Community College of Philadelphia - Culinary Arts
1700 Spring Garden StreetJoin Binding Agents, the Community College of Philadelphia and cookbook author Christopher Tan for a baking workshop designed for true oven nerds. This event is presented as part of Sisterly Love Collective's 2026 Cookbooks & Convos festival.
Food writer and cooking teacher Christopher Tan busts the world of baking wide open in his cookbooks, with unique recipes, stories and detailed knead-to-know advice from the deepest corners of a Nerdbaker's mind. Born, raised, and based in Singapore, Christopher's wide-ranging curiosity leads him to experiment with recreating and adapting an astonishing array of savory and sweet baked goods, rooted in Southeast Asian tradition while incorporating ingredients and styles from around the world.
In this workshop, Christopher will demonstrate some of the more interesting kuehs and bakes in his repertoire, sharing technical guidance, cultural context, and personal stories along the way. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn from a world-renowned baking expert and to add one of his extraordinary books (imported from Singapore!) to your cookbook collection!
Your ticket includes admission to the live, interactive demo in the state-of-the-art theater kitchen at the Community College of Philadelphia, along with tastes of finished products. Guests may add a copy of one of Christopher's baking books (Nerdbaker, Nerdbaker 2: Tales from the Yeast Indies, or The Way of Kueh) to their reservations for pickup and signing at the event. Please note book sales will be by pre-order only for this event.
Special thanks to Shiamin Kwa and Bryn Mawr College for making this event possible!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christopher Tan (@thewayofkueh on Instagram) is a Singapore-based, award-winning writer, culinary educator and photographer who has covered matters of food, culture and heritage over 25 years of journalism. His articles, recipes and photos have appeared in local media such as Singapore's Straits Times broadsheet, BiblioAsia magazine and The Peak magazine, and also international media including the New York Times and Saveur magazine. He has given talks and demonstrations at museums and food symposia in Singapore, Australia, France and the USA. Christopher’s book The Way of Kueh, chronicling traditional Singaporean kueh culture, won Best Illustrated Non-Fiction Book and Book of the Year at the 2020 Singapore Book Awards. His most recent book, NerdBaker 2: Tales From the Yeast Indies, is devoted to yeast cookery and fermented foods. He teaches regular cooking classes at Nerd Dapur in Singapore.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF PHILADELPHIA - CULINARY ARTS
The Culinary Arts program at the Community College of Philadelphia leads to an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and provides students with a culinary education that has depth and breadth as well as crucial work experience. The program is designed to expose students to a broad range of career options to which they can add nuance and specificity through their work experience during and after completing the curriculum. Graduates of the program are prepared for positions as chefs, cooks and kitchen workers in restaurants, schools, health care and university food operations, and other institutions.
ABOUT COOKBOOKS & CONVOS
Cookbooks & Convos is an annual festival where cookbook authors and Philadelphia's favorite restaurants and chefs come together for 15+ events over two weeks — dinners, fireside chats, tastings, and demos — curated by Sisterly Love Collective. Ticket and book sales support the authors and venues alike, while the events offer an educational window into food's deep cultural connections. This year's theme, Rooted, celebrates American food at its source and traces where it grows. Featured authors include NYT Cooking's Kay Chun and James Beard Award winner Katie Button, alongside a special tribute to Edna Lewis featuring Toni Tipton-Martin — connecting Philadelphia diners to the stories, land, and culture behind the plate.
Tue, Oct 27, 2026 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Community College of Philadelphia - Culinary Arts
1700 Spring Garden Street
Binding Agents is Philly's bookshop for cooks and eaters. Located in South Philly’s culinary epicenter, the 9th Street Italian Market, we’re your go-to source for new cookbooks and food-focused reads, plus gifts and goods for making, serving and enjoying. We’re independent, women-owned, fun & funky. Learn more at bindingagentsphilly.com.
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