4 Levels of Dumplings: Amateur to Food Scientist | Epicurious

We challenged chefs of three different skill levels - amateur John, home cook Charlene, and professional chef King Phojanakong from the Institute of Culinary Education - to make a batch of dumplings. Once each chef had presented their creations, we asked food scientist Rose to explain their choices. Which one of these piquant potstickers are you sticking your fork in first?
Check out Chef King's pork soup dumpling recipe on the ICE blog: www.ice.edu/blog/best-soup-du...
Rose can be found on Instagram at @rosemarytrout_foodscience
Follow Chef King at @kumainn_uminom
Want to see more of Charlene's cooking? @thebaodega
John is on social at @johndlopresto
Follow the Institute of Culinary Education here! @iceculinary
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4 Levels of Dumplings: Amateur to Food Scientist | Epicurious

[@coasterlamby3206]

Level 0 chef: so here we have our pack of frozen dumplings

[@meldonuk4101]

Coaster Lamby it’s me. I’m the 0 level chef

[@gayfanta9254]

Level -1 chef: *didn't show up*

[@meggiemegggs]

Lol!

[@chsenmachi9337]

level -1 brings takeout from a chinese restaurant

[@coasterlamby3206]

@@chsenmachi9337 haha

[@banananiel3615]

Only reason shes level 2 is that she’s not a “professional”. But her skills are definitely up there. She sounds like she knows her culture, so authentic

[@chinmaymathur7000]

Agreed

[@Hope12Grace90]

yesss, at my place I would see her pork and shrimp dumplings in an upscale Chinese restaurant

[@jeffedwards5811]

she sounds hot

[@birdnowings5794]

Jerry Chan different regions and families have different ingredients for food.

[@keyuzhu515]

@@jerrychan186 Basically you can put everything you want in real dumplings as long as it make sense. :) Depends on family habit and regions they live.

[@tomf3150]

Level 1: Gyoza Level 2: dumpling Level 3: Xiaolongbao.

[@catgotbored6892]

Lol

[@noby_huangkonghsiong]

Correct. All of it is what they made.

[@Zeraryy]

jianjiaozi jiaozi tangbaozi xialongbao have the consistency of baozi if it's thin layer then it's not xiaolongbao

[@ivanchaw7927]

Yes

[@nolanshen2773]

@@Zeraryy The outside of a xiao long bao is like a jiaozi. A soup dumpling with a bao-like outside is a shengjianbao

[@ollytown9228]

I love the fact that the level 1 guy is so happy and confident about what he's doing, even if he knows he's not a professional by any means

[@spookyara537]

Cooking should make you happy. Most home cooks aren’t anywhere near toward the other two and are more along the lines of level 1. I could probably make homemade pasta and stuff if I really wanted to, but let’s be honest, most of us aren’t gonna go out of our way to bother with it.

[@theaitokyo]

@@spookyara537 i’m actually a home cook and use level 2’s methods kinda similarly. the donut shape method when cut the dough, waiting for 15 min after forming the dough then covering it for an hour. very legit. i used a recipe online and have been for two years now. works everytime and very simple to follow. i’ve also wanted to try making homemade pasta but don’t wanna whole eggy mess on my counter in case i fail lol. but it’s fairly easy i’ve seen / heard. maybe one day.

[@ayaa.1351]

"by any means"

[@douglasmijangos3327]

“ Im looking for a good sizzle… ohh we’re not there yet “ 😂

[@lisacastano1064]

@@theaitokyo I use a pasta serving bowl to make pasta in since they are pretty shallow it works great.

[@NA-jx2bf]

I like Charlene. She's a nice change of pace. Please bring her back.

[@michaelzdanis3979]

She also has some quality knife skills

[@TichinaSalem]

I loved her too ! Super chill and knowledgeable, I hope we see more of her

[@katl8825]

Hope the staff doesn’t pigeonhole her and make the same mistake they did with Bon Appetit on Epi.

[@abellang843]

plus she's really cute

[@noby_huangkonghsiong]

Damn, she is like the "Lao Ban Niang 老板娘" (Boss lady) of a dumpling shop owner. Promote her to Level Three!

[@joeyzze]

Charlene is a level 3 masquerading as a level 2. She has the best knife skills of any level 2

[@Crushenator500]

Her mixing and kneading was on point too.

[@bl6973]

joeyzze 3:42 Really uniform 4:13 She has a really tight claw grip

[@samantharosas9605]

Probably because it’s something she grew up with :)

[@whattheflyingpigs]

all I could think about the entire video! She's so good omg

[@milessampson218]

Cuper Higueras you would probably need a wide variety of recipes memorized and years of experience to be a real chef

[@kevinw9507]

Charlene easily a level 2.5 dumpling chef, bordering on 3, for bringing out her own chili oil and the way she rolls out the dough, and fills and folds her dumplings. Her way of cooking and making her dumplings speaks to me on so many levels. She should return for the other 4 Levels series when it comes to Chinese dishes, *_if_* she feels comfortable making them

[@roguefever]

The way she mixed the filling was super authentic too; she mixed it only in one direction, which aligns the muscle fibers to give the filling a more tender mouthfeel. King did not. King's assembly technique was also extremely lacking, imo. Kind of sad that no one did any dat, though. Or at least, it wasn't shown.

