Local Chef, Author Ying Stoller to Teach the Art of Asian Cooking

Patrons may notice the aroma of fried rice and egg drop soup wafting through the Tuesday.

Popular TV personality, cooking instructor and cookbook author Ying Stoller will be there at 7 p.m. preparing traditional Chinese cuisine.

“Today people want to eat healthy and they also want to save money,” Stoller said. “They think cooking Asian food is complicated. But when I show them how easy it is and that it tastes just as good, if not better, than restaurants people are so excited.”

During Tuesday’s program, Stoller will make a soup, fried rice and a stir fry for program attendees to taste.

Her cooking demonstration will be held in conjunction with Indian Prairie’s multicultural program.

Since 2008, the library has presented Experience Our World—Customs and Cultures, featuring programming about another country. This month, library visitors will be introduced to the culture of China.

Stoller, who came to the U.S. from China about 20 years ago, said she honed her culinary skills by watching her parents cook when she was growing up.

Her earlier career as a travel agent for international tourists also allowed her to experience the different flavors offered in various regions of China.

These days the Gurnee resident is also a cooking instructor at the College of Lake County, as well as an entrepreneur, selling her own brand of Asian sauces which are available in some local stores as well as on her website.

Stoller said her sauces are low in sodium, and free of the food additive monosodium glutamate, or MSG.

“Cooking should be fairly simple,” she said. “The sauces make it even easier. Some people want to do it from scratch. But others don’t. They say, ‘Give me a sauce and show me how to do it.’ I make it simple and easy.”

For more information about the Experience Our World—Customs and Cultures program, or to register for Stoller’s presentation, visit the Indian Prairie Public Library’s website, or call (630) 887-8760, Ext. 239.

For more information about Stoller, visit her website.