Hot pot - Favorite Chinese Cuisine Literature Research Paper

Jiayu Shen
Heather Stern
AC Eng20C
29 May 2020
Hot pot - Favorite Chinese Cuisine
Introduction
Chinese food is undoubtedly one of the most popular cuisines around the world and there are several driving forces behind this popularity. According to “Chinese Soul Food: A Friendly Guide for Homemade Dumplings, Stir-Fries, Soups,” Hsia-Ching Chao talks about that most Chinese foods are pretty much easy to make and they are generally delicious ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"dpqUPv2v","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Chou)","plainCitation":"(Chou)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":616,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/5NDP643P"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/5NDP643P"],"itemData":{"id":616,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-63217-123-6","language":"English","number-of-pages":"256","title":"Chinese Soul Food: A Friendly Guide for Homemade Dumplings, Stir-Fries, Soups, and More","URL":"https://b-ok.cc/book/3600466/e3b236","author":[{"family":"Chou","given":"Hsiao-Ching"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",5,20]]},"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Chou 2). Also, Thomas Nguyen in the article called “The Development of Chinese Cuisine in the United States” discusses that the huge number of Chinese immigrants around the world also influenced the popularity of their cuisines as they strived to maintain their rich culture which is primarily focused on cuisine among other things ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"kERxlW5m","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nguyen)","plainCitation":"(Nguyen)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":614,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/YMUPFW24"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/YMUPFW24"],"itemData":{"id":614,"type":"post-weblog","language":"en-US","note":"source: scholarblogs.emory.edu","title":"The Development of Chinese Cuisine in the United States","title-short":"Thomas Nguyen","URL":"https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/noodlenarratives/2019/08/10/thomas-nguyen-the-development-of-chinese-cuisine-in-the-united-states/","author":[{"family":"Nguyen","given":"Thomas"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",5,20]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nguyen par. 1). There are so many delicious cuisines in China, why Chinese people like hot pot over other food? It is, however, the love of hot pot that stands out the most among the Chinese people and the reason behind this great love revolves around the ease of preparation, affordability, diversity, the social aspect, and of course its delectability.
To people who do not know Chinese hot pot, Maureen Pao discusses it to readers in the article called “Friends, Family and a Feast: A Hot Pot How-To:” briefly, hot pot cuisine, otherwise known as Chinese fondue or simply firepot, can be made up of several ingredients: sliced meat, dumplings, noodles, vegetables, seafood, and bean curd ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"IHi9urCY","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Pao)","plainCitation":"(Pao)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":612,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/KQ4SWKUH"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/KQ4SWKUH"],"itemData":{"id":612,"type":"webpage","abstract":"Chinese hot pot is perfect for winter entertaining. The colorful array of meats, seafood, vegetables, bean curd and noodles dipped in a communal pot of simmering liquid is as simple as it is tasty.","container-title":"NPR.org","language":"en","note":"source: ","title":"Friends, Family and a Feast: A Hot Pot How-To","title-short":"Friends, Family and a Feast","URL":"/2007/02/21/7502906/friends-family-and-a-feast-a-hot-pot-how-to","author":[{"family":"Pao","given":"Maureen"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",5,20]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Pao par.3). Every person on the dinner table has the freedom to choose on ingredients which they then dip into a boiling broth for some time to cook before eating them using a dipping sauce. Unlike any other Asian dishes that replicate the hot pot cuisine, Chinese hot pot is unique in its way. Few ingredients of choice are added into the broth by the individual, unlike the other dishes where many ingredients are added at the same time. Besides, it is so much fun participating in a hot pot dinner.