[@cryptolio5273]

Spoiler: Everyone's dumplings were amazing and they all tasted good and everyone had an emotional experience from them. Lesson learned: all dumplings are good dumplings

[@liammenchaca8860]

You seem like a good dumpling

[@fuc8896]

I have 2 words that will make you statement false Ketchup dumpling

[@connorbraun7305]

@@fuc8896 emily IRL

[@Pomagranite167]

Love dumplings, they are the light of my life

[@Usaid47]

How adorable!

[@___l.]

Level 1: I love dumplings and I wanted to make them myself. Level 2: I am basically the younger version of a grandma Level 3: I taught my grandma this dumping

[@yara1896]

Level 4: I'm the grandma

[@lychee4560]

@sehhi vooty LMAO

[@enviedpariah1277]

mystic blueee level 4: Frank

[@jotrinity3144]

LMAO

[@mansourkuanyshev3022]

You taught your grandma how to dump? Man are you in your own mind?

[@catboyryaem]

first time seeing charlene. hope they bring her back, i like her.

[@andrewthezeppo]

I liked her a lot

[@calebagee7543]

You're wrong

[@Zeal-sf3tj]

You like her or you LIKE her

[@cire1963]

I didn’t even know her name lol

[@catboyryaem]

@@Zeal-sf3tj well im a lesbian so.

[@hughtran9084]

Charlene is actually a level 3 when it comes to dumplings because you can tell she grew up making them. Not only can she make dumplings based off of pure experience, her technique is a traditional Chinese technique used by many people. You can see that her dumpling wrappers are much rounder and consistent the the actual level 3 chef

[@Petrico94]

I like how it cuts between different methods "Because we're using home made dough we don't need water to help the dumpling stick" Back to the lvl1 "I'm going to moisten the edges of our store bought wrappers with some water..."

[@CalvinMousse]

Level 1: Fried Gyoza with little filling Level 2: Traditional Chinese Dumpling Level 3: Chinese Steamed Bun, Xiaolongbao

[@ivanchaw7927]

Yes

[@urmpm3901]

Chlamydia Anims LOL

[@user-ft9tw9zw5p]

①锅贴 ②水饺 ③非正宗汤包🐶

[@gaialyn3898]

@@user-ft9tw9zw5p 这解释真是太牛逼了，赞

[@CalvinMousse]

@@user-ft9tw9zw5p 我觉得他的灌汤包看着有点像烧卖

[@ShroomFairy]

Bring Charlene back, she is the epitome of home cooking. Don't tell Lorenzo that, he might throw bacon at ya.

[@sapodetenis]

Throw butter

[@HelgaCavoli]

@@sapodetenis, butter reminds me of Gabriela.

[@quip5476]

Lorenzo is annoying. Keep Charlene

[@morgankay2471]

LORENZO WHAT A QUEEN

[@london3280]

Qui P Bruh how dare u

[@Spoofehness]

I feel like this episode more than any other; Level 2 and pro chef are actually on the same level but in different contexts. Until Chef King got to the soup (the pigs feet had a delightful street food vibe) I felt like Charlene was giving the authentically best recipe. Though she's young she has probably made dumplings specifically as many times as Chef King has, since she would have spent a number of years making these as a toddler with a parent or grandparent, and very little else until older; compared to King with his (presumably) later start and MUCH broader skill study. I felt like I could have been hearing Charlene from my 90yo Japanese friend when she describes and self-narrates as she makes Gyoza. It felt like a closer experience than Chef King.

[@maggiejetson7904]

This, dumpling is Charlene's turf.

[@francescogiacomopelagatti8221]

If you pay attention, you can in fact acknowledge that Charlene is the only one amongst the three who s not adding garlic to the filling. And that s the traditional Chinese way, as no garlic generally goes in to the filling of Chinese dumpling (a lot of ppl munch on raw garlic cloves while eating dumlings or noodles there). Also xiaolongbao (traditional Shangainese soup dumpling), King s recipe, usually don't contain garlic. Charlene was the best at dumplings, she had the right moves, the right techniques and definitely a strong cultural background.

