Hot Pot, Sichuan Province, China

　　火鍋 四川，中國

　　The “pot” portion of its name stems from that fact that a hot metal pot filled with chicken, beef, or vegetable broth is left to simmer over heat at the table and raw ingredients such as meat and vegetables are added to the pot and cooked right there--a dining style popular throughout China. The “hot” part not only comes from its searing temperature, but from the fiery Sichuan “flower” pepper which produces a spicy, numbing sensation when eaten.

　　火鍋的“鍋”字來自這道菜的容器，一個盛滿了雞湯、牛肉湯或者蔬菜湯的金屬鍋，將它放在桌子上加熱，并把諸如肉和蔬菜的材料放進鍋里加熱后吃——這是當下中國流行的一道菜肴。火鍋的“火”字不僅是指它的溫度高，同時也是指產自四川的一種異常辛辣的“花”胡椒。