Patrick FarrellHot Pot
July 16th 2008 07:38
Well, excuse me for the delay but I have had some trouble logging on to the site recently...
...let's get back to business.
So, the other night I went for a delicious hot pot dinner, I called some friends and people naturally wanted to join in on the fun. I have found that a great way to talk and make new friends in Shanghai is invite anyone you can think of to a hot pot restaurant. As I said before it is a very communal experience; you order the food together, your food is all cooked in the same pot, everyone must decide whether you want spicy or non-spicy sauce in the hot pot water, everyone is helping each other because in most cases at a more typical Chinese restaurant there is no English menu so the few that can read Chinese will help everyone order what they like, and of course everyone is focused on the same point on the table waiting for all the food to be cooked infront of their eyes.
The night begins with extensive ordering; everyone ordering one of those, three of these, eight of those. The meat and potatoes that you order at hot pot are very thinly sliced making the cooking process very quick and easy. We ordered a large quantity of food (as you usually do at hot pot) which included beef, chicken, eggs, potatoes, lamb, tofu, lotus roots, mushrooms, mushroom roots, japanese tofu, a variety of sucai (vegetables), and a few non hot pot items, such as sweet pumpkin snacks and spring rolls, that you are able to consume instantly because when in a state of hunger you might want to have a snack instead of waiting for the water to boil and the food to cook properly, which sometimes can be quite a while.
One warning to first timers is always be careful when cooking the food, especially the meat, because during the madness that ensues in hot pot when everyone is throwing in their food of choice sometimes you might mix up what food has been in the pot cooking for a longer or shorter period. Always use the spoons provided to take the food out and inspect it quickly to make sure it has been cooked properly, if you are unsure, just place it back in the water and let it cook for a while longer....just to be certain.
So here we are, surrounded by trees and steam from the hot pots cooking, our faces sweating, and we are throwing in all the food that can possiblly fit into the pot; one side spicy hot, the other with a milder taste. Every time there is, without fail, a mess to be cleaned following a good hot pot meal....
After the meal is eaten and the water begins to run low, we turn off the heat below and finish our drinks as we loosen our belts due to the high consumption rate. All in all it was a great night out, we spent almost three hours at the restaurant talking, eating, cooking, and making a mess. Every now and then if you are in China you must find yourself a decent hot pot restaurant to go to, if you are in Shanghai, head to 188 Huai Hai Zhong Lu near Huangpi Lu on the fourth floor if you want a great hot pot dinner experience.
Also, just for your information, the total cost of the dinner for seven people was 130 RMB which is approximately $19 US. So, especially if you are travelling, it is a great option for a cheap meal for many people.
Hope you have time in Shanghai to dine at this jungle hot pot!
...let's get back to business.
So, the other night I went for a delicious hot pot dinner, I called some friends and people naturally wanted to join in on the fun. I have found that a great way to talk and make new friends in Shanghai is invite anyone you can think of to a hot pot restaurant. As I said before it is a very communal experience; you order the food together, your food is all cooked in the same pot, everyone must decide whether you want spicy or non-spicy sauce in the hot pot water, everyone is helping each other because in most cases at a more typical Chinese restaurant there is no English menu so the few that can read Chinese will help everyone order what they like, and of course everyone is focused on the same point on the table waiting for all the food to be cooked infront of their eyes.
The night begins with extensive ordering; everyone ordering one of those, three of these, eight of those. The meat and potatoes that you order at hot pot are very thinly sliced making the cooking process very quick and easy. We ordered a large quantity of food (as you usually do at hot pot) which included beef, chicken, eggs, potatoes, lamb, tofu, lotus roots, mushrooms, mushroom roots, japanese tofu, a variety of sucai (vegetables), and a few non hot pot items, such as sweet pumpkin snacks and spring rolls, that you are able to consume instantly because when in a state of hunger you might want to have a snack instead of waiting for the water to boil and the food to cook properly, which sometimes can be quite a while.
One warning to first timers is always be careful when cooking the food, especially the meat, because during the madness that ensues in hot pot when everyone is throwing in their food of choice sometimes you might mix up what food has been in the pot cooking for a longer or shorter period. Always use the spoons provided to take the food out and inspect it quickly to make sure it has been cooked properly, if you are unsure, just place it back in the water and let it cook for a while longer....just to be certain.
The jungle hot pot on a slow night.
So here we are, surrounded by trees and steam from the hot pots cooking, our faces sweating, and we are throwing in all the food that can possiblly fit into the pot; one side spicy hot, the other with a milder taste. Every time there is, without fail, a mess to be cleaned following a good hot pot meal....
The mess I created...
After the meal is eaten and the water begins to run low, we turn off the heat below and finish our drinks as we loosen our belts due to the high consumption rate. All in all it was a great night out, we spent almost three hours at the restaurant talking, eating, cooking, and making a mess. Every now and then if you are in China you must find yourself a decent hot pot restaurant to go to, if you are in Shanghai, head to 188 Huai Hai Zhong Lu near Huangpi Lu on the fourth floor if you want a great hot pot dinner experience.
Also, just for your information, the total cost of the dinner for seven people was 130 RMB which is approximately $19 US. So, especially if you are travelling, it is a great option for a cheap meal for many people.
Hope you have time in Shanghai to dine at this jungle hot pot!
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