The Chinese Hot Pot

中国火锅

By Conrad Oust

康拉德 奥斯特

In the winter season, when chilly temperatures and frigid winds prevail over the land, people like to eat food that instantly warms their bodies and lifts their spirits. For that, the hot pot is a delicious and hearty choice. Families or groups of friends sit around a table and eat from a steaming pot in the middle, cooking and drinking and chatting. Eating hot pot is not a passive activity: diners must select morsels of prepared raw food from plates scattered around the table, place them in the pot, wait for them to cook, fish them out of the soup, dip them in the preferred sauce, and then eat them hot, fresh, and tender. They can also ladle up the broth from the pot and drink it.

严寒刺骨的冬天，人们喜欢吃那些温暖身心的食物。因此，美味的火锅就成了人们的心仪之选。家人朋友围坐一张桌子旁，吃着热气腾腾的火锅，边涮着食材边喝酒聊天。吃火锅不是被动的活动（这里就理解成不是吃现成儿的，Jewel注）：食客自己选择被摆放在四周的生的食材，将其放进锅里煮熟，等食材沸腾，捞出来，沾着他们的最爱的酱料，然后趁热吃，味道鲜美，滑嫩，有些人还喜欢喝火锅汤底。（Jewel的P.S:高中生物老师说这样嘌呤太多，容易得癫痫）

Pictures from our branding group will explain much more...Enjoy!

多说无益，看图解气！下面请欣赏一组来自品牌部吃货组的自拍图，走起——

Photo Cr: 照片拍摄：一颗西瓜头、马昱

（娘家火锅）

（成都大龙焱火锅）

（重庆鲜龙井火锅）

Extend Reading 延伸阅读

1.Don’t feel you need to purchase an authentic Asian Hot Pot (also called a firepot) to enjoy this popular dish. Aluminum, stainless steel, and electric fondue pots can all be used for hot pot cooking.

不要觉得做火锅需要购买一个地道的铜锅，有个铜的，铝的，或插电的火锅盆就行。

（京味涮肉）

2.When preparing Asian fondue, a general rule of thumb is to have bland broth and spicy dips. This allows guests to season the food according to their own tastes.

准备亚洲火锅时，一般的经验法则，是准备清淡的肉汤，辛辣的酱料。让客人可以根据自己的口味调味。

（井格火锅）

3. For speedier cooking, cut meat into paper thin slices, no more than 1/4-inch thick.

为了让肉熟得快，切肉要薄，厚度不超过4英寸厚。

4. For easier cutting, partially freeze the meat, or ask the butcher to cut it for you.

为了好切，可以把肉先冷冻上，或者直接在商店买直接切好的。

（滇草香云南原生态火锅）

5. When serving a combination of meat and vegetables or tofu, cook the meat first to flavor the broth more quickly.

当肉类蔬菜和豆腐同涮的时候，先煮的肉类，这样再涮其他的食材会更好吃。

（重庆记忆老灶）

I got no hungry for hotpot at all. We've had it for dinner!

我一点儿都不馋，毕竟我们吃过晚饭了！！！

Seriously, may you be more awesome than 2016.

说正经的，新的一年，希望你们做更赞的自己！