Ep8 - Dumplings with Peiran Gong and Tongtong Ren of Chinese Laundry Room

Peiran Gong and TongTong Ren - owners and chefs of Chinese Laundry Room

Peiran Gong and TongTong Ren - owners and chefs of Chinese Laundry Room

This episode will focus on the Chinese dumpling, and look at how this ancient food is the epitome of a food so steeped in art, history and design that, when done properly, is a little edible works of art. I will focus specifically on jiaozi, guotie, zongzi and wonton dumplings and look at stories of the Silk Road, the Chinese physician Zhang Zhongjing, the poet Qu Yuan and how dumplings, family and festivals are always linked together. I will be talking with Tongtong (Tungtong) Ren and Peiran Gong - the owners and chefs of Chinese Laundry Room. We’ll discuss the originality behind both their restaurant and the path that has taken them from their native China to London. Art by Shaoqiang Chen, Qi Baishi, Nishikie.com, Yiying Lu and more.

Chinese Laundry Squid ink jiaozi dumplings with pork, seaweed and Chinese chive (via IG @chinese_laundryroom)

Chinese Laundry Squid ink jiaozi dumplings with pork, seaweed and Chinese chive (via IG @chinese_laundryroom)

Tonftong making jiaozi dumplings (via IG )@chinese_laundryroom)

Tonftong making jiaozi dumplings (via IG )@chinese_laundryroom)

Tonftong making jiaozi dumplings @chinese_laundryroom)

Tonftong making jiaozi dumplings @chinese_laundryroom)

Chinese Laundry zongzi dumpling for Duanwu Festival (via Twitter @ChinLaundry)

Chinese Laundry zongzi dumpling for Duanwu Festival (via Twitter @ChinLaundry)

Jiaozi dumplings that I made which were then prepared by the wonderful Chinese Laundry Room dumpling course at Carousel London (via IG: @SmyGoodness)

Jiaozi dumplings that I made which were then prepared by the wonderful Chinese Laundry Room dumpling course at Carousel London (via IG: @SmyGoodness)

Wonton dumplings that I made which were then added to tasty broth made by theChinese Laundry Room dumpling course at Carousel London (via IG: @SmyGoodness)

Wonton dumplings that I made which were then added to tasty broth made by theChinese Laundry Room dumpling course at Carousel London (via IG: @SmyGoodness)

Zhang Zhongjing (150-219 AD) famous Chinese physician associated with inventing yiaozi dumplings

Zhang Zhongjing (150-219 AD) famous Chinese physician associated with inventing yiaozi dumplings

Qu Yuan (340–278 BC) painting by Chen Hongshou (1598-1652)

Qu Yuan (340–278 BC) painting by Chen Hongshou (1598-1652)

Shaoqiang Chen - Dumplings and Plum Blossoms featuring jiaozi

Shaoqiang Chen - Dumplings and Plum Blossoms featuring jiaozi

Qi Baishi (1864-1957) Dragon Boat Festival painting featuring zongzi dumplings, 1953

Qi Baishi (1864-1957) Dragon Boat Festival painting featuring zongzi dumplings, 1953

Giant gold dumpling from De Fa Chang in Xi'an courtesy of TwoFatBellies.com visit Virginia and Josh's page for fantastic travel photos and information from China.

Giant gold dumpling from De Fa Chang in Xi'an courtesy of TwoFatBellies.com visit Virginia and Josh's page for fantastic travel photos and information from China.

Chinese gold ingot which is reminiscent of dumpling shape and ties to wealth and prosperity.

Chinese gold ingot which is reminiscent of dumpling shape and ties to wealth and prosperity.

Demons and dumplings - Yosha Bunko Tokyo nichinichi shinbun No. 1045 (1) 1875-06-15/19? (1875-08) © William Wetherall's archive on www.nishikie.com

Demons and dumplings - Yosha Bunko
Tokyo nichinichi shinbun No. 1045 (1) 1875-06-15/19? (1875-08)
© William Wetherall's archive on www.nishikie.com

Guotie dumpling with seared bottoms

Guotie dumpling with seared bottoms

Wonton dumplings

Wonton dumplings

Zongzi with bamboo leaf wrapper

Zongzi with bamboo leaf wrapper

All hands on decks - dumpling making is a family affair

All hands on decks - dumpling making is a family affair

A little pattern i made with dumpling eyes and bowl of rice as a smile.

A little pattern i made with dumpling eyes and bowl of rice as a smile.

Dumpling making course I ran on a Smy Goodness family learning healthy eating workhsop at Comet Children's Centre

Dumpling making course I ran on a Smy Goodness family learning healthy eating workhsop at Comet Children's Centre

A few years back I decided to bundle all my interests together and rebrand from Smy Chutney to Smy Goodness so that all my preserves, crafts, products and workshops could live together in one place. My own podcast seemed a suitable place to uncover, understand and enjoy things related to food, art, history and design. Please do share your stories, knowledge, questions and suggestions. In the Smy Goodness.com podcast section you will find the podcasts and all the items that we are discussing and will have ongoing discussions about each week.

You can also follow Smy Goodness on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. I'd like to thank Ashley Palmer for use of his Roland R-09 and Matteo Borea for creating the music. Thank you for listening.