[@rowanmelton7643]

@@francescogiacomopelagatti8221 Do we know what ethnic background King is from? Often times cultural background will trump being a professional. I'd trust a shepherd's pie made by a British grandma more than one made by a French chef any day

[@francescogiacomopelagatti8221]

@@rowanmelton7643 i once read it, but can't remember now. Think Hawaiian or some other place with strong japanese cooking background, but for sure not chinese afaik. Anyway i have friends in shanghai (xialongbao come from there) and they all agree that garlic isn't a typical ingredient. Same goes form my northern Chinese friends (northern China as the best and most famous tradition when it comes to jiaozi, guotie and all sort of dumplings on general), they all agree that garlic is a Japanese thing. They all say that garlic ruins the balance of the filling with its overpowering aroma.

[@cd-zw2tt]

​@@francescogiacomopelagatti8221pork and chive (jiu cai) Dumpling tho >>>>>

[@henryhernandez5392]

The way the girl rolls her dough is way better than the way the chef does

[@eugenelee7620]

Charlenes dumplings and the way she makes them is legit.

[@queenpushycat]

The moment I see her rolling and pulling the dough to a large donut kind... that's legit.

[@ryanboscoe9670]

Yeah I don't know what the chef guy was doing. His rolling was absolutely shameful!

[@edipasplays]

That was legitness

[@gjfwang]

Its actually restaurant dumplings she's making. They even did a role reversal where king said he's got ground pork and charleen's said you CAN use ground pork but she likes some special imported pork, lol.

[@mukundyadav6913]

She's Asian of course she's legit

[@alexislaforte6749]

The level three chefs be like “I’ve been a chef for 29 years” and DON’T even look old even to have been cooking that long😭

[@aldzank5728]

20 yrs*

[@lucielm]

@@aldzank5728 Good food means they eat healthy which leaves to them looking and feeling younger.

[@ryanbrown9007]

Frank was forged prior to the beginning of the universe and began cooking shortly afterwards

[@MondeSerenaWilliams]

Well, considering the fact that he started cooking since birth, he's not even thirty yet.

[@chinmaymathur7000]

Usually chefs start around 20 on average so if they have been cooking for 30yrs they would be around 50 do the math

[@MintyMacha]

Here, after hearing the sad new. Chef King will be missed but never forgotten for his contribution to so many videos.

[@sayedanafisatabassum2162]

what is he dead???

[@b.k.9797]

@@sayedanafisatabassum2162 yes.

[@marshy_5406]

hek level 2's dough rolling skill is so underrated. that method of turning and rolling is so heking hard and she just does it so effortlessly

[@Popcornworthymovies]

As soon as you see the level 3 chef you just know he’s an absolute monster at making dumplings

[@Popcornworthymovies]

Maricopa_Today he’s been a chef for over 20 years lmao

[@kellysthilaire]

Of course. It's King. He is a King!

[@mitchellapple9184]

Maricopa_Today cause he’s fat. At least 2/3 are Asian, maybe all three.

[@Popcornworthymovies]

Mitchell Apple didn’t really ask if he was fat or not

[@MondeSerenaWilliams]

@@mitchellapple9184 John is half-Chinese.

[@donfaustino2010]

She learned how to make dumplings when she was 5 the audacity to consider her level 2 🤣🤣🤣

[@giornogiovanna4602]

She probably knows more recipes not just dumplings they won't bring someone randomly and put them as lvl 2 chef

[@andrewthezeppo]

She's level 2 because cooking is not her profession. Doesn't mean she doesn't have skill and experience.

[@qingnanduan8180]

@@andrewthezeppo yeah also she doesn't work at the education institution xD

[@nut9978]

Qingnan Duan ok

[@nut9978]

potato ok

[@mzadro7]

**cooking part starts** John and Charlene: “and now the most fun part” King: “well this isn’t the most fun part, the eating is the most fun part” CAN A PERSON BE A SPIRIT ANIMAL?

[@TerrorLTZ]

i feel King is my Partner i never knew...

[@hatdog4868]

Everyone simpin' on chef level 2😂

[@jackni2435]

duh, who wouldn’t

[@RichardZhang-nh5vo]

King looks like if Lorenzo was a pokémon that evolved

[@thehorsesnamewasfriday8695]

LOL

[@ryanspencerlauderdale687]

HAHAHA you win LOL

[@edith1315]

OMG 😂😂😂😂

[@liacampus5057]

😂😂😂

[@imdanhello]

Munchlax to Snorlax

[@YukoValis]

If his Grandma is anything like mine, John's grandma is probably watching this going "John why can't you find a nice girl like that level 2?"

[@PotatoAficionado-ol5vg]

But my dude John here gay 😂

[@janson2911]

@@PotatoAficionado-ol5vg that's the point

[@MrAranton]

She knows how smoot a baby's butt is. Since nowadays it's inappropriate anybody but the parents to touch the butt of a baby, the only way to know that well enough to use it as a base for comparison is to be a parent - which means: Charlene's probably off the market.

[@YukoValis]

@@PotatoAficionado-ol5vg lol some grand/parents just don't understand. : )

[@calehenituse161]

​@@MrAranton it could've been her siblings or she was babysitting? I mean even I touch baby's butts when I babysit my cousins ._.

