Hotpot newbies

Sichuan province is known for its spicy food. If you've ever seen "Szechuan" food in the states, that comes from this region of China. And of all types of food, hotpot is the king of spicy around these parts.

We had avoided hotpot successfully until now - not because we didn't want to try it, but because it was just too dang hot outside. But now, the weather has cooled and a rainy fall day seemed perfect to go with some friends to try it out.

Here's how it works: Your table has a large metal pot in the middle, with its own gas-powered burner underneath. The pot is filled with chili-enfused oil (and a type of non-spicy soup, which is considered optional) that is heated up to boiling.


You drop raw meat and veggies into the pot and let it stew in the bubbling cauldron of death. After it sits for awhile, you snatch it out with your chopsticks and dip it in sesame oil (more oil?!?). From there, let it cool and enjoy!



We dropped beef, lamp, squid, lotus root, potato, cucumber, tofu, and shrimp into the pot - and all were very yummy!

Here we are before:


And after:


Notice any difference in my glamorous wife?

In all, no major complaints about the experience. Though we were nervous, it was tasty and much more palatable than we expected. Granted, Rachel did have to visit the bathroom three times - but, perhaps that was all unrelated to the hotpot meal :)

Which brings up the lingering question - does hotpot guarantee diarrhea for all foreigners? That's what we've heard, but the food and oil has not been swimming in our stomachs long enough for us to really know yet. We are loaded up on Immodium, so I hope that helps!

-alan