It also allowed me to eat the freshest and hottest food available because I was the one cooking it. I enjoyed having so many different options of meats and vegetables. It allowed me to mix and match and compare the different types of combinations I could think of.
First, the portions and cuts of the raw food is prepared by the chefs. Once the group knows what they want and how much of each meat or vegetable they need, the chefs bring out the raw food. It is the responsibility of the customer or the person eating to cook their food. There is also a sauce bar where you get to customize your own sauces. The bar has different vegetables and spices such as cilantro, green onions, hot peppers, and peanut oil.
Hot pot is a style of eating that brings many people closer together because you are all eating from the same plate and sharing the same food. The hot pot tradition was started in ancient times in China, but not as a delicacy or a standard way of eating. Rather, it was regarded as a cheap way to survive. Families who couldn’t afford a proper meal would resort to boiling water and throwing in whatever meat and vegetables they could find and that is essentially what a hot pot is today. Family and togetherness is prized in China, so eating around the same pot provides a wonderful tradition for families— the hot pot has different types of foods, provides warmth, and is always fresh.