[@LaraKrystle]

Ooooff Epicurious removed the "how to fold every dumpling video" dang They should have Charlene make every single dumpling fold

[@secretdiaryofafoodie]

I was looking for that video! Thanks for saving me the time 😂

[@blaisemomin1106]

Ooof

[@theaitokyo]

probably bc all the horrible comments lol

[@SB_whatevers]

Charlene is amazing. Does she have her own channel? Ps. The way she mixed the meat is important. A vigorous hand mix of the filling works up and distributes the collagen in the meat and helps the filling stick together.

[@111zeldamaster]

Charlene; an overnight hit in the epicurious community.

[@lipukkarmacharya1660]

Lol

[@MossyMozart]

@Alison chyns - I like John, too. He brings joy and will learn over time.

[@milfcommander428]

If Lorenzo Was Here He'd Be Putting Bacon In The Dumplings

[@one_wing6622]

and laugh about it like a psycho

[@deliquate]

and there would be butter everywhere

[@ashpaton7979]

And Emily instead of sauce she would use ketchup 😂

[@temir8081]

Penny wouldve used rum

[@arcane-toad]

by Panic! at the disco

[@HinaWolf]

As soon as i saw he made the gelatin broth i was like : "omg that explosion of flavor you'll get from one bite...omg omg omg omg"

[@kettlebellwafer]

Having grown up cooking dumplings all my life... frying in a pan (potstickers) is actually the most difficult cooking method. Especially in a stainless steel pan. It takes more strategy and attention than boiling or steaming. Kudos to John.

[@lisacastano1064]

I figured out a hack for them when I was about 12 lol. I use a heavy pan with a lid that fits oil the cold pan put in the dumplings add a little over 1/4 inch of water and turn it on medium high with the lid on and just cook them until the water evaporates and the bottoms get crispy.

[@MNightR32]

Level 0 Chef: Alright, first we unseal the packet and heat it in the oven...

[@thewatermelonkid1337]

LMAO

[@mentaloutonline9876]

Level 0: So you go to a chinese restaurant and order some dumplings

[@fangslash]

>dumplings in the oven, now this how real lv0 chef works

[@danielagustian9369]

*microwave not oven for the B E S T level 0.

[@bichen-up-ur]

86Drifter oVeN???

[@applecider7792]

Pls bring back Charlene for more episodes- she’s refreshing to watch ngl 😂

[@dyahputri9301]

And she's such a good cook too, she totally knew what she was doing

[@user-be3ik4hv2h]

Who is Charlene again

[@bl6973]

She’s so down to earth

[@beckwithtl]

She was like a total pro, especially with those chopping skills.

[@davidreynolds4004]

Yess

[@agudam]

I absolutely loved everyone in this video, which is rare. All of them have such different personalities and points of view. The level 3 chef was quite down to earth, and the level 1 chef was relatable. Level 2 was more like level 3, but I loved her humility.

[@NERO-ez1mn]

the girl savaged the chef a lot more than we expected. she is educated and cultured. SHE NAILED IT HARD.

[@arietty4769]

The level two chef sounds like a happy depressed person

[@yokun1885]

ONE OF US

[@qt31415]

if i were her id cook dumplings daily since she said it makes her happy..

[@chinmaymathur7000]

Asians can relate

[@HorsePuncher]

That’s the Asian experience for ya

[@oldcowbb]

you mean normal asian

[@peterthepanda]

Frank is not here because is still raising his pigs and growing his own garlic and ginger.

[@captainmaria3037]

Don’t forget him growing his own wheat with mineral water from the Himalayas and then proceeding to wait and harvest and milling it himself to the perfect grain thiccness.

[@Biohacker777]

@@captainmaria3037 And growing his own bamboo in his garden to harvest for best bamboo steamer, giving fresh and earthly flavor to sip in, interlocking it himself to produce perfect holes for water evaporation

[@aproudsupporterofgaykingsa4701]

@@Biohacker777 wait you forgot him crafting his own hand made butcher knife to really accentuate the flavor and richness of his freshly cut poultry

[@abidali4527]

What about him being born first

[@theadvancedfloof3514]

Yep, then the level 3 chef stole his pigs feet LOL

[@herovandiejen1479]

Who else is here after Uncle Rogers video and thinks the level 2 girl should get the expert status!

[@sarawinardi6745]

Me!!!

[@TitoRAM]

The lady is more level up than the chef... Thanks to Uncle Roger.

[@herovandiejen1479]

Oke guys I tried to make dumplings myself today to see if uncle Roger was right and if the expert chef was really that bad. Yes. Yes he is. The whole rolling while turning technique is super simple and the folding takes a couple of tries to get it perfectly symmetrical and neat but it's pretty doable! Is say give the girl the chef's uniform!

