A phrase that’s come into regular use in my household is emotional support hot pot. This tends to be uttered with an air of gentle desperation, typically following the aftermath of a less-than-fortunate day, and calls for a remedial evening over a simmering cauldron of rich broth.
I’m always a fan of an interactive meal, and there’s a soothing rhythm to the process of hot pot: hand-selecting mountains of meats and vegetables to drop into the boiling broth, chatting with the table while everything cooks, and then enjoying the savory fruits of one’s minimal labor. A night out for hot pot hits the sweet spot between “family activity” and “bottomless comfort food” and never fails to soothe a weary soul. In my interminable quest to find the best emotional support in the form of piping-hot umami, I’ve narrowed things down to a few favorite spots around the valley.
UMI Japanese Shabu Shabu (2701 S. State, 385-229-4216, umishabu.com): UMI was my first introduction to hot pot, so I’ve got a soft spot for this little joint. “Shabu-shabu” (translated literally as “swish-swish”) is the Japanese iteration of hot pot, so named for the “swishing” of the ingredients as they cook in a pot…