Affordability
To begin with, Pao demonstrates that a perfect Chinese hot pot can be prepared with the least possible cost compared to other cuisines. The basic ingredients required to prepare a complete hot pot are readily available in any market where foodstuffs are sold ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"bGoGxLZW","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Pao)","plainCitation":"(Pao)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":612,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/KQ4SWKUH"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/KQ4SWKUH"],"itemData":{"id":612,"type":"webpage","abstract":"Chinese hot pot is perfect for winter entertaining. The colorful array of meats, seafood, vegetables, bean curd and noodles dipped in a communal pot of simmering liquid is as simple as it is tasty.","container-title":"NPR.org","language":"en","note":"source: ","title":"Friends, Family and a Feast: A Hot Pot How-To","title-short":"Friends, Family and a Feast","URL":"/2007/02/21/7502906/friends-family-and-a-feast-a-hot-pot-how-to","author":[{"family":"Pao","given":"Maureen"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",5,20]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Pao par. 10). Green vegetables, for instance, spinach, kales, cabbages are quite common commodities that can be found even in the less fancy grocery stores. The choice of the broth which also varies accordingly has varying costs thus accommodating people of all social classes. In fact, hot pot broth can be as low key as herbal medicine. Regardless of how basic the hot pot could be, the result remains the same. Nguyen illustrates that even in foreign countries where Chinese still observes their cultures, Chinese restaurants still stick to the basic ingredients to satisfy every customer's need without incurring additional costs ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"uVk6wWzM","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nguyen)","plainCitation":"(Nguyen)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":614,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/YMUPFW24"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/YMUPFW24"],"itemData":{"id":614,"type":"post-weblog","language":"en-US","note":"source: scholarblogs.emory.edu","title":"The Development of Chinese Cuisine in the United States","title-short":"Thomas Nguyen","URL":"https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/noodlenarratives/2019/08/10/thomas-nguyen-the-development-of-chinese-cuisine-in-the-united-states/","author":[{"family":"Nguyen","given":"Thomas"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",5,20]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nguyen par. 3). Sometimes preparing own broth might require expensive ingredients or even ingredients that are inaccessible at a convenient time.
Easy to prepare
Hot pot cuisine can be understood as cooking while eating. The additional time and expertise needed for cooking and serving are greatly reduced. In the article “Everything You Need to Know to Make Chinese Hot Pot at Home,” Shao Z. says that the host for the meal has very limited tasks to perform: establish the ingredients and the broth, set up the burner and the pot that will keep the broth in a boiling point, and also make available the dipping and eating accessories such as dipping sauces, mini tongs, chopsticks ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"93PvRKOY","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Shao Z)","plainCitation":"(Shao Z)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":624,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/5PVI7C3N"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/5PVI7C3N"],"itemData":{"id":624,"type":"webpage","abstract":"Chinese hot pot is one of the ultimate communal dining experiences: Diners sit around a table, dipping prepared meats, seafood, and vegetables into simmering broths to quickly cook before eating. All that's required are a few key pieces of equipment and all the ingredients, prepped right. Here's how to host a hot-pot feast at home.","language":"en","note":"source: ","title":"Everything You Need to Know to Make Chinese Hot Pot at Home","URL":"/2015/02/how-to-make-chinese-hot-pot-at-home-guide.html","author":[{"literal":"Shao Z"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",5,21]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Shao Z par. 4). Very little effort is needed to clean and maybe chop the ingredients. The rest of the tasks are up to the guest to undertake and they are pretty much easy and fun.
The Social Aspect
According to Pao, the Chinese hot pot is more than just a meal. It is more of a social event to an extent that can be matched to a festival or a party ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"XXc6ERAl","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Pao)","plainCitation":"(Pao)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":612,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/KQ4SWKUH"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/KQ4SWKUH"],"itemData":{"id":612,"type":"webpage","abstract":"Chinese hot pot is perfect for winter entertaining. The colorful array of meats, seafood, vegetables, bean curd and noodles dipped in a communal pot of simmering liquid is as simple as it is tasty.","container-title":"NPR.org","language":"en","note":"source: ","title":"Friends, Family and a Feast: A Hot Pot How-To","title-short":"Friends, Family and a Feast","URL":"/2007/02/21/7502906/friends-family-and-a-feast-a-hot-pot-how-to","author":[{"family":"Pao","given":"Maureen"}],"accessed":{"date-parts":[["2020",5,20]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Pao par.3). Maggie states that most Chinese families around the world including those in countries that experience relatively high temperatures prefer to have the Chinese Hot Pot for their new year reunion ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"DIpVmgaX","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Maggie)","plainCitation":"(Maggie)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":622,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/2CRJACU3"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/IBolxqVE/items/2CRJACU3"],"itemData":{"id":622,"type":"webpage","title":"Chinese Hot Pot Guide & How to Throw a Hot Pot Party at Home","URL":"https://omnivorescookbook.com/chinese-hot-pot-guide/","author":[{"lite...