[@sarawinardi6745]

I admit. I am not an expert. I am just speaking out of what I seen dumpling masters do and how they roll the dough. The girl’s technique matches that of the pros

[@davidsu7283]

King just got destroyed there... I've replied to Uncle Roger with this video. Hopefully he sees Charlene's skills!

[@ariannaharley11]

Are we not gonna address how absolutely adorable the amateur cook is? He is so cute

[@dennysdonuts4918]

Charlene is too pretty and calming to not have her come back, Epicurious.

[@potatodog3363]

Who said she wasn’t?

[@akash1playboy]

The level 2 chef has a ridiculously calming voice.

[@abhaysaurav7499]

She could be the best narrator for books parents use to put their children to sleep

[@leviaustin880]

Agreed

[@GREATLFG]

You get too used to Lorenzo....We all are

[@idrisie6720]

Just like she said, like baby's butt

[@Nimesay1]

Love John.. good to see him back. Charlene is a good addition. Like her calm way of explaining things.

[@scratchthat5454]

See how the Home cook has better technique and is better in general than the Pro Chef

[@evaqiu871]

Coming from a chinese home, I can say that the level 2 girl probably knows more about dumplings than level 3, just the way she folds and the techniques she uses are really the traditional way

[@charlostainsawshades6962]

But at 11:30 she said "even all those years chopsticks is still sometimes a struggle" which means she's not 100% experienced with traditional

[@tiffanyliu5567]

Lvl 3 made a completely different type of dumping ?

[@thewarden8239]

That is what level 3 chefs (professionals) would always do (in here) . They always experiment their dishes, always giving unique touches that brings theirs far, FAR AWAY from the traditional. But there are some who didn't go too far.

[@LetOutMilk]

Z e r a O r a nahhh just different types of dumplings, both are very traditional. The soup dumplings are just very time consuming to make and usually Chinese families don’t make them at home.

[@thewarden8239]

@@LetOutMilk thats why i said chefs are always bringing elegance to their dishes making it far from the traditional. Like the chef from the cake edition; she added edible gold to her cake. Or palak in her "everyday luxury scrambled eggs".

[@mayaramiquidade3439]

I like how level 2 was very authentic and she was informative at every step. Please bring her back.

[@jasmine_pangilinan]

Mayara Miquidade same tots

[@qt31415]

i felt love with her cooking. its just sad lorenzo and her share the lvl 2 category.

[@nikc101]

Indeed

[@qt31415]

@@angeronalove5799 I like that idea I hope they implement this.

[@andrewsoon8062]

Charlene rolls the dough like a pro and mixed that meat in one direction. She makes King look like level 2.

[@liufrancis3584]

Honestly Charlene is the best, every single step that she does reminds me of the way my mom makes dumplings.

[@lazy_potato]

Level 2 Chef: * Trying to explain why she doesn't prefer searing her dumplings * CUTS TO Level 1 Chef: OILLL

[@mon6745]

Lolololololol

[@LexiconOne]

It's so annoying and feels a bit rude though doing those cuts in the middle of their explanations. Almost off putting

[@gatwirikinyua5694]

That was legit hilarious! Or the part where she is like since the dough is fresh,you don't need water to seal it.....skips to level 1!!

[@kylewalker9007]

Oil is why searing/sauteeing them is not optimal.

[@PostItsDead]

@@LexiconOne while annoying, it was the answer to why. it was actually a smart seg-way to go back to level 1

[@leonpink9980]

This level 2 is so far from being level one that it makes John seem helpless lmao

[@zanelcamielle]

Lets be honest.... he usually is. 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

[@definitelynosebreather]

Unfortunately, yes. This was one of the only videos it seemed a level 1 and two level 3

[@melbell0865]

Her’s are like the unofficial level 3: no restaurant experience or formal education, but plenty of experience from the institute of grandma’s kitchen.

[@agunemon]

Give her a white coat and she could easily call herself a level 3 and we wouldnt even notice it. hahahaha

[@MrLeehanmin0512]

to be honest she is truly level 3 chef. King's dumplings are not made as beautifully as hers.

[@bweeeeniee1131]

They're the most chill combination in this series and I love it :>

[@allycy_]

king is honestly not that experienced in dumpling making. i can tell bc i'm a hongkonger and i grow up eating dumplings everyday. xiaolongbao is the most challenging dumping to make (even harder than western tortellini in my opinion) as the folding part takes years to master and you can easily find clips of properly made xiaolongbao on youtube. you can clearly tell a difference. plus how king rolls the round wrapper in a round shape seems more amateur than i do. just genuine facts i promise. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hX7IiKmFh9eUrs0 here's a professional making xiaolongbao just fyi

[@aiamiyoru2294]

Dude i cant find uncle rogers vidéo anymore

[@michaellyndon6982]

@@allycy_ Probably ICE not wanting to look bad

[@allycy_]

@@aiamiyoru2294 he deleted it because it's a collab video w mikechan and mikechan has openly criticised the china communist for their countless wrongdoings like concentration camps, tiananmen square incident, hong kong democracy protests.... uncle roger wrote an apology letter basically addressing the fact that he loves china and disagrees with mikechan. all in for the rmb (chinese currency). shameful guy.

