Hot Pot Delivery: A Steamy Journey To Your Doorstep

Hot pot is an interactive and customisable meal, often delivered with a small hot pot, raw ingredients, and a variety of sauces. The delivery driver will arrive with the food, a hot plate, pot, and utensils. They will set up the hot plate and pot, and prepare the broth for the customer. The customer can then cook the ingredients to their liking and dip them in their chosen sauce.

Hot pot delivery in China

Hot pot is an interactive and customisable meal, less of a dish and more of an experience. It encapsulates the communal dining ethos that many Western restaurants have only recently adopted. In China, hot pot can be delivered right to your door.

The restaurant chain Haidilao, for example, offers hot pot delivery. The delivery person will bring vacuum-sealed soup, raw meat, a portable electric hot pot plate, and even a trash can. They will set up the hot plate and pot, and prepare the broth. The cost of the food is the same as dining in the restaurant, and the delivery charge varies depending on the distance.

The hot pot itself consists of three basic components: broth, dipping ingredients, and sauces. The broth is often a simple cloudy chicken broth, but there are many variations, including mushroom, sweet-and-sour tomato, or coconut-infused seafood. Dipping ingredients include thinly sliced meats, meatballs, vegetables, noodles, dumplings, and rice cakes. A variety of sauces are provided to dip the cooked ingredients in, such as minced cilantro, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and black vinegar.

Hot pot is a communal and social meal, often enjoyed with drinks such as cold beer or Chinese sorghum liquor. It is a relaxed and interactive dining experience, perfect for groups of friends or family.

What's included in a hot pot delivery

Hot pot delivery services provide a convenient way to enjoy this interactive and customizable meal without leaving your home. Here's what's typically included in a hot pot delivery:

The Hot Pot Itself

The delivery will include a small hot pot, which is a portable electric hot plate or burner that serves as the cooking vessel for your meal. This is essential for heating and simmering the broth, which forms the base of your hot pot experience.

Broth

The hot pot broth is a crucial component, and you'll typically have a choice of different flavours. The options may include basic cloudy chicken broth, bold and spicy options like Chongqing variant with Sichuan peppercorns and red chillies, mushroom broth, sweet-and-sour tomato, or even coconut-infused seafood tom kha. Some restaurants might offer a combination of broths in the same pot, separated by a metal divider.

Dipping Ingredients

A variety of raw ingredients are provided, which you cook in the simmering broth to your desired doneness. These typically include thinly sliced meats such as beef, pork belly, lamb shoulder, or even spam. You'll also find an assortment of vegetables, noodles, fish balls, dumplings, and rice cakes. Some restaurants offer combination platters with a balanced mix of proteins and vegetables, while others allow you to order individual items a la carte.

Sauces

A selection of sauces is provided to enhance the flavour of your cooked ingredients. These can include chive flower sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, black vinegar, or minced cilantro. Some restaurants offer a DIY station with individual elements for you to mix and create your own unique sauce.

Tableware and Utensils

To complete the dining experience, you'll receive placemats, a table cloth, bibs or aprons to protect your clothing, and utensils such as soup ladles and handheld baskets or long cooking chopsticks for retrieving your food from the hot pot.

Extras

Some hot pot deliveries go above and beyond, providing additional items such as toothpicks, mints, lens wipes, stain remover, hair ties, and even a Febreeze-like spray to combat any lingering food odours.

How to cook a delivered hot pot

Hot pot delivery services, such as the restaurant chain Haidilao in China, provide all the necessary ingredients and equipment to cook a hot pot at home. The delivery typically includes a portable electric hot plate, a pot, and utensils, as well as vacuum-sealed soup and raw meat slices. Some services may also provide a trash can and return later to collect the trash.

