Fit for a King
Words: Michelle Wallace IG @my.michelle.w
Photography: Sergey Yusin @sergey_yusin
Wardrobe: Jaxson Maximus @jaxsonmaximus
Make-up: Julia Brig @juliabrigmia
style | June 01, 2021
Posted on December 30, 2018
Wok Star!
Cooking vibes with Elenor Hoh
Wok Star! That’s what Eleanor Hoh calls herself but she’s quick to point out that ANYONE can be a Wok Star, you just need the right tools and techniques. Over the last two decades, her Wok Star project has evolved from a “chop-and-chat”, recipe based cooking class in her Key West home kitchen to a full blown, “heads on” cooking class hosted by top kitchen design showrooms and unique venues like Solesdi Boffi, Italkraft Aventura, Strato Ambienti and Patch of Heaven Sanctuary.
You never know who you’ll meet, busy CEOs, designers, doctors, attorneys, health-conscious eaters, all enjoy the camaraderie in class.
Attendees have included legendary movie director Alan Metter (Police Academy, Back to School with Roger Dangerfield) and Grammy Award winning violinist, Daniela Padron. Guests are motivated to learn how to simplify their cooking, try a delicious approach to a diet or express their creativity in a new way.
Eleanor’s easy, healthy, one-dish dinners eliminate recipes and measuring. In her class, she simplifies the cooking process and ingredients she learned from her mom to just 4 seasonings. She boasts, “Once you master that, you’re able to create hundreds of your own variations.”
What sets her cooking class apart from traditional cooking classes is how she demonstrates the beauty of improvising which go beyond slavishly following recipes or hunting down specific ingredients.
Her mantra:
“You don’t need a recipe for weeknight cooking. Buy what’s seasonal and fresh, mix and match and you’re a Wok Star!”
Mealtimes shouldn’t be a rushed experience with takeout or mindless microwaved meals. For Eleanor, cooking sparks fond and delicious memories of cooking with her mom and sisters ending with lively conversations around the dining table.
Because there were so many misconceptions about wok cooking, Eleanor put together four essential elements in a Wok Star Kit: a lightweight, cast iron wok, the kind her mom taught her to cook with. A portable butane gas stove which provides high heat, indispensable for success. She also includes quality seasonings in a handy caddy basket, so when you’re tired and hungry, dinner comes together quickly and easily.
For those unable to attend a physical class, Eleanor has digital classes you can access online. She’s thrilled with 5 star reviews like, "Everything is clearly explained with logical rationals. I love how Eleanor explains why she does each step. Very informative and personal. Also, knowing 'why' makes it easier to remember. It's like each step comes with short appropriate tips.”
She finds the most rewarding aspect of what she does is hearing success stories from people who say her approach to cooking changed their lives, it’s the best compliment you could ever ask for. It’s hearing wonderful feedback like these that keep her going, “Your Wok Kit was tremendous with helping me revise my eating.
I do believe that it played a significant part in my weight loss and healthier eating habits and for that I am very thankful to you.” Dave, architect.
From busy working professionals to people who avoided cooking, her goal is to introduce the world to the joys of cooking without recipes or measuring and she guarantees once you try it, you’ll be hooked!
Cooking teacher, creator Wok Star Kit, blogger, you-tuber, Udemy instructor eh@eleanorhoh.com
305-318-5769