[@diannt9583]

@@allycy_ yes, and I unsubscribed from my ex-uncle roger after that.

[@daniel-gh6oi]

Nicki minaj is the queen of rap

[@danielewen9338]

Average Asian can relate

[@imahuman3968]

I already know she plays the piano

[@watson5967]

I’m a Human or violin

[@Marco-sm9bu]

Richerd Lin probably both

[@chinmaymathur7000]

Yeah we can relate

[@datzinner6651]

lemme get this straight, she's literally the perfect asian child any asian parent could ask for.

[@wargeneral0659]

And she is the one that our parent compare to

[@luvmia97blogspot]

You barely know her 🙄

[@standingstare]

this is a lame played out racist joke

[@haroldhenderson2824]

If Charlene were MY daughter, I could send her to college and be certain that she will able to feed herself (and have friends). My actual daughter did learn to cook dumplings, but still calls about making beef soup.

[@youngdumbandeverythinginbe4680]

standingstare you are obviously not asian

[@sophtheloaf4393]

Charlene is so calming to listen to, I'd want to learn to cook from her (and taste her dumplings, they look so good!)

[@marinanottheboatplace3809]

Level two has obviously worked in a kitchen or just has amazing knife skills and I’m proud of her. YOU GO GIRL

[@opman3510]

Frank's not here because he's busy making his own kitchen

[@liqmm]

My man is recreating an ecosystem

[@romankarol5370]

How are these comments still getting likes...

[@yokun1885]

@@romankarol5370 because Frank is the God Emperor of the Epicurious fanbase along with Lorenzo the "Heaven's Mandate", Emily the "Ketchup Goddess" and Stephen or as like to call him "Cheesy the Cheesecake".

[@romankarol5370]

@@yokun1885 Don't doubt that, this "Frank grows his universe" meme is just wayy too overused. But anyways, praise our Saviors

[@jww5335]

@@yokun1885 Don't forget about Rose!

[@DanielRamirez-hq4tf]

The level 2 chef’s tone of voice gives me Bob Ross vibes

[@sophiaz9081]

It’s so calming I love it

[@sangamithirai2817]

He was was

[@user-rm5dc4vw7y]

@@sangamithirai2817 uh u mean she

[@venomancer5736]

Bob ross was a legend even tho i didnt grew up watching him

[@TheShonFieldShow]

I wish epicurious would release each one as an individual video. I would love to follow both chef 2 and 3 in their entirety!

[@nysesgoh9628]

Through out all these comments, I just wanna say good job Charlene, and thanks for making dumplings that everybody miss.❤

[@shnad9880]

Bit disappointed they never went with a Chinese grandma for the level 3 chef

[@larawabsie]

same ngl

[@apolled1312]

Lmao that would suck for anybody recreating it😂 she would be like “just add some water and mix it until it look like this and then take the filling that has pork and some other stuff and stuff it about this much”

[@rosarah7592]

correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like all level 3 chef came from the Institute of Culinary Education

[@shnad9880]

@@rosarah7592 Saul (my personal favourite chef of all levels) isn't from ICE I think

[@rosarah7592]

@@shnad9880 remember which episode he(or she) did? maybe I missed that one coz I can't even recall the name (/ω＼)

[@Makron5]

She's at least level 2.5 if she's bringing in ingredients like that.

[@theadvancedfloof3514]

exactly

[@AyushJrKrusade216Holders]

Frank(if present): First we begin by grinding a homemade mill for flour with wheat brought in all the way from Africa.

[@sapphire5252]

At 9:01 when charlene was talking I loved how the music stopped when the level 1 chef was on cam

[@100nitrog2]

We all know why Frank and Lorenzo weren't here. Clearly, they did the fusion dance and became King.

[@KAditya93]

🤣😂

[@100nitrog2]

@Lee Thomas How do you sit down with all that butthurt?

[@100nitrog2]

@Lee Thomas That's not you 'pointing out the unfortunate truth'; that's you expressing a massive amount of self-pitying white butthurt.

[@serisothikos]

The captions say she used "[foreign language] pork" but what she said was "hand-minced".

[@indigodeluxe]

clown hours

[@MrBCorp]

Haha good catch.

[@yunamchill9169]

And soupy -> super

[@alondracarreno1376]

That's racist

[@thebluerena]

i didn't use caption... english isn't even my first language but i understand what she said perfectly. i just realised after seeing your comments that she get some mistranslation assuming she used foreign words eventho she speaks english correctly, it's lowkey racist

[@cyfkilla]

RIP King

[@rajmeghwal6035]

Could've easily mistaken Charlene for a Level 3. She is so good!!

