The Daily Diary of a Wandering Restaurateur
April 28 - Hot Pot With an Attitude
The restaurant was busy when we arrived and busier by the time we left. People waited on the sidewalk, playing cards and generally keeping themselves amused. The waiting list was prominently posted and the entire wait management system was being run by one of the cutest young women I have seen on the trip (not counting Margene and Miao, of course!)
The menu format is hotpot -- first you pick your protein, greens and whatever else strikes your fancy. Then you tell them whether you want it mild or spicy (or both, as we did). Based on your request, they bring the food and a large divided pot filled with liquid, oil, chilis, spices and other assorted goodies. They fire up the burner that is set into the center of the table and when the pot starts to boil, you are on your own. Drop in your goodies and let 'em cook.
Among the more obvious points of difference: the runners were literally runners. I regret none of us got a picture of them in full flight with one -- sometimes two -- trays of ingredients held high, racing at full speed from the kitchen at one end of the room to the service stations or tables at the other end.
I expected to see collisions with unsuspecting guests -- and I am sure there must be some -- but there were no casualties to report during our visit. And then there was "noodle boy" as we called him, who would spin a small piece of dough into a handful of thin noodles with much flipping and spinning. Then with a flourish, he would drop the handful of fresh noodles into the pot on your table.
The service was very attentive without hovering. Everyone gets aprons to keep drips and splatters off the clothes, warm towels frequently throughout the meal -- even a microfiber cloth to clean your glasses!
As an aside, when we went to the huge park where the White Pagoda is located, what was the first foodservice operation we saw ... in THE prime location? They say there is no graft in China, but I've got to believe that favors of some sort were traded to give this position to a US-based company. KFC has probably been the most visibly successful US restaurant company in China although Starbuck's is fast becoming equally as popular. Coffee seems to be the hot new discovery in this nation of tea-drinkers!
© 2008 Restaurant Doctor
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