The ultimate hot pot experience

The Cuisine Master Hot Pot Restaurant (食神锅奉行) offers a refined version of the famous dish. In private rooms, waitresses serve foods in nine courses, in an order they believe follows the natural rule of people's acceptance and how food should be absorbed.

The restaurant also tries to reflect Chinese ancient culture by using a pot shaped like ding, a tripod caldron, and serving drinks in cups resembling jue, the ancient Chinese wine cup.

Waitresses put your chosen food into the pot for you and serve you when it is most appropriate.

The two most popular broths are mushroom and chicken. The latter is the result of more than six hours of simmering and is intensely tasty.

Abalone and shark fin are served first, followed by grouper, mashed shrimp, assorted mushroom, beef and mutton, before vegetables, dim sum or noodles. The mashed shrimp is very tender, while the three-color noodles look good and are seasoned really well.

Two sauces, soy and spicy, are served to accompany your dishes. The staff will advise which one suits better, but it is also fun experimenting with different food.

The average cost is 500-1,000 yuan per person. You can either order a la carte, or leave the manager to choose for you. The dcor is comfortable and traditionally Chinese. It is a great place to impress a guest and have a delightful dining experience.

11am-2pm, 5-9:30pm. 15-1 Grand Constellation, Huayuan Jie, Xidan, Xicheng District. 5851-8061. 西城区西单华远街置地星座15-1

Ye Jun

(China Daily 11/01/2008 page8)