[@jeffreychen8443]

"Basically every member of my family does it differently" As someone who's family also makes dumplings pretty often, I really feel that statement

[@janetsolanodiaz2916]

I love how the camera cuts to John doing the opposite she says😂

[@nLouh]

I love king so much he's the only level 3 chef that actually smiles and looks happy doing this

[@geralynlovell5616]

RIP Chef King. 👨‍🍳

[@imakemeanxious2744]

Is this girl new? I don’t recognize her BUT I REALLY LIKE HER!!!

[@kassakakasan8969]

Yes, this is the first time she appears.

[@mon6745]

Yeah- I hope they bring her back

[@thatnigerianprince8671]

SIMP! (joking btw unless you have a crush on her)

[@fggtgg6122]

Ikr shes really adorable

[@kevindurant7413]

simp moments

[@crishmilerl6054]

Sometimes we need a little Charlene to bring down life to a calm level, but how dare you cut her off.

[@geekylesbian7440]

rip King. guy was one of my culinary inspirations.

[@meIatonin]

HE DIED?!

[@pete389man8]

Charlene is so awesome. Calm, beautiful, and interesting. Great cook!

[@anchu63]

Every Asian is watching intensely and judging this

[@funkiebutch9690]

I'm intensely judge the level 3 chef. I'm happy with the level 2 ones. That's the correct way (for me) to do it.

[@skimshady510]

Most Asians that I know: This takes way too much time. Buy a bag of frozen dumplings from the store and get on with your life.

[@Smortn]

Well every west Slav is watching this and saying to himself - this has nothing to do with dumplings

[@laurenngng]

You are correct

[@zaixuan9932]

i didnt realize i was paying so much attention till i read this lmao

[@eddiesustarsic4066]

“Now we are going to work on our aromatics for our stock” Proceeds to murder onions with a cleaver

[@joflo1066]

I was waiting for someone to mention how ruthless he is with a cleaver

[@parsanasirzadeh2733]

I’m dying 😂😂😂🤣🤣

[@BuzzLiteBeer]

Honestly, as experienced as the pro chef is, he's definitely a novice at soup dumplings. He did not seem to know proper pleating and essentially made a closed shumai instead. While I'm sure it's delicious, no one in their right mind would serve that at a restaurant. Charlene takes the cake here IMO. She understands the rationale behind all the techniques, uses a relatively traditional filling, and has clear solid pleating technique.

[@excuseme5086]

I love the level 1 dude, he's so funny and satirical, like a cartoon.

[@raychang8648]

I really appreciate how the Level 4 host is not condescending toward the different levels of chefs, but emphasizes their good points. Excellent video!

[@Nomadic813]

the level 4 is a misnomer. Knowing the science behind something doesn't make you a better cook. It's a cool perspective to have, but cooking is alchemy, not science.

[@jamesgarrod214]

@@Nomadic813 understanding food science definitely helps with cooking, especially creating recipes. Look at ‘the food lab’ for example

[@sergel02]

@@Nomadic813 I don’t really get how cooking isn’t science? I mean science explains how things are cooked and why chemically and physically.

[@Nomadic813]

​@@sergel02 Food can be science. But I would argue science is hardly the most important thing about it. Food is also about community, emotion, and care. (a home cooked meal from a loved one will be more enjoyable and be more nourishing than one that is made by a machine who uses perfect technical execution.) That is to say it means something when we know someone has put love and care into food. And this is not just mushy talk, but speaks to physiological effects of mental health and social needs. And food is culture, creativity, and communication. Good food tells the story of the people who make it, and creates a relationship with you who eats it. It doesn't matter necessarily that the food be "perfectly cooked". Although it doesn't hurt either. Also consider how unsuccessful molecular gastronomy has been as a movement in food. Even though boasting the use of science to maximize technical aspects, it's never caught on to be any more than a niche fad. I would argue because it is deliberately disconnected from community and history.

[@leonhardable]

@@Nomadic813 make molecular gastronomy affordable and it will skyrocket, take bubble tea for example. im torn on your standpoint with science, but i agree that the lv4 never is actually a lv4. if you gave me 20 minutes of wikipedia i could tell you all the stuff she does, yet level 2&3 chefs would still destroy me.

[@kevinjimmyjohnsonwang7141]

“Basically every member of my family does it differently” My mom crafts perfect dumplings, meanwhile I’m making calzones out here

[@thebusybeanhomecafe4035]

Mmm italian

[@mychelle_michie]

this is so true

[@MossyMozart]

@Kevin Jimmy Johnson Wang - Ha! .^_^.

