Wrap Your Own Zongzi: A Dragon Boat Festival Tradition
June 20 @ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Celebrate culture and community through food with Tommy Ly, owner of Old Town’s GeekEasy and Stumptown Otaku, in this hands-on zongzi (粽子) workshop for the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu Jie, 端午節), all in the beautiful surrounding of Lan Su Chinese Garden!
Participants will learn to make Hong Kong-style pork belly zongzi, a savory sticky rice dumpling filled with pork belly, split mung beans, and traditional seasonings, then wrapped in fragrant bamboo leaves. Tommy will guide you through the folding, shaping, and tying techniques that give zongzi their iconic form and aroma.
With his accessible, no-stress teaching style, Tommy creates a welcoming space for beginners and experienced home cooks alike to learn, laugh, and reconnect with a beloved Chinese festival food.
Perfect for beginners or anyone looking to reconnect with a beloved Chinese festival food.
Key Details
- Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026
- Session Option 1: 12:00–1:00 PM
- Session Option 2: 1:30–2:30 PM
- Capacity: 15 participants per session
- Pricing: Members $20 / General $38
What You’ll Learn
- The cultural significance of zongzi and the Dragon Boat Festival
- Traditional bamboo and lotus leaf wrapping techniques
- How to fold, shape, and tie zongzi
- Tips for cooking and enjoying zongzi at home
What’s Included
- One-hour hands-on instruction
- All ingredients and materials
- Pork belly, sticky rice, and split mung bean fillings
- Bamboo and lotus leaves for wrapping
- Take-home handmade zongzi
- Same-day admission to Lan Su Chinese Garden
Meet the Instructor
Tommy Ly is the founder of Stumptown Otaku and GeekEasy, a beloved anime cafe right here in Portland’s Old Town. A passionate, self-taught chef, Tommy’s food philosophy is simple: flavor and joy matter more than strict perfection or pretense. He built his businesses from the ground up through grit and a deep love for his neighborhood, frequently using his kitchen to support local elders and community members during crises. Tommy brings a playful, engaging, and highly authentic energy to his cooking, teaching students that the best meals are the ones made with a genuine heart and shared with others.
Parking & Directions
Free Lan Su Parking
There is free first come, first served parking in our sister lot next to the garden at 424 NW Third Avenue. Additional metered parking and garages are available on surrounding streets.
