The Art of Making Rice Dumplings Workshop at Hotel Nikko
The 5th fay of the 5th month on the lunar calendar marks the Rice Dumpling Festival for the Chinese. It is a widely celebrated festival to commemorate the patriotic poet, Qu Yuan. Rice dumplings are glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves or lotus leaves with an assortment of fillings, using either white rice or brown.
Ever wondered how rice dumplings are made? I was lucky to have the opportunity to learn it from the master at a Rice Dumpling workshop recently, hosted by Chef Lo Tian Sion himself! Each of us was given our very own workspace to prepare and wrap our own dumplings! It was my first time and it was fun!
The skillful Chef Lo
Without further ado, we all got down to business and got our hands dirty!
witch wearing gloves
Look at the multitude of ingredients prepared for us!
Our workshop table
Brown/White rice
Ingredients to make Rice Dumpling
Oil, sugar, spice and everything nice! 
Lotus leaves
We had so much fun imitating the chef’s steps. Never lose focus or you shall miss out some vital steps! One of us finished wrapping the rice dumpling only to find out that the dried shrimps were left out! *LOL*
Us having fun with rice dumpling making
So much ingredients! (Pic source)
Finally, with the chef’s guidance, I managed to complete my task and tie up my dumpling! Harder, harder, the chef said.
Completing the dumpling
Tadaa! First ever dumpling made!
The dumplings that we made that night
Besides the savoury rice dumpling, we also had the chance to make some sweet dumplings for dessert! The Multi Grain Glutinous Rice Dumpling consisted of various nuts and sesame seeds.
Finely ground nuts and sesame seeds
So serious in making the rice dumpling
And last but not least, dumplings made from sweet potatoes! This was the easiest to make because my dough turned out to be nice!
witch mashing the sweet potatoes
Shaping into balls
Getting ready to be deep fried
See the bubbles!
Completed sweet potato balls!
Of course, after the hard work of making the dumplings, we had the chance to enjoy the final product too! This rice dumpling was the one pre-made by the chef, not the ones we made, because the ones that we made would require 7 hours of steaming before they’re cooked! No, our stomachs couldn’t wait that long. 
Delicious dumpling!
The sweet dumpling has to be eaten with the ice-cream. Hot and cold together – bliss!
Rice dumplings dessert
If you’re interested to learn the art of making rice dumplings like I did, you can do so at the Rice Dumpling Culinary Class on 5th of June 2010 at 10.00 am at Toh Lee Restaurant, Hotel Nikko. But make sure you make your reservation fast, as seats are first-come-first-served basis! The good news is that there will be a prize given to the ‘Best Wrapped Dumpling’, judged by the Chef at the end of the class!
Price = RM100++ per person inclusive of recipe booklet and Dim Sum Set Lunch.
I personally think it’s very worth it as you get to make 3 different types of rice dumplings with the award-winning Chef Lo! Not to mention you get to have free lunch too!
Or, if you think you are not the type to get your hands dirty to make rice dumplings, you can also buy them from Hotel Nikko from 1st to 16th June for dine-in or takeaway.
Price = RM18++ to RM48++ per selection.
For reservation, call +603-2782 6188.
Hotel Nikko Kuala Lumpur
165, Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Tel: +603-2161 1111
Email: [email protected]
www.hotelnikko.com.my
Comments (41)
Cool
.-= kathy´s last blog ..Tail (Update) =-.
indeed it was a great experience for us … and its challenging…but i still prefer to eat..kekeke~
.-= taufulou´s last blog ..IP Man 2 Movie Premier =-.
LOL! Of course, eating is better
looks like you guys had fun
We did!
Dropping by ere. Dumpling rice. Yummy
.-= JLean´s last blog ..Ford Start Concept unveiled in Beijing =-.
Yum! I’m hungry looking at it now
wahliow….u really greedy lah…stuffed in so much of the ingredients in … i really miss this event ler but due to family matters important, need to miss this event …
bak chang is my favourite food ler… reminds me of the berjaya college cooking class….jeng!
