The Famous Hotpot

In the winter time, we all love to cuddle up in a blanket and sip hot cocoa by the fire, no? Well, in China, on a cold winter’s day, with low temperatures and frigid winds, people will often go for hotpot, looking for a place to shelter from the cold, and instantaneously warm up.

The way a hotpot restaurant works is pretty unique. When guests arrive at their table, there is a hot pot in the middle of the table, along with an arrangement of raw foods, such as meats and vegetables. The family and friends will gather around the table and prepare for a fun and enjoyable meal.

Going to a hotpot restaurant also means having the ability to cook your own food.  On my recent journey to China, I was able to eat at a hotpot restaurant with my friends and our exchange students, and it was a very fun filled experience. From what I have seen, many hotpot restaurants split the pot into two sections, and often put two different types of broth into the pot. Within those two sections, people may put shellfish, beef, pork, chicken, and all sorts of veggies.

Now, believe it or not, there is a bit of symbolism within hotpot. First, the heat of the hotpot is supposed to resemble the warmth and love that the people have for those with them. In addition, the round shape of the pot is made to resemble the feeling that there is a lack, or complete absence of irregularities in the man to man relationship.

 

                                   

Overall, dining at a hotpot restaurant is something that anyone can enjoy, and is a way to try something new from a different culture. Dining in a hotpot restaurant is made to be an experience where people can gather with their family and friends, prepare and eat some delicious food, and overall have a great time. I would say that for the times that I have been to hotpot restaurants, I had a great time, and I hope to try more hotpot soon.

Sources:

http://elements.science.psu.edu/psu-pku/student-resources/resources-for-penn-state-students/chinese-culture-tradition-and-customs

There are 15 comments

  1. Tiffany C.

    Great job on this article, Dylan! It was interesting to learn about the symbolism with hotpot. I’m glad you had fun during your experience with hotpot and enjoyed this aspect of Chinese culture.

  2. Nicholas Yum

    Great article, Dylan! Hotpot with friends and family is definitely a great experience! The symbolism associated with hotpot is quite interesting. I’ve never thought past the food aspect and further into the relationship aspect. Keep up the great work!

  3. Richard R

    Good article about hotpot. Hotpot is really yummy to begin with, and I really like how hotpot has a lot of symbolism behind it as well.

  4. Hitomi Honda

    had a meaning! I learned that the round shape of the pot represented a lack of irregularities between a man to man relationship. Also, I didn’t know that the fire represented love for the people with them! This new information will definitely make my next hotpot with my family even more special! Thanks for sharing!

  5. Pratim Chowdhary

    I remember our teacher telling us about a hot pot restaurant in middle school, but I never knew that people went there to get out of the cold. It was also interesting to find out what the symbolism of the hot pot was.

  6. Kaydence He

    I learned that there is symbolism in the hot pot. It’s interesting how people put different types of broth in the two sections of the pot.

  7. Rohan Bhasin

    Wow! I want to go to this restaurant so badly. I find it interesting that you are able to “make” your own food in front of you. I would like to try this if I ever go to China.

  8. Gloria Cheng

    Woah! I can’t believe that there is so much history and symbolism in hotpot! I learned about how the heat of the hotpot is supposed to resemble the warmth and love that the people have for those with them. It’s so interesting that the round shape of the pot is made to resemble the feeling that there is a lack, or complete absence of irregularities in the man to man relationship.

  9. Stephen L.

    I have tried this before in China. It was a pretty good experience overall and it was pretty easy to make the food. Very good article.

  10. Steven Yu

    I knew that hotpot was a good way to warm you up, but I did not know that it symbolized so many different things!

  11. Jessica Chen

    I eat hot pot with my family all the time, but I had no idea that the round shape of the pot is made to resemble the feeling that there is a lack in the man to man relationship!

  12. Darren Cen

    I eat Hot Pot all the time with my family and even sometimes go out with my family. I didn’t even realize that the pot is supposed to resemble the need for man to man relationship.

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