** Congratulations to Paula Adams, the winner of Jen's Death by Bubble Tea!**
LUCY BURDETTE: Our next two guests for the week have both served on the board of Sisters in Crime, an organization we here at Jungle Red are devoted to. And they come writing about where they found ideas, one of my favorite topics. Today we welcome Jennifer Chow!
JENNIFER CHOW: In my family of origin, we actually didn’t eat much hot pot. We were more used to stir-frying our food. Having a meal around a steaming pot of bubbling broth and dipping raw veggies and meat into it wasn’t our thing.
But I married into a family who enjoyed hot pot. It is, in fact, a standing tradition around the holidays. This go-to meal has now made its way into the pages of my newest release, Hot Pot Murder.
Here are a few things I like about hot pot:
• It’s a warm meal during the winter months. Okay, so it doesn’t get quite as chilly in California, but hot pot still makes for a comforting dish. And everything is freshly (and deliciously) cooked in front of you.
• People can choose to eat what they want. There’s a huge spread of items, and eaters can pick various options (and quantities) of fixings.
• There’s a wonderful balanced meal at the ready. A great mixture of food is involved: greens, tofu, mushrooms, meat, noodles…
A couple of things I dislike about hot pot:
• For kiddos, danger lurks everywhere. It can be trying to keep little hands away from the boiling soup and the hot container. (Thank goodness for high chairs!)
• Speaking of dangerous items, the cords can be tripping hazards. Usually, the pot is electric and needs to be plugged in to maintain the heat. Since the meal is at the center of the table, it requires long wires (and sometimes extension cords) to keep the energy flowing.
• I have a personal issue with raw meat and the fear of cross-contamination. I definitely require separate “raw meat” chopsticks and have been known to excuse myself to wash my hands or spritz sanitizer on my palms. That, or I delegate the cooking task to my husband.
Overall, I appreciate a good hot pot meal. I love the tradition because of the emotional positives. Extended family get to bond over shopping for goodies and prepping the raw ingredients. And it’s not an eating experience restricted only to relatives; it’s easy to add an extra plate and invite a neighbor or a new friend (which we’ve definitely done!). I also enjoy the built-in time to chat while waiting for the broth to boil or the food to cook; it’s like a warm, fireside chat, but with hot soup and ambient burbling instead of crackling flames.
What’s your go-to eating tradition? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a signed paperback copy of Death By Bubble Tea (US only)BIO:
Jennifer J. Chow writes cozies filled with hope and heritage. She is an Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-nominated author; her most recent series is the L.A. Night Market Mysteries. Death by Bubble Tea (Book 1) was reviewed by the New York Times, featured in Woman’s World, and hit the SoCal Indie Bestseller List. Kirkus Reviews described Hot Pot Murder this way: “Great characters and a delightful mystery filled with luscious descriptions of food.” Jennifer currently serves as President on the board of Sisters in Crime. She is an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America. Find her online at JenniferJChow.com.
ABOUT THE BOOK: Trouble is brewing for cousins Yale and Celine Yee after a hot pot dinner gets overheated and ends in murder in this second novel of the L.A. Night Market series by Jennifer J. Chow.
Yale and Celine Yee’s food stall business is going so well that they’ve been invited to join an exclusive dinner with the local restaurant owners association. The members gather together for a relaxing hot pot feast…until Jeffery Vue, president of the group, receives a literal shock to his system and dies.
Everyone at the meal is a suspect, but the authorities are homing in on family friend Ai Ho, owner of the restaurant where Jeffery was killed—and Yale’s dad is a close second on their list. Yale and Celine step up to the plate and investigate the dinner attendees: the association’s ambitious VP, a familiar frenemy, a ramen king, a snacks shopkeeper, and a second-generation restaurateur. It’s up to the detecting duo to figure out what really happened before their friends and family have to close their businesses for good.
BUY LINK:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673134/hot-pot-murder-by-jennifer-j-chow/9780593336557/
Congratulations, Jennifer, on your newest book . . . it certainly sounds like a delicious mystery.
