Shabu Shabu

Betty working the hot pots.

Last evening, Ken and I were invited to a Shabu Shabu dinner party at Betty Tong and Joe Miner's beautiful new home in Medina.   What fun!  It is such an interactive experience cooking at the table in bubbling broth with all the myriad flavors and foods that can go into the hot pot.  I know I won't remember all the ingredients, but here is at least a partial list that included three kinds of thinly sliced beef (grass-fed, Kobe, and one other), chicken, scallops, clams, prawns, fish cakes, shrimp balls, pork balls, tofu, cabbage, baby bok choy, and three kinds of mushrooms.  The magic flavor was the special sauce that was at every place setting in bowls in which each of the cooked items could be dipped and then eaten with bites of sticky rice.  Though we each had access to the hot pots, Betty spoiled us and spent most of the dinner party standing at the table, working the hot pots by cooking the various ingredients and dropping them into our bowls.   

Ken Hatch, Trish Markey, Stanko Milov

We had a great time interacting (or was that acting up?) with the other guests including friends, Afshan Lakha, Kim Richter, Trish Markey, Kim & Kevin Oakes, Steve Kutz, Courtney Womack and PNB Principal Dancer, Stanko Milov.  Afshan warned us not to overcook the beef and that she had learned that by the time you dip the beef in the boiling hot pot and say "Shabu, Shabu" twice, that the beef is cooked.  Seemed to work perfectly!

Ken Hatch, Joe Miner, Kevin Oakes enjoying beer.

Joe and Betty had just moved into their new home a couple of weeks ago and last night was the first time that Joe had his new bar set up with a beer keg on tap.  He has the most gargantuan beer glasses I have ever seen; each appearing to hold a half-gallon of beer.  I am not a beer drinker, but Ken, Joe and neighbor, Kevin Oakes, thought the Manny's Pale Ale on tap was exceptional.