January 23rd was Chinese New Year this year
and one of our favorite ways to dine at home
Chinese style
is to have a Chinese Hot Pot.
We love to serve this dinner on the coffee
table in front of the fireplace with everyone
sitting on cushions.
It makes a really fun party atmosphere.
My husband does business in China and brought
me home this beautiful replica of one of the clay soldiers.
He stands guard over our table today.
I was so impressed that my hubby was able to carry
this clay soldier half way around the world
without it breaking.
Look at the detail on his uniform.
I got the Chinese hot pots at least 20 years ago in
San Francisco
when my sister Jean lived there. We bought them
at Cost Plus World Market. We went right home
and made dinner with them. It is one of my fond
memories of San Francisco with Jean.
The hot pot is filled with hot seasoned broth and each
person places their vegetables and meats in the hot
broth and then scoops them out with little wire
scoops as they cook.
It is then eaten on top of sticky rice.
It is one of those fun interactive dinners that
everyone loves.
The pot is heated with charcoal if you are eating
outside or Sterno if you are eating inside.
I love the geometric
clean shapes of the chargers, plates and bowls
that come together to give this table a sleek
Oriental feel.
Everything was done in black and white
with the punch of color in the beautiful
yellow mums.
The yellow mums play well with the gold accents
on the black and gold chopsticks and the brass
wire baskets.
The plates/bowls have beautiful curved lines and
with their triangular shapes and thick beveled edges, they
are quite the statement makers.
I hope you enjoyed your visit here at
Purple Chocolat Home today.
May 2012 bring you great fortune.
Pull up your coffee table in front of the fireplace
and set a fun Oriental table. Kids and adults love
the great setting.
I had to laugh at my fortune. I decided to open another
and it said the same thing! I guess I need to keep practicing!
I will be posting this with
Sources:
Triangular plates/bowls - Tai Pan
Square small bowls - Tai Pan
Square chargers - Tuesday Morning
Chopsticks - 1st Oriental Market (local)
Napkins - Home Goods
Black goblets - Pier 1 years ago
Mums - Costco
Hot Pots - Cost Plus