[@arielalexis5533]

mom, I’m in love with a level 2 chef

[@blsharpley]

Once again, I’d pick level 2s. Those look amazing!

[@jjjjjj402]

Can't decide on whether to trust King or Charlene more...

[@sephestra.]

Definitely trust both. They made different dumplings which were based on traditional ingredients/techniques for what each one made.

[@squirey]

Charlene because she knows the secret to a perfect dumpling is stirring the filling in only one direction to align the protein!

[@teresamcmurrin8672]

Why not both? 😉

[@letao12]

They are both excellent and authentic recipes. Even the level 1 recipe is good if you're looking for something simple.

[@jsobrino]

Xiao long bao is one of my favorite things ever so I gotta go w King

[@richardwidjaja5254]

If Emily was here, she would make a ketchup dumpling

[@grimmseti]

..and that is why she is not here.

[@kenedyt.9673]

Catat Goo I am disgusted .... 😂😂😂

[@rudyjesusalaibilla5226]

Emily is improving though

[@joelyip4292]

Im just glad Stephen isn't here. He'd put a cheesecake into the dumplings.

[@notasimplesponge]

Dipped in ketchup 😭

[@ef4947]

Epicurious I think you mixed up the level 2 and 3 chefs. Correction, i'm 100% sure level 2 is better.

[@hatagikoanswers3673]

The Level 3 chef is the one being roasted for making ugly dumplings in Uncle Roger's video 😂😂😂

[@zynm610]

Bro, he does not know how to make dumplings traditionally. As an asian, the way he makes them hurts me. Level 1 is better.

[@zynm610]

@Jai AUJLA I know that, still, the way he makes them are ugly.

[@22martinez1]

And not only that it has very little filling and the dough was too thick which is sad.

[@arobloxtard.6211]

As a Chinese, the napa cabbages is a good addition to both dumplings and the decoration. Although the way he makes the dumpling is bad, i think the taste wouldn't be that bad because of the pig feet soup gelatin inside which gives a really rich flavor to it. I personally like the dumplings that King made but I think Level 2 is better. King's recipe is more complicated so it gives a complex and good flavor to the dumplings.

[@iangp1113]

I feel like a pretty important science fact was left out from Charlene's recipe. Hand mincing and hand mixing the pork in a single direction to build myosin to give it that classic "bouncy" texture without being tough since the meat isn't ground.

[@nanana8928]

Now that I have exams in ten days, seeing anything related to genetics, muscles, nerves, respiratory system, makes me shiver, I actually started trembling when I read myosin

[@v-check]

QQ

[@birchberry9354]

Exactly, it kinda bugged me that that was left put but I also kinda expected it from the beginning

[@perpetuallyconfused2508]

Nana Na haha my exams are in 4 days and I can’t even shiver when I see related things because I have no clue what we’re being tested on💀

[@nanana8928]

@@perpetuallyconfused2508 but the thing is, I'm taking the exam to go to university, we usually prepare for it the whole year and if you don't pass it with a decent grade kiss your future goodbye, so the only reason I'm studying for this one is because it's important otherwise I wouldn't know the topics related to the exam

[@IAmTheStig32]

Can we all appreciate how the man's name is literally King?

[@bweeeeniee1131]

And he's literally a King lol

[@Raydian4]

Search up plainrock124 real name if you are shocked

[@the17thhokage2]

From opm

[@amedilen]

it’s always fun to see how people fold their dumplings, and the different sauces they make for their dumplings

[@jadebethj4807]

I like the Level 2 one. This is my first time making dumplings and I'm going to do this version (after watching a few more videos of course). I'm excited.

[@Lance.2451]

I knew that level 2 was gonna go off by the stirring motion when making the dough, she absolutely killed this recipe

[@nullspectre]

and her working that dough in that ring was top tier!

[@litapd311]

she's like a 2.5 tbh

[@squirey]

And stirring the filling in only one direction instead of mixing. Pro tip.

[@anamahilom8978]

Charlene's mad-skill knife skills and calming voice is top-tier. Bring her back often. I have a new Level 2 favorite, alongside Paps Lorenzo and Gramma Beth. ♥

[@reeiann_]

10:00 The way it cut😭👍

[@emepantti]

Seeing King in a video always lights me up, just absolutely love him!

[@Ax20414]

Charlene is a level 3 chef in the making, for SURE

[@wildshadowstar]

No matter the "level" of each cook, I love watching each one, because you can sometimes see regional or family differences in similar recipes. I also love how they include different level of cooks, or chefs, because anyone can learn to fix the recipe, or aim to level up their game.

[@petersaurusrex9135]

R.I.P King. You will be missed

[@sophiechoy2005]

I feel like charlene is the level three here. You can really tell she grew up making them especially the way she rolls tha wrap lol.

[@yim_e]

exactly, her experience and traditional techniques gained from making dumplings since childhood sets her apart from any professionally trained cook out there