To cook a delivered hot pot, follow these steps:

• Set up the portable electric hot plate on a table.
• Prepare the broth by pouring the vacuum-sealed soup into the pot. Some hot pot kits may offer different types of broth, allowing you to create a combination of flavours in the same pot using a divider.
• Place the pot on the hot plate and turn it on to start heating the broth.
• Gather your dipping ingredients, which may include thinly sliced meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, dumplings, and more. These ingredients will be cooked in the simmering broth.
• Once the broth has come to a boil, you can start cooking your ingredients. Different foods have different cooking times, so be sure to pay attention to avoid overcooking. For example, thin slices of meat will only need to be boiled for a few seconds, while mushrooms may take several minutes.
• Use handheld baskets or designated long cooking chopsticks to retrieve your cooked ingredients from the pot.
• Dip your cooked ingredients in your choice of sauce. Popular sauces include sesame oil, oyster sauce, black vinegar, and chive flower sauce.
• Enjoy your hot pot with some cold beer or báijiǔ (Chinese sorghum liquor).
• Don't forget to pace yourself and cook your ingredients gradually, allowing the broth to return to a boil between batches to ensure everything is cooked properly.
• If your hot pot broth becomes too spicy or intense, your server may bring a pitcher of broth to replenish and rebalance the flavours.

The history of hot pot

Some believe that the dish has its roots in the 14th century, during the days of the Mongol empire. A legend from this time tells of an emperor who, while preparing for battle, grew impatient waiting for his lamb leg to cook. His chef decided to speed up the process by chopping up the meat and boiling it, inadvertently creating a new dish. It is also said that Mongol warriors and horsemen, who camped outdoors, would eat hot pot together around a pot on the fire, using their metal helmets to cook the water.

Over time, hot pot spread throughout China, with distinct regional variations developing. In the centuries that witnessed the growth of the Song Dynasty, hot pot moved further south into China, with each successive region adapting it to their local ingredients and tastes. The most famous variation is Chongqing hot pot, distinguished by the extremely spicy Sichuan peppers added to the broth. In Beijing, the hot pot broth tends to be mild, and in Manchuria, a local fermented sauerkraut is used to make the broth sour.

Hot pot became popular across China in the 19th century and can now be enjoyed around the world.

Hot pot delivery etiquette

Hot pot is a fun, interactive, and communal dining experience. It involves cooking an array of ingredients in a simmering, seasoned broth to your liking, then eating it with your choice of sauces. While hot pot is traditionally a restaurant experience, some restaurants now offer hot pot delivery, bringing the entire experience to your home. Here are some tips to ensure you have a great hot pot delivery experience:

Ask the Restaurant About Their Delivery Service

Different restaurants may have different ways of delivering hot pot. Some may deliver the raw ingredients and a small cooker, while others may bring a portable electric hot pot plate and set it up for you. Contact the restaurant to understand their specific delivery process and what you can expect.

Be Prepared for the Delivery

Hot pot delivery may involve more preparation than a typical food delivery. Depending on the restaurant, you may need to set up the hot pot yourself, or the delivery person may assist you. Ensure you have a suitable space for the hot pot, such as a table that can withstand heat. Have some extra space for the ingredients and any utensils or accessories that come with the delivery.

Understand the Ingredients and Cooking Process

Hot pot is a communal dining experience, so it's essential to respect the shared nature of the meal. Be mindful of cooking and eating at a pace that allows everyone to enjoy the food together. Different ingredients will have different cooking times, so be aware of that to ensure your food is cooked properly. Use separate utensils for cooking and eating, such as handheld baskets or designated long cooking chopsticks, for hygiene purposes.

Manage the Clean-Up Process

Hot pot can be a messy affair, so it's essential to be prepared for the clean-up. Some hot pot delivery services may provide a trash can and even come back later to take away your trash, ensuring a hassle-free experience. However, it's always good to have a plan for cleaning up, especially if you're sharing the meal with others.

Enjoy the Social Experience

Hot pot is meant to be a social and relaxed dining experience. It's a great way to connect with friends or family and cook and eat together. Enjoy the interactive nature of hot pot and the variety of ingredients and sauces that come with it. Don't forget to pace yourself, as hot pot is typically an indulgent and leisurely meal!

Frequently asked questions