火锅 Hot pot, or less commonly known as Chinese fondue, refers to several Chinese varieties of steamboat stew. It consists of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table. Typical hot pot dishes include thinly sliced meat, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, egg dumplings, and seafood. The cooked food is usually eaten with a dipping sauce. In many areas, hot pot meals are often eaten in the winter.
There are many variations of Hotpot in Asia; Japanese Shabu-shabu, Hong Kong's Cantonese Steamboat, Thailand's Sukiyaki(it's not the same as Japanese sukiyaki beef) etc. In Singapore we have the Hainanese Hotpot, there is an authentic outlet at Golden Mile Complex basement level, which is just opposite street from 麻婆豆腐小厨. :) I will blog about that restaurant next time. Hee.
One of the most famous variations which happens to be my favorite is the 四川麻辣火锅 (Sichuan Hotpot).
A special spice known as 花椒 — "flower pepper" or Sichuan Pepper) is added. It creates a sensation on the tongue that is both spicy and burns and numbs slightly, almost like carbonated beverages. You have the liberty to choose between the chicken broth or the 麻辣(spicy) broth. In this case my favorite is a combination of both, 鸳鸯锅.
Last year, I was introduced to this Sichuan restaurant by a good friend and had been getting my steamboat fixes here ever since. I love this place! Must Try !!
(I was told this is a subsidiary outlet to the original Mapo Doufu Restaurant 麻婆豆腐饭庄 at Thomson.)I never went back to Bugis area after I've tried this outlet. Besides serving their famous Sichuan hotpot buffet, they also have ala-carte dishes which are very reasonably priced. I have not tried but heard alot of good reviews.
Another BIG plus is they serve some cold-dish appetizers, side dishes as well as dim sum. !! Comes with the buffet. Very good.
Booze. Must have... the hotpot is too hot. Need some booze ya?
Ingredients:
Meat -
Thinly sliced Beef/Pork/Chicken/Lamb, Fish slices, Prawns, Crab, Mussels, Clams, Beef balls, Fish balls, Squid, Cuttlefish, Sliced Ham, Hotdogs
Vegetables -
Bok choy, Choy sum, Fat choy, Garland chrysanthemum (tong ho), Bean sprouts, Shallots, Varieties of mushrooms, straw mushroom, Chinese black mushrooms, Tofu, Tofu skin, Thinly sliced potatoes, Taro, Tomato, Corn, Eggs
Starches -
Niangao, several types of Chinese noodles
They also have a wide selection of condiments. Another love!
Hoisin sauce, Soy sauce, Coriander / Cilantro, Spring onions, Sesame oil, White pepper, Sa cha sauce, Chili flakes, Chilli sauces, Sesame butter, Chive flower paste (韭菜花酱), Satay or Peanut butter sauce, made by mixing peanut butter with water to a thick consistency (or hua sheng ru fu)
Prawns and all the shelly stuff. A pity they ran out of frozen crabs... Btw, they only served frozen crab for the buffet hotpot. Live crabs for ala-carte. Fair enough.
Record time: 2 hours. Previous sessions, 3-5hours. There was one time the girls sat through from dinner at 8pm all the way too 1am. Hahaha...
In my opinion, this place is definitely great, fresh foods and value for money. I go there all the time... but I will make sure they have the crabs before I visit again.
Sichuan Buffet Hotpot: S$17 nett
麻婆豆腐小厨 (天下第一涮) Mapo Doufu Kitchen
345 Beach Road
Tel: 63963121
Open Daily: 11am-2amP.S They are air-conditioned. :) You can sit outdoors if you smoke...