ReplyDeleteWhile I’ve never had a hot pot meal, it does sound like a perfect family meal. One of our favorite traditions in our family is breakfast for dinner. When the girls were growing up, it was always a fun switch; now we enjoy it just because it’s different . . . .
Breakfast for dinner is great. We switch it up sometimes--and the kids are always delighted to do so!
DeleteThis sounds so delightful… But I hear you about the health concerns :-) although… Fondue, right? Does this type of dish exist in many cultures? And the togetherness is wonderful. You know I am such a huge fan of yours… Congratulations on this!
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a fondue restaurant really close to us, and I have fond memories of us group of moms getting together to eat (esp. that chocolate fondue!).
DeleteJENN: Congratulations on the new L.A. market book! Looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteOur family ate the Japanese version of hot pot called shabu shabu several times each winter in Toronto. When I left home, one of the kitchen gear I asked my mom for was the electric pot. It is a fun communal meal to enjoy with friends.
Thanks, Grace! I've had shabu shabu as well, which is also delicious!
DeleteCongrats on your newest release, Jennifer. I enjoyed the book. Hot Pot reminds me of what they serve at Benihana where the food is prepared in front of you.
ReplyDeleteBenihana is a hoot! I once did an event at a Benihana lunch and the guests couldn't hear a word I was saying because of the chefs' performances LOL!
DeleteOoh, I like Benihana because you get a show and hot food!
DeleteThe only time we do something traditional is when I go to MA to visit. We always have a party where family and friends get together and just have a good time. Of course food is involved and it's pot luck. My brother is a good cook and always comes up with something interesting in the crockpot. I donate money for beverages or whatever is needed. Congrats on your newest book! Thank you for this chance at your giveaway. pgenest57 at aol dot com
ReplyDeletePot lucks are fun. I love discovering new foods & revisiting comforting ones. Crockpots are so helpful at pot lucks; I appreciate that crockpot cover we have, too, since it keeps everything toasty.
DeleteCongrats on your new release, Jennifer! I've never had Hot Pot but now of course I want to try it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deborah. Hope you get to try it one day!
DeleteThanks for explaining hot pot, Jennifer, and congratulations on the new book! Grace mentioned shabu-shabu, the Japanese version, which I enjoyed several times when I lived there. And you get to drink the broth after all the swishing and eating is done.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, the practice in Japan is to turn your chopsticks around, so the end you use to dunk into any common pot is not the end you put in your mouth.
Wonderful, Edith.
DeleteInteresting about the chopsticks. I know I do that with common dishes to share in Chinese cuisine.
Jennifer, congrats on your new release! I've been seeing mentions of this series everywhere--time to grab myself a copy of the first book! Hot pot would be enjoyed in this household, but, yeah, the cords could be iffy with four cats, a dog, and little kids thrown into the mix.
ReplyDeleteYay, Flora! Happy that this series is getting noticed!
DeleteI could imagine that the cords would be iffy with your wonderful but active household!
Jennifer your new book sounds intriguing!
ReplyDeleteOne thing our builder did (decades ago) when he designed the kitchen was to put plugs on the counter walls so the cords/plugs are behind the kitchen appliances on the counter, well out of reach of the kiddos and pets. I never would have thought to do that.
Great idea to keep those cords out of the way! I also appreciate those new babyproofing tools that cover the outlets but are slidable so adults can access the sockets.
DeleteCongratulations on the new book Jennifer! Hot pot sounds like the perfect meal for a gathering of family and/or friends.
ReplyDeleteYes! Love any chance to gather with friends and family, esp. a good meal!
DeleteI first had hot pot in China. With my husband who was famous for his ability to eat anyone else under the table... dinner as a spectator sport. He was in his element. I still love the idea of it more than the actual experience. Question: What kind of broth do you like yours with? And if there are vegetarians in the group, is the presence of meat as an option and cooked in the broth an issue?? I can see how it would be easy to slip in a poison mushroom or two... Congratulations on the book, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteWeird. I commented before, but it didn't get published... Anyway, I typically use chicken broth but have also done vegetable broth. I usually have two pots going at the same time (spicy and non-spicy), but they can be arranged to be for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
DeleteHi, Jennifer! Hot Pot sounds like a great family meal. Food trucks are fascinating, look forward to reading this.
