"Food is the nearest thing to heaven." This ancient Chinese proverb celebrates 6,000 years of Chinese cuisine - a harmony of visual appearance, aroma, flavor and texture.

It is a creative interplay of fresh ingredients from land, sea and air that are blended with an amazing assortment of delectable sauces.

This summer, Tina Maisano, a native of China who lived most of her life in Hong Kong before moving to Pinehurst in 2009, will share "Secrets of Great Chinese Cooking: Part I and Part II" through the continuing education division at Sandhills Community College.

While exploring Asian cuisine from Japan to Korea and Thailand, Maisano has conducted personalized classes in Chinese cuisine over the last two decades. During these two summer classes at Sandhills, she will show participants how to prepare meals in four Chinese culinary styles using only ingredients that can be found at local supermarkets.

In "Secrets of Great Chinese Cooking: Part I," Maisano will demonstrate how to use the best fresh ingredients, add the right amounts of natural flavoring, and time the preparation of each dish to perfection. She will prepare and share a range of popular dishes, including appetizers and three main courses from different Chinese cuisines.

This class will meet Tuesday, July 12, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the Russell Dining Room on the Pinehurst -campus. Cost for this class is $25.

In "Secrets of Great Chinese Cooking: Part II," Maisano will continue to wow students with her cooking skills using the finest, fresh ingredients and natural flavors to prepare different appetizers and main courses from around China.

This class will meet Tuesday, July 19, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. in the Russell Dining Room on the Pinehurst campus. Cost for this class is $25.

Register for class at least one week prior to the starting date. Class may fill and prohibit further enrollment or may be canceled if enrollment is low. Walk-in registration is at the continuing education office located on the first floor of Van Dusen Hall during the college's scheduled hours of operation.

Call (910) 695-3980 to register, which requires payment with Visa, MasterCard, or Discover. There is no fee waiver for community enrichment classes.