.-= vialentino´s last blog ..TGI Friday’s Tex-Mex Food Promotion =-.
LOL! Not greedy! It’s the ingredients given by the chef! Not easy to fit all that into the rice dumpling ok
no worries about missing it, I’m sure there will be more chances to come! 
in the kitchen? that’s way so cool!
.-= ai wei´s last blog ..Karl’s Beisl @ Solaris Mon’t Kiara =-.
I know! <3
i wanna eat dumpling
LOL! I have one more in my fridge
that really a big dumpling u made
.-= M-Knight´s last blog ..Rainbow Above The Cloud =-.
Humongous!!
hahhaha it was a fun outing, now we are waiting for your rice dumplings!
.-= Big Boys Oven´s last blog ..FUKUHARU Hock Choon Terrace =-.
Yes it’s very enjoyable!
Hello there! I found your site from Bluedreamer’s blog. I am intrigued if you really are a witch. ^_^ Nah! Just kidding.
But then again maybe your a witch because you made a rice dumpling that is enchanting. I do think that it taste good.
.-= Ishmael Ahab´s last blog ..Suddenly, I Have More Relatives =-.
Hi!! Welcome to my blog!
Wanna try my spells? 
Ahhhh am hungry liao… :p i just looking at the pictures without reading the words. haha!
.-= Caroline´s last blog ..Hey Soul Sister by Train =-.
Haha why never read the words!!
Already the season for dumpling again? Gee! How time flies! Oh…these are the pillow-like type, the Cantonese dumplings…they say. I prefer the nyonya triangular ones…
.-= suituapui´s last blog ..What I want… =-.
Yea it’s time for dumplings!!! Well, I prefer both types! LOL!
so early already preparing the dumplings?? still got two months to go woh…
but i think the type you wrap is simpler than those traditional triangular ones.. my colleagues is asking around how to do those, and i just say “go search in youtube”, and really, a lot of demos there..
.-= [SK]´s last blog ..28.04.2010 | 老弱殘兵 =-.
Well you have to learn how to make it first so that you have enough time to practise for the real occasion.
Ehh not that simple also, the chef had to undo my wrapping and wrap it again for me actually 
i wonder how u can pay attention n pose for pic lagi? lol.. at first i tot u’ll be making the triangle type of dumpling.. u know? then again i saw this huge dumplings.. shiok! when r u making for us to eat? i’m sure foong can swallow at least 3! lol..
.-= Merryn´s last blog ..Our leather sofa =-.
Wah 3?? Saucer couldn’t even finish one! LOL!
We are supposed to learn making rice dumplings from our parents, but today we pay to join the class, LOL…
.-= khengsiong´s last blog ..Japanese Movie – Heavenly Forest =-.
Well, the thing is even our parents don’t make dumplings anymore
i rather eat than to make.. but learning is fun as well.. haha =D
Yea once in a while, making it is fun!
Wow, the ingredients is more than the triangle ones.
.-= kelvin´s last blog ..Caught while having affair. =-.
That’s true! A lot more ingredients here.. very full after eating it.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by iamthewitch. iamthewitch said: I made my first rice dumpling! A HUGE one too! http://bit.ly/a2JIrq [...]
Oh! You curl your hair ya
So got “lui yan mei” ya 
.-= uLi´s last blog ..Our Pre-Wedding Photos @Putrajaya =-.
Haha Yea lor, must let you see my hair in real life
Wei, does that mean I look older now? 
cool.. making it takes up more time than eating it.. lol..
.-= Shirleen´s last blog ..I’m SAD! =-.
Yea, it takes effort to make and more hours to steam it!
Hi! Hi! Sure glad you learnt something from this class!
hahah the second picture do look like a witch!
.-= Big Boys Oven´s last blog ..Ying Yang Prawns at RM1.00++ Tai Zi Heen =-.