A ladle goes a long way

The five simple rules that helped change my mind about Chinese hotpot

It took me a long time to warm to hotpot. Although it's arguably China's most popular - if not simplest - form of dining, I just didn't get it at first. I'd ask myself: Why would someone want to go to a restaurant where you're required to do your own cooking?

Isn't that the point of eating out, to avoid the hassle of actually making a meal? To spend an evening being waited on, as opposed to spending an evening waiting for water to boil so you can slip in some noodles and get dinner over with?