Dining Chicago

Asian vegetables such as bok choy feature in Ben Pao's spring gardening class.

Learn about Asian gardening, tofu and spring rolls in April and May classes at area restaurants.

• Ben Pao, River North:

  • Herb and Vegetable Class, River North, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 17, $35.

    Vivian Kuo Macht, an Asian cooking instructor at the College of DuPage College and an active member of the Wheaton Garden Club will demonstrate all the essential tools needed to create and maintain a garden full of healthy Asian edible plants. Students will learn how to plant, nourish, and prepare healthy recipes using a variety of plants, including Thai basil, ginger, cilantro, lemongrass, bok choy and peppers. Participants will receive a special Ben Pao planting pot with seedlings to begin gardening at home; a festive Ben Pao apron; lunch consisting of fresh Chinese herbs and vegetables; and a $10 gift certificate to Ben Pao.

  • Tofu Cooking Class, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 15, $35.

    Chef Jim Hoveke demonstrates the delicious and nutritious benefits of tofu in such dishes as crispy garlic tofu, a Ben Pao specialty of sesame-crusted tofu with garlic sauce and chives; tofu sauce for dipping, grilling, and marinating; and ma po tofu, a famous Szechuan recipe. Jenny Yang, owner of Chicago tofu manufacturer Phoenix Bean, will be on hand to answer questions and provide a variety of tofu samples. Also included is a $10 Ben Pao gift certificate, and a tofu-based lunch.

  Reservations are required; call the restaurant.

• Koi, Evanston:

  • Spring Roll Class, 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 24, $20.

    Chef Bing Zhou and his wife, Sandy Chen, owners of Koi, teach a class on making classic Asian finger-foods, including Chinatown and Shanghai spring rolls, a refreshing Vietnamese roll and a Thai variant. Samples and mimosas will be served, and all participants will receive a $20 gift certificate for use on their next visit. Reservations are required; call the restaurant.