Shabu shabu

Last week, we showed you kaiten sushi, a fun and fast way to enjoy dinner with a group of people (or by yourself, if don't mind going to restaurants alone). Shabu shabu is another quick and convenient method that involves cooking the meal right on top of your table. Similar to the "hot pot" style of eating, it requires a huge vat of boiling water, serving bowls, a serving ladle and some chopsticks(below). Beyond that, the ingredients vary depending on individuals tastes and preferences. Cooking time will also vary, depending on the density of the items being boiled ( above right). On this occasion, a Japanese friend did all of the ordering and we ended up with rice noodles, tofu, cabbage, mushrooms, sliced pork and ground chicken (above). If you have the option, you might consider experimenting with two broths at once. In our case, the left side of the pot was seasoned with togarashi chili peppers and other spices, while the right was simply flavored with the traditional kombu (a type of seaweed commonly found in Japanese cuisine). The combination allowed us to try everything we ordered two different ways. Both turned out to be perfectly delicious, especially on such a cold, windy night.