter but I get sick of western-style bread sometimes, so I wondered what would happen if I use the discard to make some of my favorite snacks from Taiwan? Crisp, flaky layers combined with chewy textures and stuffed with scallions, you’re going to love this. Why add…

This special Rice Noodle Stir-Fry recipe was created for the chef demo at LOCAL FEAST! Filled with flavor, and loaded with vegetables, this one-pot recipe is one of the staples in my house for a quick easy nutritious meal. Information about the special ingredients and where to buy them: Madame Chu’ s Ginger Garlic Paste Taiwanese Sausages Fiddlehead Knob Mushrooms Guide to types of Asian…

This is NOT a hot dog (at least not like the ones in NY or Chicago) Street food, a MUST in Taiwan. This may seem like a western hot dog, but it really isn’t! Charcoal grilled sweet Taiwanese sausage stuffed in a sticky rice “big sausage”, DaChangBaoXiaoChang 大腸包小腸 has become a Taiwanese street food classic. We started a Youtube channel to talk about Taiwanese food! In this episode, we’re…

Have you ever had a hot steamy bao? Have you ever had one on the side of the road in Asia? That’s a whole new story. There’s almost nothing better than holding and eating a hot steamy fluffy pocket full of savory or sweet filling, I say ALMOST because there’s so much good food in Taiwan it’s hard to pick a favorite. We started a Youtube channel to talk about Taiwanese food! This is a pilot…