Hot Pot

This is hot pot. Spicy on the left, mild on the right for the kids.  Mr. Li brought us here to one of his favorite hot pot restaurants.  They only have a Chinese menu so Mr. Li will have to come back with us each time. Hot Pot originates in Southern China where the climate is hotter.  They believe that the spiciness actually cools them off by sweating.  In the top of the picture in the green tray are an appetizer which are best described as foamy seafood chips.

 From the menu you pick out the different meats, fish, and vegetables that you want to cook in your hot pot.  Mr. Li did all the ordering and he did a great job of picking things that he thought we would like and the kids.

This is beef.  After you cook your food in the hot pot you dip it in a combination of spices and sauces that you create yourself at the sauce buffet.

 We also tried pork (top), mushrooms (middle) and a white vegetable (bottom) that Mr. Li did not know the English name for.  It was good.  Jack actually did really well at trying everything.  He commented that it was good but Jeff and I noticed that some stuff he did not take a second bite of.  That's ok with us, at least he tried and told Mr. Li it was good.  

We also had a green onion and cilantro soup which was really good and I think I can create at home.  Miss Holly told me that we can create hot pot at home.  Maybe soon, it was really good.

Other veggies we cooked were bok choy, and another green veggie that we didn't know the name of. 

This was the kids favorite- cantalope and the little tiny hot dogs.  Yes, Mr. Li did good. 

 This is Mr. Li.  We are very thankful for how helpful he is and how easy going his personality is.  Jack and Grace are fond of him too, they create art for him and pray for him.

Mr. Li's family, his father, mother, and wife came over for dinner a couple of Saturdays ago.  It was such a neat experience.  His father actually taught English for his career, so we were able to communicate really well.   I cooked spaghetti, you can't go wrong with that, right?  I also had some veggies and made my first ever apple pie.

After the hot pot meal is over, they give you a hot towel to wipe your face and neck.  Seriously.....

 The kids got to watch a noodle presentation and were given some dough of their own to play with.

Grace had more fun playing with her dough than eating.