Hot Pot City
Drop the ingredients into the boiling stock, let ’em bob up and down while you watch and chat, tak’em out and whack’em on top of a wad of noodle, pour a ladle of broth, and inhale the sweet steam… So what constitutes a good hot pot? Well, the stock is of course the key, then it’s common practice to have some meat, seafood, vegetables (some kind of leafy greens and mushroom), some noodle for the starch base. But there is no set rule. Whatever you want in your mouth, you can put into the hot pot. We opted for the half-and-half stock: Vietnamese lau and Japanese shabu. The two are quite similar, but the Vietnamese lau has tomato and is slightly more seasoned. Both stocks contain green onion and sweet onion, the taste is neutral, neither too salty nor too sweet, just downright savory. In increasing order, you can add more tomatoes, pineapple, or tamarind to make it sour, and any kind of chili pepper until your eyes water.
Canadian style thin egg noodle went well with everything. As for the add-ons, we also picked the moderate route, with beef rib eye, beef meat ball (hidden behind the Napa cabbage), broccoli and spinach, fish ball and tiger prawn, a garlic sesame oil sauce (suggested by the waitress but did little to enhance the flavor). Opinions split about the fish balls: Mother and Mudpie like their soft, almost gummy texture, while the rest of the crew voted for the firm and definitive beef balls, which I believe contain ground bits of tendon.
We forwent beansprouts and mushrooms to make room for the yau ja kwai (or dau chao quay, Chinese deep fried bread sticks, usually accompanying soups and porridge). Its misleading name in the menu, “Chinese donuts”, gave the impression of sugar glaze, perhaps even rainbow sprinkles and chocolate? Asian cooks are inventive, but we are not that Picassoesque. No, they are just simple crispy oily sticks of dough to jazz up yet another texture in the variety. Their fluffiness soaks up the broth, delivers it to your mouth packaged and speedy. I remember dau chao quay in Saigon are a tad more salty and less flaky than those served here. The owner of this restaurant is Chinese, so perhaps he prefers it the original way.
Address: Hot Pot City
8300 W. Sam Houston Pwy
Sugarland, TX 77478
832-328-3888
Price:
1 Half-n-Half soup base for 6: 8.95
3 Noodle: 3 x 3.50
+ beef rib eye slice, beef meat ball, fish ball, tiger prawn, napa cabbage, spinach, broccoli, dau chao quay, garlic sesame oil sauce
= total +tax: 57.72
The bill is softer (~$35) if you order the pre-selected combinations and let the kitchen surprise you with what goes into your bowls. Either way, hot pot might just be the easiest solution for a small gathering, as everyone can pick their favorite ingredients, cook and enjoy at the table in their own way without the worries about preparation and post-party cleanup. It can be problematic if a member has some hard feelings against soups or anything cooked in liquids. They would then have to enjoy the posh fractal designs on the walls and Lady Gaga’s rhythmic gnarling in the background, since the menu here offers nothing but hot pot.
Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
1I have recently started a web site, the information you offer on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work. “Patriotism is often an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles.” by George Jean Nathan.
2My developer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using WordPress on several websites for about a year and am concerned about switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress content into it? Any help would be really appreciated!
3I and also my pals appeared to be digesting the best tips and hints located on your website and instantly I got an awful feeling I never thanked you for those techniques. All the boys were stimulated to see them and have in effect seriously been loving them. Many thanks for genuinely really kind and also for settling on this form of smart resources most people are really desirous to learn about. My honest apologies for not expressing appreciation to earlier.
4Excellent website. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to some friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thank you for your sweat!
5The next time I learn a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I do know it was my choice to learn, but I actually thought youd have one thing attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you would fix for those who werent too busy in search of attention.
6Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!
7Hey there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
8I real happy to find this web site on bing, just what I was searching for : D too saved to favorites.
9Magnificent site. A lot of useful information here. I am sending it to several buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks for your sweat!
10Hey! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after checking through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back often!
11Attractive part of content. I simply stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to claim that I get in fact loved account your blog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing in your feeds and even I success you access constantly quickly.
12As a Newbie, I am always exploring online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
13You are my inhalation, I have few web logs and very sporadically run out from to brand : (.
14Yay google is my queen aided me to find this outstanding site! .
15Good day! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be bookmarking and checking back frequently!
16Valuable info. Lucky me I found your website unintentionally, and I’m shocked why this twist of fate didn’t came about earlier! I bookmarked it.
17Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
18I conceive this web site holds some really fantastic information for everyone. “To be able to be caught up into the world of thought — that is being educated.” by Edith Hamilton.
19Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog writer but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any points for newbie blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
20Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
21I’ve recently started a site, the info you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work. “Character is much easier kept than recovered.” by Thomas Paine.
22I like this blog its a master peace ! Glad I discovered this on google .
23Dead pent content material, Really enjoyed examining.
24Hello.This article was really interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last week.
25You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
26I like your writing style really loving this site.
27Just what I was searching for, regards for putting up.
28Some genuinely interesting details you have written.Helped me a lot, just what I was searching for :D.
29Great post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Kudos!
30Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal site.
31Simply want to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness to your publish is just great and i can think you’re knowledgeable in this subject. Well with your permission let me to take hold of your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please continue the enjoyable work.
32I envy your piece of work, thankyou for all the useful posts.
33Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with Search Engine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Many thanks!
34Good day very cool blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds also…I’m satisfied to search out numerous useful info right here in the publish, we want work out more techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
35I like this post, enjoyed this one regards for putting up.
36As soon as I discovered this web site I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
37Terrific paintings! That is the type of information that are meant to be shared around the net. Shame on the search engines for no longer positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)
38