Vivian Herijanto (below), a food stylist for Post Magazine, recently opened Corner Kitchen, a cooking school in Sheung Wan. Indonesian-born Herijanto has a diploma in culinary arts from the Institute for Culinary Education in New York. She worked at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market restaurant in Manhattan before moving to Hong Kong.
Corner Kitchen is fairly small (about 700 sq ft) but the space is efficiently designed. It has gas and induction stovetop cookers, a flat-top griddle, a built-in wok ring, ovens and plenty of counter space for pastry and preparation work.
The three-hour long classes are by appointment only and cost HK$3,000 for a one-on-one class, HK$2,000 per person for two students, HK$1,350 for three and HK$1,000 for four to six (Monday to Friday morning and afternoon sessions are discounted by 15 per cent). The list of autumn classes includes a 'course for absolute beginners' (shrimp cocktail with spicy mayo; grilled Asian-style steak with coriander puree), a Christmas feast (potato pancakes with smoked salmon and creme fraiche; cherry-glazed and clove-studded Christmas ham), poultry basics (roast chicken; braised chicken with mushrooms and parsley), French bistro cooking (macaroni gratin; coq au vin), Balinese specialities (minced seafood on lemongrass; chicken in spiced coconut milk and lemongrass), seafood basics (Italian-style whole roast fish with roast fennel and onion jam; grilled snapper fillet with lime and roasted tomato broth) and easy entertaining (tomato and caramelised onion tart; rack of lamb with garlic confit).
Corner Kitchen is at G/F, 20 Po Hing Fong, Sheung Wan, tel: 2803 2822.