ReplyDeleteOur big kitchen island has outlets on one side, plus a pop-up outlet in the middle (that includes two USB connections), just for this kind of entertaining. The height wouldn't be good for children, though.
My kids always wanted to go to the fondue place, Melting Pot, for birthdays, but I had the same sanitation/food safety issues and could never enjoy it. Plus, it's an expensive way to cook your own food!
This is not my tradition, but I went to a dinner party in the '70s for a memorable Javanese Mountain Dinner. Thank you for spurring me to look this up; the Internet has finally coughed up information I've been trying to find for decades about this. Everything is already cooked, and each guest gets a dinner plate and a list of ingredients to pile up in order. Shredded chicken, rice, chopped vegetables, cheese, pineapple, shredded coconut, and so on, topped with a particular dressing, and a maraschino cherry. It was crazy, chaotic, and crazy fun, and surprisingly delicious.
Mmm... I want to try that Mountain Dinner!
DeleteOur children, adopted from Russia ages 11 and 12, introduced us to butterbrot (or buterbrod). An open faced "sandwich" taken from the Germans. And similar to the Scandinavian smorrebrod. As the name suggests, it is a slice of bread with butter (white or rye). But then, so many options. Typically, red caviar (or black if you have it). But you could extend the savory menu to any combination of cheese, lunch meats, sausage, fish, pickles, radishes, hard cooked egg, and herbs. Or you can go sweet with butter and jam. An anytime meal or snack. Really terrific for groups where everyone gets to build their own.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your second book in the series!
Thank you for all the work you do for SinC!
That butterbrot sounds so interesting. I'll have to try it one day!
DeleteHot Pot sounds delishous! I haven't tried it - is it like the Vietnamese Pho?
ReplyDeleteNot quite like pho. Pho is definitely a soup. Hot pot is more of a dip-and-eat (like fondue). And the noodles traditionally are made from mung bean.
DeleteHot Pot would be delectable, healthy and nourishing. Perfect. As a traditional individual I love serving what I ate when I was young and growing up in my family. Roast chicken, kasha and bowties and apple cake.
ReplyDeleteWhat a yummy and complete meal!
DeleteHi Jennifer! I picked up the book at CCWC and just started it. The Thanksgiving gathering around a hot pot that you describe included Taiwanese, Hmong, and Hong Kong diners, which made me think hot pot cuisine is perhaps a broadly Asian favorite? Congratulations on the new book and for your Sisters in Crime leadership!
ReplyDeleteYay! Great seeing you at CCWC! I'm not sure if it's a broad favorite, but I definitely enjoy it!
DeleteHi, Jennifer! Wonderful to see you here. As you know, I'm a huge fan of this series. But also, I finally signed up for SinC national as you reminded me to do at Left Coast :) Thanks for the nudge!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you here! Thanks for all the support! And hurrah on remembering to sign up to be a SinC member!
DeleteThe hot pot meal sounds wonderful! And so does your new book! The closest thing I can think of to a communal meal experience is perhaps ordering a pound or two of boiled shrimp or crawdads and everyone sitting around, peeling and eating. Messy but fun.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes! That sounds wonderful. We used to get crab on the pier for fun!
DeleteYay, a new series for me! My only experience of eating a hot pot meal was fantastic. We dined at a restaurant on Clement Street in San Francisco (Rhys may be familiar with the area) on a winter evening. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was wonderfully cozy. ~Lynda
ReplyDeleteI've never had a hot pot meal, sounds a lot like fondue. Our go to meal is either rib eye steak or pork schnitzel. I recently tried bubble tea and lived it! Looking forward to reading your new book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dianne! And glad you tried bubble tea!
DeleteI can totally relate to the dangers involved in maintaining traditions. I remember as a young girl going to my great aunt's home in Long Island to their pig roast and eating freshly roasted pork off the roast with rice and beans as a side. My mom and grandma would watch us like a hawk to make certain we did not go near the fire and that we were not traumatized by the sight. I have never had hot pot but would love to try it someday.
ReplyDelete