As many of my friends know, I enjoy dining out, but my real passion is entertaining. On special Saturday mornings, I'll make an epic trip to Sanyuanli market, and spend the better part of the day marinating veggies and filling casserole dishes with all sorts of love. The best part of my evening is putting the finishing touches on my dishes before re-filling my glass of wine and announcing that the buffet is open. Even if it’s not a dinner party, I love inviting friends over for impromptu dinners or just a glass a wine with snacks. It’s the social sport that attracts me.

In that spirit, I’m excited that one of my local educational favorites, The Hutong, is running an educational series called C52 Connecting Cultures Culinary Challenge – 52 weeks 52 cuisines. They are currently searching for local foodies willing to showcase their culinary skills and culture with a group of friends or strangers. Make sure to click on the above link if you are interested in teaching others about what makes your country so special.

Next week on the C52 schedule is local restaurateur, Gaby Alves, of SALT, who will be hosting a Brazilian Feijoada lunch (RMB100) and answering questions about her native Brazil. Chockful of beans, sausage, pork, spring greens and rice, feijoada is a weekend meal enjoyed by families across South America. SALT also offers a popular weekly rendition on this classic meal during their Saturday feijoada lunch from 12-3pm for 148RMB.

One of my favorite things about living in Beijing is the myriad of cultures that thrive in the local expat community. I love to take part in traditional celebrations and share what I can with my group of international friends. If you are a fellow epicurean, don’t miss out on an opportunity to attend or host a class at The Hutong’s year-long culinary program.