Tesoro

#74−2016:
How to best experiment with Chinese cuisine if not during the celebrations of the New Year (of the monkey) with a bunch of fellow Unilocalers?
First issue: trying to reach this restaurant… nicely hidden from the tourist eye and located above the Oriental Mall in Chinatown.
Once we finally reach our destination, our group of 10 is escorted to and huge round table where we are each equipped with our own personal induction-​equipped hotpot station.
The server comes to take our order for the broth (available in 10 different options including: classic, veggie, spicy, beef, fish, pork and combo). Once our own hotpot is placed on the source of heat, we are encouraged to go on and explore our food options (available at the buffet station): first off the dry noodle station. Then right across from it both the fish (clams, shrimps, oysters, crabs, octopus to name a few) and meat (tripe, kidney, tongue, chicken feet are the most peculiar one but there are the more traditional choices available as well). Judging from our perplexed faces here comes a helpful young staffer to help us locate some of the ingredients (mostly written in Chinese only). Next to the meat there are the veggies (corn-​on-​the Cobb, mushrooms, carrots, peas, calif lower, spinach, chestnuts).
Next there is the sauces station (only a few options are labeled in English as well as chinese).
There also is the possibility to ask for some ingredients to be grilled (using a little pinch with the table number).
Once you get back on to your station, let the fun begin.
First drop the ingredients that take longer to cook, then gradually incorporate the other ingredients.
BEWARE: do NOT put too many ingredients or the hotpot will most likely overflow.
Another useful thing to know (to avoid any unnecessary spillage), do NOT leave the hotpot unattended for too long (if you plan to roam around for ingredients, choose the lowest setting).
Once your ingredients are cooked, grab your own spoon/​drainer to trasfer your food to your plate and… ENJOY!!!
I chose spicy broth and served myself 3 different times. I tried to vary in the first 2 options and then came back to my fave for my 3^rd serving. The menu included ice cream but I was too full.
For beverage I opted for Chinese beer which I gulped down easily. The total for this splurging adventure was 21 € (a great deal).
Little note: though I tried ingredients I wasn’t able to decipher, I had no digestive trouble… However, both my clothes and hair smelled like hotpot and grilled food afterwards (no biggie, thanks to washing machines and shower).