OK PPL if you EVER I mean EVER come visit Taiwan! You have to EAT Mala HOT POT!!!
(Mala huo guo).
Here's a recent one I went to! VERY famous! It is called "lan ji" Blue G hahahahahhaa....anyways it's not one of those "all you can eat restaurants" like a lot of the other Mala hot pot places. BUT!!! This place is known for it's quality! It has opened for alooong time! Very famous, been on TV and Mags!
You can choose: Spicy Hot pot, Plain Hot pot (well not that popular cause whats the point of going to a spicy hot pot place without getting it right?) and the very popular half/half pot which is the one you see in the picture. Spicy/plain :)
You can choose the spiciness. xiao la (small hot), zhong la (medium spicy) and Da la (big spicy) haha all direct translations :)
Usually there are already tofu (dong do fu) and duck blood/pigs blood (Those jelly brownish/ purple blobs).
The most traditional way to eat the spicy hot pot is with:
White vinegar and spring onions. Simple sauce.
The vinegar takes away the greasiness and makes the meat sweeter.
My personal sauce is a lot spicier and sweeter!!!
I usually use coriander (unfortunately at this place they don't offer it!!!)
so It would be....1.) Spring onions, 2.) Some sugar, 3.) 1-2 table spoon of freshly chopped chili, 4.) few drops of sesame oil (depends on my mood, it makes the sauce smell nice) and lastly White vinegar!!! :D