Have you ever been for Chinese hot pot (fondue)? I have fond memories of this Sunday night ritual around our house. Our family crowded around our kitchen table over a boiling pot of simmering aromatic brother sitting on a butane burner. Cooking platefuls of quick cooking ingredients like thinly sliced beef and lamb, to noodles and strainers upon strainers and fresh greens was our family meal that ended the weekend. By fun I don’t actually mean the family fun time cooking over a communal pot; I’m talking about my dad yelling at my oldest sister for bailing to go out and see her boyfriend my parents didn’t like, the other two talking on the phone and being a picky eater and then me busting out a random nosebleed out of no where. Whether or not you share this kind of memory or have never had hot pot before, here’s a spot where you can.
You know what I really love? When I ask people for recommendations for a specific cuisine or dish and my earholes are filed with answers like, “My mom makes THE BEST enchiladas,” or “Oh! There’s a spot in Ville St. Laurent that made THE BEST tacos… but now it’s a Jean Cotu.” So unless you want me to ring your mom’s door on an off night where my visit isn’t scheduled, don’t tell me that she makes the best burritos because I’m going to go looking for some. Recently I asked around looking for tacos. Honest, simple and true to the bone kind of tacos. Questioned with a warning of an imminent slap to the face if answered with a location that isn’t accessible, I asked my people for the good tacos.
In honour of today being Chinese New Year, I’ve finally decided to make my parents proud for once and am pursuing my new career in otolaryngology. If you don’t know what that is, it’s the study of ears, nose and throat. I should also mention that by otolaryngology and the study of ears, nose and throat, I really mean dunking my thick head in the nearest bowl of steaming noodle soup to study how much of it I can eat before surfacing for air. To kick off year 4712 like an S Club party, ‘cos an S Club party don’t stop, I’m going to fill you in on the top 5 Asian noodle soups you need to know about.